Bronfenbrenner's Ecological System Theory

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Social work is a very unique field in that it covers many areas; all of which are vital to

accomplishing the goals of the social work profession. Social work as a profession is geared

towards assisting the public by improving their quality of life overall. As a result, social workers

are equipped with many different skills to use depending on the issue they are facing with any

given level of work. While many professions hone in on specific areas of expertise, social

workers are required to possess multiple skills preparing them for varying situations even within

their area of work. Within the social work profession, there are three levels of practice: micro-

practice, mezzo-practice,

and macro-practice. Examples of fields within these levels are social

casework, case management, group work, group therapy, family therapy, community

organization, and administration (Zastrow, 2010). Though there is some level of expertise in the

different levels of social work (e.g. administration versus social casework). Each level of social

work may face situations where they have to demonstrate skills otherwise used within another

level of practice.

An example of a situation a social worker may face is within the social casework field. A

client is a thirteen year old youth whom comes from a family of “occasionally” abusive alcoholic

parents. Therapy is administered to resolve the issues with the youth attempting to rationalize the

parents’ behavior to which the social worker demonstrates skills used by counselors. At the same

time, if the situation continue to escalate with enough reason to believe child abuse is occurring,

the social worker is then responsible for breaking confidentiality to act as a liaison to the

appropriate protective services. While ensuring the client is being provided for, the social worker

demonstrates skills that go above and beyond just the one-to-one basis. Additionally, the

relationship between social work and the “person-in-environment” can be extrapolated from this

example.

Celina Bryant: Name/Date missing -2

The relationship between social work and the person-in-environment within the example

is very intimate.

In order to effectively improve the client’s quality of life, the social worker must

meet them where they are. From the counseling perspective, just outside of the individual

themselves is the environment (or the microsystem)—particularly the peers, family and friends—

according to Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory. As one who believes a person is

more

influenced by nurture as opposed to nature, a person’s environment plays a very important role in

the quality of their life.

As Bronfenbrenner’s ecological systems theory and model suggests, the

order of influence an environment has on someone is from furthest to closest (1979). With that in

mind, tinkering with the environment (which is a big factor in social work) will eventually trickle

down to the client themselves. However, the benefits of improving the quality of the

environment and the social services do not stop at one individual. Changing the environment

affects everyone involved. Although it would be less beneficial than individual counseling, from

a utilitarian perspective it provides more good.

Social workers also can work with the environment in a less direct way by ensuring the

client is making the most of the social services other social workers have worked so hard to

make available and beneficial. Most situations a social worker would work within the casework

or case manager position are situations where the client has issues beyond his control. In order to

maximize the quality of his life, meeting the client where he is at is vital. Not everyone has

the

means to go to a clinic, be it transportation or funds, but they still need help. Social work is the

profession that helps people in those situations while other professions choose to avoid them due

to the difficulty.

Works Cited

Zastrow, C. (2010). Introduction to social work and social welfare: Empowering people (10th

ed.). Belmont, CA: Brooks/Cole.

Bronfenbrenner, U. (1979). The ecology of human development: Experiments by nature and

design. Cambridge, MA: Harvard University Press.

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