Distinguish between micro, mezzo, and macro levels of practice and provide an example for each

Question

What will be an ideal response?

Answer 1

Micro-level practice: The population served by social workers at this level of practice includes individuals, couples, and families. Practice at the micro level is designated as direct practice because practitioners deliver services directly to clients in face-to-face situations. Direct practice, however, is by no means limited to such face-to-face contact.
Mezzo-level practice: The second level of social work practice is defined as "interpersonal relations that are less intimate than those associated with family life; more meaningful than among organizational and institutional representatives; [including] relationships between individuals in a self-help or therapy group, among peers at school or work or among neighbors" (Sheafor, Horejsi, & Horejsi, 1994, pp. 9-10). Mezzo events are "the interface where the individual and those most immediate and important to him/her meet" (Zastrow & Kirst-Ashman, 1990, p. 11). Mezzo intervention is hence designed to change the systems that directly affect clients, such as the family, peer group, or classroom.

Macro-level practice: Still further removed from face-to-face delivery of services, macro-level social work practice involves the processes of social planning and community organization. On this level, social workers serve as professional change agents who assist community action systems composed of individuals, groups, or organizations in dealing with social problems. For example, social workers may work with citizen groups or with private, public, or governmental organizations. Activities of practitioners at this level include (1 ) development of and work with community groups and organizations; (2 ) program planning and development; and (3 ) implementation, administration, and evaluation of programs (Meenaghan, 1987).