Running Head: THREE LEVELS OF PRACTICE

Esther Mason
The Interrelationship of the Three Levels of Practice
SW 3010
27 October 2010
Student ID: 004295333

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Introduction

I will be attempting to identify a micro/mezzo level change that I believe might be faced
by a social worker who is engaged primarily I micro level practice. I will be writing as a social
worker employed at a family agency. My primary duties are to perform assessments and assist
clients in obtaining necessary support services and counseling. I will be referring to the case of
Ashley Day, a twelve-year-old African American girl who has been brought in by her mother.
Ashleys parents are divorced and Ashleys mother is working two part time jobs to support the
family. According to Ashleys mother there has been sudden change in her personality; such that
her mother is concerned she may be severely depressed. After a prior introduction and initial
assessment Ashley feels comfortable enough and tells me she is eight weeks pregnant than pleads
with me not to let her mother know. When I pose questions in regards to the father of her baby
she states she cannot tell me. In addition Ashley insists she wants to have, and keep the baby and
is asking me for my help in accomplishing this.
Analysis
In an effort to formulate a plan that addresses Ashleys immediate crisis I must take into
consideration that due to her young age, her pregnancy may be the product of rape or
molestation. This will require me to contact local child protective services, which in turn will
initiate an investigation within another agency. Also her mother will have to be informed due to
current laws regarding the medical treatment of minors. This poses an ethical dilemma when it
comes to who do I inform first either child protective services or Ashleys mother, either way I
am violating Ashleys privacy. By contacting another agency about my client I am shifting my
daily micro practice toward /mezzo practices. In addition once her family has been informed they

THREE LEVELS OF PRACTICE

themselves may require additional group and family services which is an expansion of services
from micro to mezzo. In addition there may be issues that need to be addressed inside the home.
Therefore examining the family dynamic at a mezzo level will be necessary.
Due to the fact that Ashleys well-being is a priority, denying her right to privacy is
inevitable. I realize that there is a possibility that this young girl and her family may not be alone
in their dilemma therefore I might request permission from my agency to gather and correlate
possible school and community statics regarding similar situations and areas of high risk. Then
possibly presenting this information to the school board with suggestions for early intervention
programs. This would then extend my scope of practice to a macro level. This may not give
better insight into Ashleys case but it may identify contributing factors in the local community.
Another issue relevant to Ashleys case is her decision to keep her baby. I must recognize
that Ashley may not have the capacity to realize the consequences of her choices, and simply
informing her of the challenges of having a child at such a young age is simply an act of
paternalism. Therefor I have chosen not to impose my own values by telling Ashley how difficult
it will be for her to attend school and care for a baby, or even suggesting Ashley terminate the
pregnancy (if possible). Ashley and others like her will need support from as many useful outside
sources as possible even if it means establishing new programs to help.
Conclusion
In conclusion clearly a great deal of social work is performed at a micro/mezzo level. But
what I am attempting to exhibit in my paper is how advocating for my client, may at times call
for me to function at all three level of social work. In addition utilizing social work ethics and

THREE LEVELS OF PRACTICE

values may at times be challenging to adhere to; they are the framework for continued
professionalism in the field of social work.

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References

Kirst-Ashman, Hull. (2012). Understanding Generalists Practice. Mason, Ohio: Brooks/Cole