Developing the Next Generation of Social Work Activists: Support for Eliminating the Micro–Macro Divide

Overview: Literature suggests that social work’s engagement in action to remedy systemic injustices has been inadequate. This session reports findings on the social action of MSW graduates. Results have implications for educators who must strive for a more inclusive curricular approach to ensure that graduates have requisite skills for social change.Proposal text: The social work profession has a long history of social and political action to protect the rights of others and advocate against social injustices. Social action was originally discussed in social work literature more than 50 years ago, though the profession has been criticized for its waning usage in practice in more recent years.

This session will present the results of a quantitative study that addresses an existing gap in the current literature by quantitatively identifying the difference in key macro competencies as well as self-reported levels of social action of those who concentrated on macro practice in their MSW programs, as compared with those who do not. It also ascertains which macro competencies are significantly related to increased activism by macro and non-macro social workers.

Data was collected from 351 MSW graduates using an anonymous survey consisting of close-ended questions assessing respondents’ interests in, experiences with, and attitudes toward macro practice as well as their self-reported competencies in this method. Social workers were asked to indicate the extent to which they engaged in social action on behalf of client populations. The study was approved by the IRB.

Most social workers, regardless of MSW specialization, felt that they were able to engage in three competencies – individual and group supervision, working with task-oriented groups, and facilitating the empowerment of clients and constituents. Most macro graduates did not feel that they had many of these requisite macro abilities. When examining the differences in areas of perceived competency between macro and non-macro social workers, significant statistical differences emerged. Social workers who concentrated on macro practice in their graduate programs reported feeling more confident in nine of 17 competencies that are used to define this practice method.

Almost all of those surveyed, including macro and non-macro social workers, agreed or strongly agreed that engaging in social action is a responsibility of social work practice. However, there was considerable variability in the social action activities of study participants. One action, meeting with elected officials to advocate for social issues, was infrequently used.

Macro social workers were more frequently engaged in social action than their non-macro counterparts. When analyzing which of the seven actions distinguished macro and non-macro social workers, three were responsible for the difference between the activism of these two groups.

This study supports the work of others (Dooley & Sellers, 2009; Dudziak & Profitt, 2012), who have begun to identify teaching strategies that help students blend micro and macro interventions. The marginalization of macro curricula, fieldwork, and practice may not be driven by interest, but rather the requirement to choose a specialization. In order to realize global rights, the theme of this year's conference, there is a need to embrace the micro–macro mandate of the profession and realize the profession’s historical commitment to social action. Curricular opportunities that help blend micro and macro interventions for both students and practitioners should be created.