This document provides an introduction to macro practice in social work. It discusses the historical roots of macro practice in population growth, industrialization, and social ideologies of the 19th century. It also outlines key developments in macro practice such as the settlement house movement, the effects of the Great Depression and New Deal, and contemporary trends in income inequality, organizational changes, and welfare reform. The importance of people-focused, technological, and structural change is also debated.

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SWrk 180
Chris Cole, MSW
Fall, 2010
INTRODUCTION TO MACRO PRACTICE
WHAT IS MACRO PRACTICE?
Planned Change in Organizations and
Communities
Draws from/Contributes to New Theory
Variety of Practice Models
Professional Boundaries
Macro Systems
HISTORICAL ROOTS
Historical Trends
Population growth and Immigration
Industrialization and Urbanization
Institutional Structures
Historical Ideologies, Ideas, and Definitions
Social Darwinism
Liberalism
Manifest Destiny
Radical Ideology
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THE DEVELOPMENT OF SOCIAL WORK
Born Into Oppression
COS and Settlement House Movement
Early Social Work Education
SOCIAL REFORM
Effects of the Great Depression
The New Deal
Social Work and Social Change
MACRO PRACTICE IN ORGANIZATIONS
Organizational context of practice
Shifting skills
The Bureaucracy
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CONTEMPORARY TRENDS
Income Inequality
Loss of Community Relevance
Organizational Changes
The Information Age
Welfare Reform
THE IMPORTANCE OF CHANGE
People-
People-focused change
Technological
Technologica change
Structural change
The debate
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