Macro-Change

To implement a macro intervention, social worker change agents need to consider the goals, objectives, and action steps needed to make the macro change. Goals are typically derived from some identified problem that is translated into some specific need, which leads to ideas about what change could be proposed. They are statements like “Increase effective agency collaboration to address heroin epidemic in the community.” Objectives are a little more specific, involving statements such as “Create a task force with membership from all community social service organizations connected to the heroin epidemic.” Generally, each primary goal includes several objectives that relate to that goal and define the parts that need to be included in developing a plan. Action steps are specific steps and activities that must be completed by a certain time, by a specific person, to achieve the objectives and the larger goal. Breaking down each objective into action steps will likely take quite a lot of time, as proposals generally take a long time to implement. But taking the time to break down the objectives into specific, measurable steps, as well as identifying a specific person who will work to achieve the action step, is well worth the time. The importance of action steps cannot be overstated. If a particular action step is not completed by a particular time, some other activity or action step may be stymied, which can (and often does) impact other action steps and possibly derail (however temporarily) the whole project. The people you are collaborating with (some of your assets) will be the primary people who will assist in completing the action steps. Working closely with them to identify who will complete each action step and by when is important. Being able to check off each action step will be rewarding as you and your colleagues see that you are all making progress toward your important goal. Your final paper will be a proposal for a program or service in your community using the steps in the macro-change process described in your textbook. In Workshop Three, you submitted a draft of one segment that specified how you will identify potential assets for your proposal. Steps in the Macro-Change Process In this workshop, you will continue with the macro-change model, writing a draft section that provides goals, objectives, and action steps for your proposal. When thinking about goals, objectives, and action steps, consider how your proposal will meet a need or gap in service, specific objectives in meeting the larger goal, and specific action steps for each objective that are necessary to meet your larger goal. In your proposal draft, you can identify generally the people (who) or dates (when) for your action steps. Listing several action steps for each objective will give you practice in thinking about the details to be considered in the type of proposal that a macro change agent might make. Upon completion of this assignment, you should be able to: Develop mutually agreed-on intervention goals and objectives based on the critical assessment of strengths, needs, and challenges within clients and constituencies. Select appropriate intervention strategies based on the assessment, research knowledge, and values and preferences of clients and constituencies. Apply knowledge of human behavior and the social environment, person-in-environment, and other multidisciplinary theoretical frameworks in interventions with clients and constituencies. Use inter-professional collaboration as appropriate to achieve beneficial practice outcomes.