Week 2: Assessment Of Families' Understanding Of A Client's ✓ Solved
Week 2: Assessment of Families Understanding a Client’s Fami
Week 2: Assessment of Families Understanding a Client’s Family History. Review the Cortez Family case history and provide a 250-word discussion post addressing: (1) how micro-, mezzo-, and macro-levels of practice aid social workers in assessing families; (2) assess Paula Cortez’s situation using all three levels; (3) identify two strengths/solutions in each level; (4) describe the value of strength-based solutions. Include at least 3 references from the Learning Resources.
Paper For Above Instructions
The following paper applies a strength-based lens across micro-, mezzo-, and macro-level practice to the Cortez Family case history. Grounded in ecological and family-systems theories, the analysis identifies actionable strengths and feasible solutions at each level and explains why a strength-based approach improves engagement, safety, and outcomes for Paula Cortez, her child, and their broader social context. In-text citations reference established works in social work theory and practice, including the ecological framework, family systems perspectives, and culturally informed approaches to assessment and intervention.
Micro-, Mezzo-, and Macro-Level Practice in Social Work Assessment
Micro-level practice focuses on the individual and immediate personal factors shaping behavior and well-being. In Paula’s case, micro-level assessment centers on her bipolar disorder, HIV/AIDS status, hepatitis C management, chronic pain, cognitive and physical limitations from prior brain infection, substance-use history, and medication adherence challenges. The strength-based view recognizes Paula’s creativity (her painting) and her persistence in learning to paint with her left hand as evidence of internal resilience and problem-solving capacity. It also notes her bilingual abilities and her established coping strategies when supported by clinicians and family members. At the same time, micro-level risk factors—nonadherence to psychiatric and medical regimens, paranoia, prior trauma, and social isolation—are addressed through targeted interventions, psychoeducation, and safety planning. The ecological lens (Bronfenbrenner, 1979) helps situate Paula’s experiences within multiple nested systems that influence her health behaviors and engagement with care. In all, micro-level strengths and challenges guide individualized treatment planning and care coordination (Holosko, Dulmus, & Sowers, 2013; Olson, 2000). (Holosko et al., 2013; Olson, 2000)
Mezzo-level practice examines the immediate social network and family context—relationships among Paula, her son Miguel, and other close figures, as well as the functioning of formal supports like the clinic, hospital treatment teams, and social workers. The Cortez case highlights significant isolation from Paula’s family in Colombia and limited peer networks in Queens, NY, which diminishes protective factors. Mezzo-level assessment recognizes Paula’s relationship with Miguel, her ex-husband, and the potential to mobilize the clinic’s interdisciplinary team to foster coordinated care. Structural family concepts (Minuchin, 1974) support examining family organization, boundaries, and enabling or disabling patterns that affect Paula’s attempts to care for her child. The strength-based mezzo-level stance emphasizes leveraging present supports—such as consistent contact with clinic staff, nursing and social work teams, and the potential involvement of the Family Center and AIDS Law Project in stabilizing living arrangements and safety planning. (Minuchin, 1974; Smokowski, Rose, & Bacallao, 2008; Holosko et al., 2013) (Minuchin, 1974; Smokowski et al., 2008; Holosko et al., 2013)
Macro-level practice addresses larger systemic factors—societal institutions, policies, and cultural contexts that shape access to care, safety, and permanency planning. Paula’s health status is situated within broader health and social service systems, including SSI/Medicaid, WIC, in-home child care supports, and legal protections that emerged during pregnancy (e.g., restraining orders when needed). The macro perspective emphasizes social determinants of health, immigration-related stressors, access to HAART, pain management, and Hep C treatment, as well as broader cultural values and stigma. The case illustrates how policy and service delivery structures enable or constrain Paula’s ability to maintain treatment, obtain supports, and plan for permanent arrangements for her child. Strengths at the macro level include robust access to pharmacologic HIV care and interdisciplinary medical-social support, as well as legal and community resources that assist with safety and permanency planning (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Saleebey, 2009; Olson, 2000). (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Saleebey, 2009; Olson, 2000)
Describing the value of strength-based solutions, the literature suggests that focusing on strengths fosters client engagement, resilience, and collaborative problem-solving. Strength-based practice encourages leveraging Paula’s creativity, cultural resources, and expressed motivation to protect her baby, while mobilizing supports in the clinic and community to address barriers to adherence and safety. This approach aligns with the ecological model’s emphasis on multi-level supports and with family systems perspectives that view change as relational and context-dependent (Saleebey, 2009; Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Minuchin, 1974; Olson, 2000). (Saleebey, 2009; Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Minuchin, 1974; Olson, 2000)
In sum, a tri-level, strength-based assessment—micro (Paula’s individual assets and risks), mezzo (her family and system supports), and macro (policy, service systems, and cultural context)—provides a comprehensive, actionable framework for planning Paula’s care and safeguarding both her health and her child’s well-being. The integration of these levels supports coordinated care, safety planning, and permanency considerations that reflect Paula’s values and circumstances while leveraging available resources to promote stability and growth. (Holosko et al., 2013; Smokowski et al., 2008; Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Saleebey, 2009; Olson, 2000; Minuchin, 1974; Corey, 2013; Sue & Sue, 2016)
Strength-Based Analysis Across Levels
Micro-level strengths and solutions: Paula’s artistic talent and left-handed painting ability demonstrate adaptability and cognitive reserve that can be channeled into therapeutic outlets and self-care routines. Her bilingual skills facilitate communication with healthcare providers and social workers, supporting adherence and engagement. A micro-level solution includes structured psychoeducation about HAART and psychiatric medications, with simplified, culturally sensitive materials and reminders. A second micro-level solution is a personalized self-management plan that ties Paula’s art into daily routines, enhancing mood regulation and self-efficacy. These measures align with ecological and strengths-based perspectives (Holosko et al., 2013; Saleebey, 2009). (Holosko et al., 2013; Saleebey, 2009)
Mezzo-level strengths and solutions: The social work team’s continuity of care and the hospital-to-outpatient transition provide a robust mezzo-level support network. Paula’s capacity to engage with the AIDS Law Project, the Family Center’s permanency planning, and in-home care supports represents protective factors that can be mobilized to stabilize daily living and caregiving responsibilities. A second mezzo-level strategy involves family mapping to re-engage Paula’s relationships with Colombia-based family or trusted community members, while maintaining boundaries that support safety and autonomy. Structural mapping and collaboration with healthcare and social service teams can help reconfigure family dynamics and access to resources (Minuchin, 1974; Smokowski et al., 2008). (Minuchin, 1974; Smokowski et al., 2008)
Macro-level strengths and solutions: Paula benefits from policy supports (SSI, Medicaid, WIC, in-home care) that enable access to medical and social services. A macro-level solution is strengthening linkage to community resources and advocating for integrated care pathways that connect HIV care, psychiatric treatment, wound care, and obstetric services. Another macro-level strategy is leveraging legal protections and rights-based supports to ensure safety and permanency for the child, including ongoing collaboration with the AIDS Law Project and law enforcement when necessary. These macro-level actions draw on theories of ecological complexity and the role of social policy in shaping health outcomes (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Saleebey, 2009). (Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Saleebey, 2009)
Conclusion
Using a strength-based, multi-level approach to Paula Cortez’s case supports comprehensive assessment and intervention planning. By recognizing Paula’s personal strengths (creativity, adaptability, bilingualism), mobilizing mezzo-level supports (clinic-based coordination, family mapping, community resources), and leveraging macro-level structures (healthcare access, social services, protective legal measures), social workers can design interventions that are humane, culturally informed, and practically sustainable. This approach aligns with foundational social work theories on systems, culture, and strengths, reinforcing the value of viewing clients within their broader contexts and emphasizing capacities rather than deficits. (Olson, 2000; Bronfenbrenner, 1979; Minuchin, 1974; Smokowski et al., 2008; Saleebey, 2009; Holosko et al., 2013; Corey, 2013; Sue & Sue, 2016)