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4.5: Poverty and Human Services

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    Poverty and Human Services

    As previously discussed, human services professionals abide by the National Organization for Human Services ethical standards. Standard 16 states: “Human service professionals advocate for social justice and seek to eliminate oppression. They raise awareness about systems of discrimination and inequity that affect historically minoritized and marginalized groups and advocate for systemic change to address these inequalities within their workplace, communities, and legislative systems" (NOHS, 2024). Thus, it is highly important for those working in the human services field to have knowledge and understanding of poverty and its severity within our society and around the world.

    Human Services Role

    The human services profession has an extensive history of working to assist poverty at the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. The following are examples of human services roles on each of the three levels.

    Micro

    Micro level practice works with an individual or a family on a one-on-one basis (Giffords, & Garber, 2014). Micro level social workers are the clinicians who often work most hands- on with individuals who are living in poverty. Micro practice, as it relates to poverty, may include linking a client to unemployment resources, housing resources, assisting individuals in applying for welfare programs, and helping the individual cope with the hardships of living in poverty.

    Mezzo

    Intervening at the group level constitutes mezzo practice (Giffords, & Garber, 2014). Some focuses on mezzo level social work practice in regards to poverty include facilitating groups that focus on employment skills, working in schools to help low-income children learn to read and write better, and working with community organizations and agencies that assist with poverty and homelessness.

    Macro

    At the Macro level social workers focus on effecting systematic change that can benefit individuals at a societal level (MSW careers, 2017). In regards to poverty some of the ways macro level social workers can assist include advocating for laws that affect those living in poverty, developing programs to assist individuals and families living in poverty, and educating the community on the need for social change.

    Case Study: Micro Level Human Services Work

    “A social worker has an intervention with a young woman living in a poor urban community. When she first appeared for social services, the young woman was pregnant, depressed and unable to pay her rent. However, she was determined to improve her life circumstances and those for her unborn child. She couldn’t save money because she had another child to support. Although he was emotionally supportive, her partner was unable to financially contribute to her support. During their work together, the social worker was able to develop a plan of action with her client. By following up on leads, the young woman was connected with several sources of tangible help in her community. Over the next few months, she was able to identify subsidized housing, obtain prenatal care, and receive treatment for her depression and to enroll in a part-time job training program. Her partner was also able to find employment through a community job bank. By the time her baby was born, the young woman’s outlook on life was brighter.” (NASW, 2017)

    Summary

    Regardless as to what career path you take in the field of human services, it is anticipated that you will serve individuals and families who fall below the poverty line and face financial hardships. Therefore, as future professionals it is important that you have an adequate understanding of what poverty is and the effects it has on individuals and society as a whole.


    Attribution: This page titled 1.6: Poverty is shared under a CC BY 4.0 license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by Lindsey Bronold via source content that was edited to the style and standards of the LibreTexts platform.


    4.5: Poverty and Human Services is shared under a not declared license and was authored, remixed, and/or curated by LibreTexts.

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