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Journal Article 14.1 Ferguson, K. M., Teixeira, S., Wernick, L. J., & Burghardt, S. (2018). Macro interventions and their influence on individual and community well-being. Journal of Social Work, 18(6): 679-702.

Abstract: Due to the focus of micro-practice interventions on clinical outcomes and macro-practice interventions on structural outcomes, limited research exists on the clinical benefits resulting from clients’ involvement in macro therapeutic interventions (i.e., structural interventions that target community, organizational, systems, and/or policy-level change and which also have clinical benefits to clients or consumers). In response to this knowledge gap, the authors present four case studies of macro therapeutic interventions in the areas of social enterprise creation, community-based participatory research, transformative organizing, and community-based partnerships. Findings: Collectively, these interventions draw from community, economic, and social development theory, empowerment theory, feminist theory, and critical theory. The authors synthesize the key intervention components across case studies that contribute to clinical and collective empowerment outcomes. Applications: The authors then offer recommendations to the social work profession for developing, implementing, and evaluating macro therapeutic interventions within clinical practice settings.

Learning Objective: 14.1 Learn about the nature of social work’s commitment to communities.

Journal Article 14.2 Crowe, K., & D’Andrade, A. (2018). Engaging community members in providing support for the dying and the bereaved: Activities in social work community practice. Families in Society: 1-9.

Abstract: In this practice note, the authors describe three main community engagement strategies around empathy in times of suffering: (1) raising public awareness about the value of community support in times of grief with the creation of a neighborhood-based public campaign; (2) providing educational, skill-building workshops to instill confidence and communication skills among lay people in community, business, and medical settings that want to connect with people they know experiencing a personal difficulty; and (3) publishing a lighthearted, illustrated trade book and website/blog to make a difficult topic palatable and engaging to a broad audience. Activities were housed in a fiscally sponsored nonprofit the authors founded in 2014 called Help Each Other Out.

Learning Objective: 14.3 Consider the social work role of community change agent and related skills.