Understanding Systems Change

PROMPTS: Our service-learning partnerships in this class provide a real-world example
of an organization trying to address social problems in complex systems. Consider the
work that they are doing (and you are participating in), and where/with whom they are
working, to answer the prompts below in no particular order; aim for integrating these
into a flow that makes sense to you. Make sure to identify when you are elaborating
your own perceptions and observations versus course theories, data and evidence, and
partner documents or statements.

  1. What social/environmental problem(s) is our partner trying to address? Which
    social and environmental issues do you see affecting their work, and how?
    What is the “unjust equilibrium”?
  2. How can you use different frameworks from class to understand the system in
    which our partner is working and interrelated issues affecting the behavior
    and experiences of our partner’s constituencies and stakeholders? (e.g.,
    consider the iceberg metaphor, the social ecological model, levels of
    oppression, root cause analysis, etc.)
  3. What assets and trapped potential might exist in this system, and among our
    partner’s constituencies?
  4. How might your service contribute to solving or exacerbating these problems?
    To releasing trapped potential? Do you think that your service work addresses
    the root causes of these problems? Why or why not?

The History of the Social Welfare System

Choose a period of history discussed in the assigned chapter.
• Chapter 2, “The History of the Social Welfare System and the Social Work Profession”

Post a response to the following:
• Identify the significant events that shaped the social welfare policies and programs of your chosen time period.
• Explain two to three values reflected during this time period as discussed in the assigned resources and compare how these values are expressed in current services. Examples include:
o Are recipients worthy or unworthy?
o Are religious values evident, or is there a clear separation between church and state?
o Is the focus on changing the person or changing the system?
o Are helpers impartial professionals or advocates?
o Are services for individuals within the local community or strangers?
o Is a crisis or an ongoing need addressed?
• Support your post with evidence from the reading using APA citations and a reference list.