A Policy and Practice Pandemic: Social Work Is a Blend of Macro and Clinical
by Providenza Loera Rocco, JD, MSW, MBE, and Mary Kima Dolson
In social work, we tend to draw a hard line between macro and micro, or clinical, practice. Early on in graduate school, we choose a track that we presumably stick with, and all of our courses prepare us for that career. But the reality is, both tracks blend into each other, and never is that more clear than in 2020.
Policy - state and federal laws - touches every part of our bodies, and our clients’ bodies, from head to toe. The right to marry, the right to govern our own bodies, the right to have a say in our own deaths - that all is impacted by policy. Our benefits, such as Medicare, Medicaid, SNAP, Social Security - all policy. Insurance, yep - you guessed it - policy.
Social workers must not only be versed in the policies that affect our work, but must be a part of how that policy is developed. So often, policies that originate in Congress are out of touch with communities. Legislators attempt to tackle homelessess or food insecurity or gun violence without any real knowledge of the communities affected by these issues. Social workers should be part of creating the policies that address these issues, because social workers know what happens on the ground, in the communities we serve every day.
I teach policy to social workers. And I often tell my students to please run for office, to please be part of the formation of policies that better address social problems, so we do not have the same issues year after year, so we have community-led interventions, so we have legislation that is informed and enlightened.
2020 is an exceptional year. Our communities have suffered. Food insecurity, housing insecurity, job insecurity. We have seen police violence. 164 Black people were killed by police in the first eight months of 2020. Black and brown communities have suffered disproportionately from COVID-19. We have a president who has not been clear about the dangers of COVID-19, who has not clearly denounced White supremacy. Communities are suffering in isolation. Groups already isolated have become even more isolated during this time. Students struggle in online schools - that is, if they even have the internet at home. Parents struggle to balance work and household responsibilities. Substance abuse is increasing. Countless households struggle with job losses, depression, competing obligations. We need social workers more than ever.
Macro social work right now is educating students to be compassionate and empathetic in health care settings. The continuing pandemic is shifting the lens of macro social work. With clinicians working from their bedrooms, coffee tables, bathrooms with good lighting, and the occasional deck chair, macro social work is now the act of leaving the house. Macro social work is voting. Macro social work is teaching our children about systemic racism. Macro social work is supporting communities. Macro social work is creating legislation to support working mothers during the pandemic. Macro social work is telling the stories of our communities, so that they are heard. Macro social work is wearing a mask. Macro social work is helping our clients register to vote. Macro social work is writing op-eds, like this one.
Macro social work is knowing that social workers can do anything, and the call is on us now, to rise up, and to be the leaders our communities so need right now - in this time of divisiveness; of turmoil; of fear, loss, and sadness.
Never more have clinical and macro skills blended together, and we all must follow our calling to help both the individuals and our greater communities.
Providenza Loera Rocco, JD, MSW, MBE, is an assistant professor in the Center for Urban Bioethics at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University. She also is a lecturer at Simmons University School of Social Work.
Mary Kima Dolson is an MSW candidate at Simmons University School of Social Work. She toils part-time at VOA InAct as a mental health intern and as a SUD counselor.