1. The
Ecological/Systems
Perspective

2. THE ECOLOGICAL
PERSPECTIVES

3. • The ecological perspective uses ecological
concepts from biology as a metaphor
with which to describe the reprocity
between persons and their
environments...attention is on the
goodness of fit between an individual or
group and the places in which they live
out their lives"(Sands, 2001).
• The ecological perspective can be
traced back to biological theories that
explain how organisms adapt to their
environments.

4. • The social work discipline has
expanded this perspective to explain
that an individual is "constantly
creating, restructuring, and adapting
to the environment as the environment
is affecting them" (Ungar, 2002).
• The systems approach now added the
social elements to the interactive
process.

5. • In the 1960's and 1970's, the systems theory
was expanded based on an ecological
approach, breaking down the term
"environment" into social determinants with
varied levels of power and influence, as
deemed by individual stress and need
and level of connectedness.

6. SYSTEM THEORY

7. Systems theory : Perspectives
and major components
 System- a set of units with relationships
among them.
- as a whole; an entity composed of
separate but interacting and interdependent
parts.
 Synergy – the combined energy from the
smaller parts that is greater than the total if
those parts was to function separately.

8. Boundaries – point at which one ends and
another begins.
 Open and Close systems-
open systems – systems that have permeated
boundaries between units (such as people) in
the system and those outside.
close systems- they have rigid tight
boundaries and are tightly knit within.

9. Interactions and Interrelations
Steady state- systems are not static but are
steadily moving.
Equifinality - the concept that the final state
of a system can be achieved in many different
ways.

10. Levels of Environment
• Microsystems
• The most basic
system, referring to an
individual's most immediate
environment (i.e., the
effects of personality
characteristics on other
family members).
• Mesosystem
• A more generalized system
referring to the
interactional processes
between multiple

11. • Exosystem
• Settings on a more
generalized level which
affect indirectly, family
interactions on the
micro and meso levels
(i. e., the effects of
parent's employment on
family interactions).
• Macro system
• The most generalized
forces, affecting
individuals and family
functioning (i.e.,
political, cultural,
economical, social).

12. Problems on Living
1. Problems with life transitions
2. Problems associated with tasks in
using and influencing elements of t
he environment.
3. Interpersonal problems and needs in
families and groups.

13. THE GENERALIST MODEL
The strengths perspectives
1. Respecting client`s strengths
2. Clients have many strengths
3. Client motivation is based on fostering client
strengths
4. The social worker is a collaborator with the
client
5. Avoiding the victim mindset
6. Any environment is full of resources

14. • Empowerment
• -the process of increasing
personal,interpersonal,or political power so
individuals can take action to improve their
life situation
• Social and Economic Justice

15. Concepts of Generalist Practice
• Strengths perspective
• Empowerment and resilience
• Social and economic justice
• Social worker is a change agent who uses
helping process to facilitate change in client or
client systems

16. Stages of Helping Process
• Dialogue/engagement stage
 Develop relationship –
Define the problem –
 Identify preliminary goals
• Discovery/contract stage –
 Assess and evaluate needs –
 Explore resources and client strengths –
Develop action plans and frame solutions

17. Stages of Helping Process
• Development/action stage
 Carry out plan
 Strengthen clients/help them get what they
need
 Engage resources
 Monitor plan and adjust as needed
 Terminate when appropriate –
 Evaluate change and strategies for continued