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Social Sciences
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Topic:

Becoming a Change Agent. Analyzing the Situation Essay

Essay Instructions:

Overview and Rationale
“The Social Work Dictionary defines change agent as “a social worker or other helping
professional or group off helpers whose purpose is to facilitate improvement” (Barker, 2003, p.
64). Although this task seems simple, the task can be very difficult. Social problems are large
scale and deeply entrenched. Trying to facilitate change, and do so in ways that improve
people’s lives, is the foundation of the social work practice, hence the reason they are often
called change agents” (Segal, Gerdes, & Steiner, 2015). This assignment is designed to provide
you with the opportunity to make decisions as if you were a social worker enabling change.
Assignment Description
You will submit a response based on the Becoming a Change Agent exercise on page 315 (Box
10.6) of the text book. The prompt discusses the growing homeless populations and how the
city of Seattle, WA is dealing with it. You will be asked to do the following:
1. Analyze the situation by responding to the prompts in the exercise.
2. Explain what social workers can do to address the problem on micro, mezzo and macro
levels. Be sure to clearly indicate which level of practice you are referring to (micro,
mezzo and macro) in your responses.
3. Personal reflection: What could you do to address the needs of the substance-abusing,
mentally ill homeless population in your community? What barriers do you face, and
what could you do to reduce these barriers?
This exercise should include at least two references (peer reviewed journals) to support
actions of social workers and yourself in this situation. You should support actions listed with
peer reviewed journal articles in an effort to demonstrate how the activities/actions are
evidence-based. Doing this will also introduce you to professional literature on social work and
homelessness.

Essay Sample Content Preview:

Becoming a Change Agent
Name
Institutional Affiliation
Becoming a Change Agent
Analyzing the Situation
Substance abuse, mental illnesses, and homelessness attract more attention considering the possible interconnection that exists in these variables. Usually, homelessness has a positive relationship with mental disorder globally although the prevalence of both and the eventual relationship varies depending on the service systems, ethnic groups, and nations. In this regard, countries with affordable housing and extensive mental health services imply a related patient will less likely have a place to live. On the other hand, regions with intricate social support systems as well as accepting cultural norms are less likely to have homeless and people under substance abuse.
In this regard, Schutt et al. (2009) surveyed to ascertain the extent of the connection between substance abuse, mental illnesses, and homelessness in four cities in the United States (U.S.). The research established that cases of homelessness among the mentally ill were much reduced by a significant extent only when enhanced services were available. On the other hand, substance abused raised the possibility of housing loss. The relationship can also be reversed. Polcin (2016) also posits the same view that both variables can be cause and consequences of the other.
Most of the housing programs at our locality are conducted by non-governmental organizations. On admission, one is prohibited from the continued abuse of drugs. In my opinion, the housing-first approach is the best method to neutralize the issue of homelessness. This assertion arises from the understanding that a person’s life and subsequent consequences arise from the internal situation and conflicts within a person. Housing them lowers the level of stress in them in that they can focus on other areas of their lives that demand improvement. Consequently, minimizing their drug intake is bound to cross their minds at one point or another. This chance creates room for possible alienation from drugs entirely.
The housing-first approach invites another condition into the equation over who should account for the expenses thereof. Such a project demands a significant amount of expenditure justifying the case for this question. Private organizations and the government are two entities that can accomplish this task. A private-public relationship is a more rational approach to this issue. However, when it comes to who should pay for those that fail to decline on their use for alcohol after their housing issue is solved, then the government is positioned to do that because they will relate that to social costs. In contrast, private e...
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