Identifying a Key Challenge for the Social Work Profession
Trauma is a complex feeling that is created by experiencing adverse events. Such events leave a lasting mental and/or physical mark on the person, so they are still experiencing what happened for a long time and actively looking for ways to recover. Unfortunately, the risk of trauma is much higher for vulnerable groups, and because of their vulnerable position, there is even less opportunity to cope effectively. The task of social work is to alleviate the burden that vulnerable groups carry with trauma and help them cope with the aftermath.
Micro-Level Strategies to Address the Challenge
Micro-level interventions for vulnerable groups include direct targeted support for affected individuals. Such interventions include an understanding of the forms of trauma on the social worker’s part. In interacting with the survivor, the social worker identifies the specific type of trauma and the preconditions, i.e., does not stop at a superficial analysis. From this information, the social worker makes a plan for the individual for post-traumatic support.
Mezzo and Macro-Level Approaches for Social Change
On the mezzo level, the social worker’s task is to examine the person’s immediate surroundings and work to change them to create favorable conditions for the healing of the trauma. The employee should pay attention to physical factors that disturb the victim (for example, bright lights or loud noises). In addition, it is necessary to work with psychological safety measures. For example, parents and friends give ineffective advice, and the victim does not know how to get out of a damaging relationship because of them.
Social workers organize services at the community or even the state level to help victims work through trauma. For example, creating a community counseling service gives victims free access to help regardless of income. In addition, at the state level, programs are implemented to support free or promotional medical care, which is necessary for victims of disasters or any other accident.