What is the difference between micro, mezzo, and macro practice in social work?

What is the difference between micro, mezzo, and macro practice in social work?

• A. Micro on individuals and families; mezzo on small groups and organizations; macro on communities, policy, and social systems
• B. Micro on organizations; mezzo on individuals; macro on pets
• C. Micro on policy; mezzo on individuals; macro on families
• D. Micro on communities; mezzo on governments; macro on individuals

Answer: (B)

Levels of practice in social work span different scales of intervention. Micro practice involves direct work with individuals and families, focusing on personal issues, mental health, coping skills, and case management. Mezzo practice operates with small groups and small organizations—think couples, families, or small teams within an agency—aiming to improve group functioning, relationships, and service delivery. Macro practice targets larger systems, such as communities, organizations, and policies, with efforts toward broad social change, advocacy, program development, and policy reform. This framework matches the idea that micro is about individuals and families, mezzo about small groups and small organizations, and macro about communities, policy, and social systems. Choices that place micro on organizations, macro on pets, or mezzo on individuals don’t align with how the levels are typically defined, since they refer to the wrong scale of intervention.

Levels of practice in social work span different scales of intervention. Micro practice involves direct work with individuals and families, focusing on personal issues, mental health, coping skills, and case management. Mezzo practice operates with small groups and small organizations—think couples, families, or small teams within an agency—aiming to improve group functioning, relationships, and service delivery. Macro practice targets larger systems, such as communities, organizations, and policies, with efforts toward broad social change, advocacy, program development, and policy reform.

This framework matches the idea that micro is about individuals and families, mezzo about small groups and small organizations, and macro about communities, policy, and social systems. Choices that place micro on organizations, macro on pets, or mezzo on individuals don’t align with how the levels are typically defined, since they refer to the wrong scale of intervention.