Assignment #3: Macro Practice Issue Paper, Part II

Framework for Developing an Intervention at the Macro Level. DUE 2/25/26 5PM EST

Designing effective macro-level interventions for addressing homelessness among children, youth, and families in Raleigh, North Carolina empowers social workers to create lasting community change through targeted hypotheses, system identification, and strategic approaches.

Continue on the topic: Homelessness Among Children, Youth, and Families in Raleigh, North Carolina

As social workers, we are often in the position to identify problems or issues that exist within our community that are not being addressed or are not being addressed adequately due to any number of reasons. Recognizing these gaps encourages proactive engagement with local resources and stakeholders to foster meaningful solutions. Social Work practice at the macro level allows us to not only identify and address issues that affect organizations and/or communities, but also often requires us to partner with others as we attempt to ameliorate or resolve the identified problem or issue.

This assignment will build on the Macro Practice Paper (assignment #2) where you identified a problem within your community. With this assignment you will utilize the following framework to develop an intervention. Integrating current data on housing trends can strengthen the relevance of your proposed strategies.

Based on the problem you previously identified within your community.

Task 1: Develop the Intervention Hypothesis (2-3 sentences stating your hypothesis). Recent studies highlight the importance of evidence-based hypotheses in tackling family homelessness effectively.

A. Refine the Working Hypothesis of Etiology

B. Refine the Working Intervention Hypothesis

Task 2: Define Participants Identify the following:

• The Initiator System
• The Change Agent System
• The Client System
• The Support System
• The Controlling System

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• The Host and Implementing System
• The Target System
• The Action System

Clearly defining these systems helps in mapping out collaborative networks essential for sustainable interventions.

Task 3: Examine System Capacity for Change

A. Assess openness and commitment to change

B. Determine availability of resources to sustain the change effort

C. Identify outside opposition to change

D. What might be the “costs” to doing nothing?

Evaluating these factors ensures that interventions align with current community capabilities and address potential barriers proactively.

Task 4: Select a Change Approach

Select a policy, program, project, personnel or practice approach – what approach (or combination of approaches) is most likely to achieve the desired change?

Choosing approaches informed by recent policy developments can enhance the impact on vulnerable populations like families facing homelessness.

Length of Paper should be 6 – 9 pages maximum, not including cover page or references. APA format should be followed. Paper must be typed, with standard size font, 1-inch margins and stapled.

Please utilize headings for each section you are addressing. Incorporating headings improves readability and organization in academic submissions.

Sample Answer  Guide

Social workers in Raleigh identified inadequate affordable housing as a key etiological factor contributing to family homelessness. They refined the intervention hypothesis to propose that collaborative community partnerships could reduce homelessness rates by 20 percent within two years. Participants included local nonprofits as the initiator system and city government as the controlling system. System capacity assessment revealed strong commitment from support systems but limited resources due to budget constraints. A combined policy and program approach focused on expanding housing vouchers and family support services proved most effective. Researchers note that family interventions rooted in conflict resolution significantly decrease youth homelessness risks and promote stability (Pergamit et al. 2019, available at https://www.urban.org/sites/default/files/publication/101126/implementing_family_interventions_for_youth_experiencing_or_at_risk_of_homelessness_1.pdf). Ongoing evaluation ensures adaptations to emerging needs in urban settings like Raleigh.

References / Learning Materials / Resources

1. Wang, J.Z., Mott, S., Magwood, O., Mathew, C., Mclellan, A., Kpade, V., Gaba, P., Kozloff, N., Pottie, K. and Andermann, A., 2019. The impact of interventions for youth experiencing homelessness on housing, mental health, substance use, and family cohesion: a systematic review. BMC Public Health, 19(1), pp.1-22. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-019-7776-2
2. Morton, M.H., Chávez, R., Kull, M.A., Carreon, E.D., Bishop, J., Da Costa, L., Trella, D. and Kelleher, K., 2020. Interventions for youth homelessness: A systematic review of effectiveness studies. Children and Youth Services Review, 116, p.105096. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.childyouth.2020.105096
3. Slesnick, N., Zhang, J., Feng, X., Wu, Q., Walsh, L. and Granello, D.H., 2024. Patterns of service needs and use by subgroups of youth experiencing homelessness. Journal of Children and Poverty, 30(1), pp.1-20. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10796126.2024.2342066
4. Vissing, Y., 2020. Changing the paradigm of family homelessness. Journal of Children and Poverty, 26(2), pp.193-211. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/10796126.2020.1782176
5. Heerde, J.A., Bailey, J.A., Patton, G.C. and Kelly, A.B., 2025. Social determinants of homelessness from childhood to adolescence: protocol for a living systematic review and meta-analysis. BMJ Open, 15(11), p.e085913. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2024-085913