After selecting a social problem, write a situational analysis report, which is a factual description of the social problem, the need that arises from that problem, and the current state of interventions that are designed to address the need.
A situational analysis is an examination of a social problem, the population impacted, and the effectiveness of programs or interventions that are used to address it. Frequently, social workers and community planners jump straight to implementing interventions without a clear understanding of the social problem or the “situation.” This is poor practice because if you don’t clearly understand the problem or need, then you run the risk of implementing interventions that miss the target. This can lead to waste and inefficiency, which is already a negative stereotype of social services. When completing a situational analysis, one must become immersed into the literature, data, and online resources. In doing so, it is easy to become overwhelmed and disorganized in how you frame your summary of the situation.
Here we take a step back. Write a situational analysis report that describes your chosen social problem. The report is a factual description of your chosen social problem, the need that arises from that problem, and the current state of interventions that are designed to address the need. The report is a summary of your analysis of a situation and is supported by the inclusion of administrative data, peer-reviewiqued articles, and stakeholder input.
