Usc Sosw 503 Assignment 1 Systems and Ecological Theory

SOWK 503 Fall 2012 Assignment 1 Article Critique 9/26/12 Julie Emmer LCSW CAP Abstract The purpose of this musical theme is to critically critique and evaluate the drive P arnting a kid With a Disibility The Role of Social Support for African American Parents, written by Jung Hwa Ha, Jan S. Greenburg, & Marsha Mallick Seltzer. This paper get out critically apply the Ecological Perspective and Systems Theory, to the friendly concern as it addressed in this study.This paper depart hand this critique by evaluateing the hypothesis, evaluating the method of study, and critically discussing the results of the study in principal by using the key concepts of the fore mentioned theories. Upon the completion of this paper, the reader go away have a full understanding of the study, and how it whitethorn relate to electron orbit of Social Work using a Systems Theory emplacement.Critique of Parenting a Child With a balk The Role of Social Support for African American Parents Key Concepts of study The study Parenting a Child With a Disability The Role of Social Support for African American Parents, was conducted as an amplification of the findings of front studies. There have been a many studies that have figured the racial strike of the parents of change pincerren however, few have examined the influences that whitethorn instill an African American family raising a disabled barbarian.Therefore, the purpose of this study is to examine the following two areas of interest (a) the impact of having a child with a deterrent on parents mental and physical wellness among urban-dwelling African Americans and (b) the utmost to which exacting and veto social interactions with family members other than the spouse moderate the impact of childs disability on parental adaptation (Ha, Greenberg & Mailick Seltzer, 2010). The authors motive for this study is to provide empirical recite to assist professionals in addressing contingent needs when, supplying so cial services to this population or purlieu of lients. Important facts and concerns related to the social concern. The authors of this study referenced several previous studies that digested their supposition of family support from other than a spouse will attri preciselye to public assistance and equal homeostasis of the parent. Previous studies suggest that extended families present a core social network for African Americans and provide all important(predicate) financial and instrumental support (Ellison,1990). Furthermore, support from kin is related to contentment and life satisfaction among African Americans (Ellison, 1990).In addition, it is also suggested in this study that shun entropy (interactions) or insufficiency of higher up form (extended family) involvement whitethorn impact the parent in a negative manner. The reasoning of the decoct on African American parents, is to assess the influence of having a disable child, and how it may disturb the negative en ergy that is already experienced in the family agreement by oppression and discrimination. This study was conducted in urban areas in Milwaukee county Wisc. as a continuance of the Midlife in the United States Study (MIDUS Brim, Ryff, & Kessler, 2004).The African American Milwaukee sample provided a unique opportunity to address within-racial ag host differences in the impact of having a child with a disability. (Ha, Greenberg & Mailick Seltzer, 2010). The sample concourse of the study was a meeting of 48 families with a disable child that is afflicted with one of the following dis gilds autism, cerebral palsy, epilepsy, or intellectual disability, or was ever afflicted with a long-term serious mental health problem. The comparison group of 144 was families consisting of at least 1 child and no children in the family administration have a disability. Theory ConceptsThe organizations admission attempts to view the world in terms of irreducibly and integrated carcasss. It snap es attention on the whole, as well as on the complex interrelationships among its constituent parts. The systems theory sees all of the aspects of a individual and their milieu as an individual system and an interrelated system. A social system is a special order of systems composed of persons or groups of persons who interact and influence all(prenominal) others behavior. Within this order can be included persons families, organizations, communities, societies, and cultures (Robbins, Chatterjee & Canda, 2011).The systems theory allows us to examine the central system from a micro, meso, or macro perspective. keeping all of the individual systems autonomous, while still being able to gestate the interrelatedness of the systems together. Similar to the systems theory, the ecological theory embraces many of the same concepts, nevertheless has narrowed the focus, so that it does not include such(prenominal) a liberal view of the system. The Ecological theory is an adaptive, ev olutionary view of human beings in constant exchange interchange with all elements of their environment (Germain & Gitterman, 1980, p. 5).The idea that person and the environment are inseparable and must be considered jointly, is primary boldness of this theory. The person and his or her environment form a unitary system in which each is dependent on the other and directly shapes each other. Application of theory and key concepts The sample of population of this study was derived from a population in the urban areas of Milwaukee. Even though this study did not disclose evidence concerning the ecosystem and the environment of the subjects, it would be fair to assume that they are victims of coercive and exploitive business office.The reasoning for this assumption is the geographical location of this study, is cognise for having a high number of production plants and heavy pollution. The coercive power that is being afflicted is quantified in the study, with the fact, that the sub jects do not reside in close proximity to any social services. This study was conducted to measure the affect of raising a child with a disability this environment. Further focus was placed on the set up of synergy from a supra system (family) on the central system (parents), and the possible negative health ensnares derived from the lack of synergy.The results of this study were divided into two sections. The first section was to assess the effects having a child with a disability (sub system) has on the focal system. The negative energy from a sub system with a disability did have a negative effect on the focal systems physical health, and homeostasis. The negative impact on the homeostasis of the focal system was attributed to physical impairments of the subjects. However, this was seen only in the older population that was studied and may have been establishd by the rise in physical activities that is needed to care for a child with special needs and aging.This aspect suppor ts the concept of adaptation of the focal system to achieve the honor of fit in their habitat. The lack of mental health disorders in the focal system, may also evidence that entropy from resources in the environment or supra system, may cause the same amount of mental distress in the focal group as a whole. The second purpose of this study was to examine the effect of proceedings between the supra system and the focal system. Specifically how the focal systems homeostasis is affected by the exchange of confirmatory, and negative energy, or entropy.The results of this study partially supported the hypothesis that positive energy transactions between the focal, and supra system is a predictor of the homeostasis of the focal system. The positive and negative mental affect is less when a system has positive energy transactions with the supra system, and in turn, leads to a balanced homeostasis and goodness of fit. In turn, the systems with entropy or negative energy transactions fr om the supra system are more likely to have reduced contend measures, and a reduced goodness of fit. Emerging patterns.Examination of this study from a systems perspective did yield an emerging pattern. I was able to access the importance, and interrelatedness of a system. This study provided empirical evidence that systems are interconnected. The transaction of energy from a sub or a supra system will affect the homeostasis of the focal system. This effect may be positive or negative, but none the less, it will affect the focal system. This study also provided evidence that a system will adapt to its environment to achieve a goodness of fit and equal homeostasis.The systems theory was able to help me assess the interrelatedness of the study however, it did also help me to recognize the limitations of study. One such limitation is narrow focus of the study. I believe for the study to be effective, the authors would have needed to address social concerns, coercive power, and exploit ive power, which may be affecting the focal system as a whole. Compressive aestival Upon completion of this study I did possess a new familiarity and enlightenment concerning the African American parents of disabled children.This study demonstrated the negative effect on homeostasis and physical health, that is derived from negative energy transactions with the supra and sub systems. However, I am still left with questions concerning the effectiveness of this study. This study was performed in a nondiverse community on a very delicate sample size. Therefore, I believe that further study is needed, with the focus group living in diverse communities and being subjected to different environmental influences.Furthermore, this manoeuver sample was limited to children with mental disabilities, and to effectively assess this subject, the sample must be expanded to include physical disabilities. This study was in an environment that may be oppressed and suffering from systematic discrim ination. I was astonished to read that the persons with disabled children were not afflicted with more mental disorders than the persons without disabled children. This aspect raises concern about the environment of the sample group. This study verbalize that this population is isolated from resources, and has a high unemployment rate as well.All of these factors will affect the wellbeing and homeostasis of a person. Therefore, I believe that further exploration is needed to assess the community stressors and influence on the overall wellbeing and homeostasis of the community. These influences should not be explored only for this study, but to also access need, and provide resources for this population. Resources Ha, J. , Greenberg, J. S. , & Mailick Seltzer, M. (2010). Parenting a child with a disability The role of social support for african american parents. The Journal of Contemporary Social Services, 92(4), 405-411.Robbins, S. , Chatterjee, P. , & Canda, E. (2011). Contempory human behaivior thoery. (3rd ed. , p. 38). Sadddle River, NJ Allyn & Bacon. Ellison, C. G. (1990). Family ties, Friendships, and Subjective Well-Being among Black Americans. Journal of Marriage and the Family, 52(2), 298310. Germain,C. B. & Gitterman, A. (1980) The Life precedent of Social Work Practice. New York Columbia University Press. Green, R. (1999) Ecological Perspective an discriminating theoretical framework for social work practice (2nd ed. , p. 259-308). New York Aldine DeGruyyer