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Person In-Environment Framework

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Introduction Person-in-Environment Framework In our practice as social workers, we are urged to view and understand human behavior as a set of complex interactions between individuals and their environment. This is known as the person-in-environment framework. This framework encourages us to acknowledge the influence of environment on our lives and provides a beneficial framework to think about and understand human behavior (Hutchinson, 2017). Understanding our work from this perspective allows us to approach our clients from a multi-dimensional stance, taking into consideration how various factors, including but not limited to, race, class, age and gender create individual identity and shapes an individual’s experience in the context of …show more content…

Diminishing these social injustices in which Izzie has experienced calls for measures aimed at empowerment. This involves engaging Izzie in dialogue that will assist her in gaining an awareness of the oppressive actions that have impacted the lives of her and her family so that the focus can then turn to actions of self-determination which can liberate her from oppressive conditions (Marsiglia & Kulis, 2016). Further, as part of this empowerment process, we should focus on ways to help Izzie define and express herself independent of the definitions promoted by the dominant culture about people in marginalized groups(van Voorhis, 1998). This process of empowerment requires an intricate and collaborative social worker and client relationship, with Izzie leading the way as the expert on her family and situation. The direction of this relationship is client-led while the social worker engages in continual assessment of his or her own cultural values, norms, beliefs as well as privilege and power to ensure minimal imposition of such things in their work with Izzie and her …show more content…

This increases the chances for their poor and minority children to experience further future racial and class inequality. We need to consider the long-term consequences of this family’s current situation as engage with them. Several implications arise when we consider parental/familial incarceration and the impact it has on their family members left behind. Incarceration elevates risk of divorce or separation, reduces financial resources and security of the partners and children left behind, increases child behavioral problems, increases social marginalization and other negative economic, health and well-being outcomes (Wildeman & Western, 2010; Sugie, 2012). Knowing what we do regarding social determinants of health, these are important issues to keep in mind in our work with this

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