Current events and their social impact

On September 19, 2017, a magnitude 7.1 earthquake struck the heart of Mexico, affecting its capital city and surrounding areas including the state of Puebla. Already 119 people have been confirmed dead, but as many remain trapped under buildings and debris, the toll is expected to climb (Partlow, 2017). Sadly, the 2017 earthquake has occurred on the anniversary of a quake that also devastated Mexico City in 1985. The earthquake, responses to the earthquake, and policies and programs available to residents of Mexico, can all be viewed from the micro, mezzo, and macro levels. Micro level issues pertain to the individual and family units. Most social workers provide micro level support to individuals and families like those impacted by the Mexico City earthquake (“Micro, Mezzo, and Macro Social Work,” 2017). For example, a social worker might help a family to access financial aid to help them rebuild their home or access insurance funds. Alternatively, the social worker can help direct the family towards healthcare or mental health resources. Mezzo level issues related to the earthquake include the local and municipal infrastructures, urban planners, law enforcement, and local politicians. This is the level of response to the earthquake that will be most immediately noticeable in any community, including first responders and hospitals. When working on the mezzo level, social workers help mobilize local organizations and encourage collaboration between different agencies and stakeholders to help rebuild the city and direct resources where they are needed most. Finally, the macro level issues are the public policies in place at the national or societal level and even at the international level. When responding to an earthquake, there may be new legislation in Mexican government to provide emergency relief funding or to mandate that all new buildings be built to specific codes. Any issues that transcend the local or the personal are macro issues, and the social worker understands how to apply macro level policy concerns to helping all who are affected by a natural disaster such as this.