Meso Level Organizations in Aotearoa/New Zealand: Factors Influencing Them

The Meso Level and Its Influence in Aotearoa/New Zealand

Meso level organisations are viewed as the “meat in the sandwich” between the micro and macro levels. Discuss the meso level and the factors that influence it in Aotearoa/New Zealand.

In your discussion choose one of the course case studies and offer explanations and possible responses to the case at the meso level. Also, describe how this level interacts with the other levels. Marking criteria for Assignment Two Presentation 5  Marks 

This includes clarity, creativity, structure and referencing Evidence 10 Marks 

• Of a particular body of knowledge or theory regarding organisations in Aotearoa/New Zealand.
• Of an understanding of meso level theories. Analysis 10 Marks 

Application of the above body of evidence to a case study and its importance in social work in Aotearoa/ New Zealand generally and personally.

Janet Case Study

You are a social worker working for Otago Youth Wellness. The social worker from an Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice Facility has referred Janet to you to provide supportive casework focused on the impending birth of her first child.

The referral gave you the following information Janet is aged 18 years of age and is seven months pregnant. She has recently been released from a Youth Justice Facility. Since Janet was aged 11 years she had been in several alternative care situations including a number of fostercare placements one of which was long term. She had been in the Youth Justice Facility for a series of offences, primarily stealing and breaking and entry. She had also spent time on the streets during this period. She became involved with drugs and alcohol during this time. Janet is a Pakeha and the father of her baby is Maori, she is no longer in a relationship with him and does not plan for him to have a parenting relationship with their child. His family is unaware of her pregnancy. Janet has a difficult relationship with her parents due to their severe alcoholism.

Janet’s sister Tracey has now offered Janet a place to stay for as long as she needs. Tracey is aged 24 years and is the mother of 2 children (aged 6 & 3 years). Janet is happy to accept Tracey’s offer as she has always had a good relationship with her. Janet has nothing to do with her foster family as she says that she was sexually abused by her foster father and therefore does not want to have any contact with this family.

Whilst in the Oranga Tamariki Youth Justice Facility Janet made good progress with her formal education and has expressed an interest in returning to school so that she can complete her secondary schooling. She has also been attending a Day programme attached to the Mirror Project (Youth Counselling and Support Project) and has a good counsellor she says she can talk to. Her midwife is well known for working with “high risk” young women and Janet trusts her. Oranga Tamariki plans to monitor Janet as they have concerns about her ability to care for her baby once it is born, given Janet’s family background and her own harmful use of drugs and alcohol.