ABSTRACT
Eco-systems theory is our concern in this chapter. It involves seeing individuals, families, schools, and social communities in relationships shaped by interconnected systems. Aila-Leena Matthies and Kati Närhi help us to look more holistically at the situations we encounter by setting them in their wider context. This chapter discusses how ecological theories, and the central idea of the person-in-environment, can help us understand how the environment is an integral part of social work, and how social workers can apply this understanding to practice. This approach can be traced back to the pioneering work of Jane Addams and Mary Richmond. Two different theoretical directions are explored: a “systems theoretical approach: that draws on ecological systems theory and, an “ecocritical perspective” that focuses on the built environment and issues of sustainable development. Both approaches are illustrated in relation to helping to integrate young unemployed people back into society. While social work traditionally focuses on individuals, eco-systems theory can help us broaden our focus without losing sight of the individual.
