, PYC4808 ASSIGNMENT 3 2025 ANSWERS
DUE DATE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2025
QUESTION 1:
ECOMAP OF THE JACKSON FAMILY
INTRODUCTION
An ecomap is an essential analytical tool within social work and family studies that provides a
systemic perspective on a family’s interactions with its broader social environment. It functions
as a visual representation of the relationships and interdependencies between the family unit
and the multiple systems—formal and informal—that influence their well-being (Hartman &
Laird, 2018). The Jackson Family, like many contemporary families, navigates complex social,
educational, and economic networks that shape their functioning and resilience. By
constructing an ecomap, practitioners can systematically identify the strengths and
vulnerabilities of the family, including supportive relationships, sources of stress, and areas
where intervention may be warranted (Germain & Gitterman, 1996). This approach aligns with
ecological systems theory, which posits that individuals and families are embedded within
multiple, interacting social systems that collectively influence developmental outcomes
(Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In the context of the Jackson Family, the ecomap facilitates a
nuanced understanding of how proximal and distal influences—ranging from immediate family
ties to institutional connections—affect daily functioning and long-term adaptation.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ECOMAP
The construction of an ecomap involves several critical elements that collectively allow for a
comprehensive assessment of the family’s social environment:
1. The Central Family Unit: The nucleus of the ecomap is the Jackson Family itself.
Each member is represented individually within the family circle, underscoring the
importance of intra-familial relationships and their role in mediating interactions with
external systems (Hartman & Laird, 2018).
2. External Systems and Networks: Surrounding the family are nodes representing
social systems, including schools, workplaces, healthcare services, extended family,
community organizations, and religious institutions. These systems function as either
DUE DATE: 17 SEPTEMBER 2025
QUESTION 1:
ECOMAP OF THE JACKSON FAMILY
INTRODUCTION
An ecomap is an essential analytical tool within social work and family studies that provides a
systemic perspective on a family’s interactions with its broader social environment. It functions
as a visual representation of the relationships and interdependencies between the family unit
and the multiple systems—formal and informal—that influence their well-being (Hartman &
Laird, 2018). The Jackson Family, like many contemporary families, navigates complex social,
educational, and economic networks that shape their functioning and resilience. By
constructing an ecomap, practitioners can systematically identify the strengths and
vulnerabilities of the family, including supportive relationships, sources of stress, and areas
where intervention may be warranted (Germain & Gitterman, 1996). This approach aligns with
ecological systems theory, which posits that individuals and families are embedded within
multiple, interacting social systems that collectively influence developmental outcomes
(Bronfenbrenner, 1979). In the context of the Jackson Family, the ecomap facilitates a
nuanced understanding of how proximal and distal influences—ranging from immediate family
ties to institutional connections—affect daily functioning and long-term adaptation.
KEY ELEMENTS OF THE ECOMAP
The construction of an ecomap involves several critical elements that collectively allow for a
comprehensive assessment of the family’s social environment:
1. The Central Family Unit: The nucleus of the ecomap is the Jackson Family itself.
Each member is represented individually within the family circle, underscoring the
importance of intra-familial relationships and their role in mediating interactions with
external systems (Hartman & Laird, 2018).
2. External Systems and Networks: Surrounding the family are nodes representing
social systems, including schools, workplaces, healthcare services, extended family,
community organizations, and religious institutions. These systems function as either
