Final answer:
Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory places a child's immediate environment or microsystem as pivotal in development, influencing their cognitive growth and socio-emotional health through direct interactions such as family and school.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bronfenbrenner argued that the immediate environment of a child consists of various interacting elements. Known as the microsystem within Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, it includes the settings with which the child directly interacts such as family, school, and neighborhood. This level of environment greatly impacts the child's development by providing direct social interactions that shape their experiences and cognitive growth. The curriculum mentioned aims to examine and address the barriers within a child's microsystem and other broader systems that influence their well-being, taking into account family dynamics, social support, and community resources within this immediate realm. It is designed to aid case managers in supporting the goal-setting of education, employment, and emotional health for Black mothers and children, drawing upon principles of systems thinking.
Furthermore, the application of ecological systems theory, combined with phenomenology in the PVEST framework, serves to explore how different experiences within the immediate environment are interpreted and give rise to individual behavior patterns. This understanding stresses the importance of the quality of interactions in the proximal contexts of a child's life and the complex interplay with the larger social systems.