Final answer:
In addressing the couple's situation, a social worker should first connect their specific needs to available service options, then consider additional services such as family preservation, financial guidance, and employment counseling.
Step-by-step explanation:
A social worker meeting with a couple struggling to provide basic needs such as housing, food, and healthcare should first link their specific needs to service options. This initial step involves assessing the couple's unique situation and identifying the most immediate and critical needs to connect them to the appropriate resources and services. Once the urgent needs are addressed, the social worker can then proceed to offer family preservation services, provide information about financial services, and refer for employment counseling.
Social services offered by the government can range from unemployment insurance and welfare to food assistance and job training. In the context of helping the structurally unemployed, economic policies may be designed to provide opportunities for retraining and aid in job-hunting, thereby supporting individuals to reenter the workforce with relevant skills. It's also important for workers to access information about jobs and improve their mobility to connect with potential employers efficiently.