Nevada School of Social Work 101 Social Work
- Slides: 28
Nevada School of Social Work 101 Social Work Practice with Groups
This Week… • MEZZO PRACTICE: Group work! • Overview: History and Social Work Process • Types of groups • Stages of group development • Group roles
“People who work together will win, whether it be against complex football defenses or the problems of modern society. ” - Vince Lombardi
Levels of Generalist Practice (Review) ● Individuals and families-MICRO (last week) ● Working one-on-one with those facing problems and transitions ● Groups-MEZZO (this week) ● Facilitating support, task, information, skill-building, and other types of groups ● Organizations-MACRO (next week) ● Community organizing, policy analysis, administration, policy advocacy, electoral work and more
MEZZO SOCIAL WORK Social work with groups
Group Work ● Group work (or mezzo practice) is a practice method in which the social worker works with a multiple clients to develop a planned change effort that meets the needs of the group ● The social worker’s role in a group can be that of initiator, facilitator, therapist, resource person, consultant, evaluator, or a combination of these roles
Skills for Group Practice ● Engagement involves explaining group purpose; establishing rules, norms, and boundaries; and creating a safe environment ● Assessment involves monitoring individual progress and group dynamics; balancing personal and group goals; and remaining aware of group diversity ● Intervention involves establishing goals, documenting the group agenda, and managing conflict and disruption ● Evaluation and termination involve reviewing goals, obtaining group member feedback, and obtaining information on the success of interventions
History of Group Work ● In the United States, group methods were initially used as a strategy for working with youth through organized activities ● By the 1930 s and 1940 s, group work had become an intervention method with hospitalized patients, the developmentally disabled and mentally ill, and returning World War II veterans ● By the 1970 s, social workers were participating in a variety of experimental self-improvement groups ● Group social work practice is now recognized as part of the profession’s mission to empower and promote well-being
History of group work continued… ● Settlement Houses ● Methods were initially used as a strategy for working with youth through organized activities ● By the 1930 s and 1940 s, group work was used for intervention in health care, mental health, work with disabilities, and returning World War II veterans ● By the 1970 s, social workers were participating in a variety of experimental self-improvement groups ● Group social work practice is now recognized as part of the profession’s mission to empower and promote well-being
Stages of mezzo level social work (Look familiar? )
SMALL GROUPS! First Question: What skills do you need to work with individuals?
DISCUSSION What skills do you need to work with INDIVDUALS? Do you use the same skills to work with GROUPS?
DISCUSSION Are there additional skills you need to develop in order to be a group worker? What are they?
Back to small group! What are the different types of groups you’re aware of? List every kind of group you think a social worker might use/facilitate/be involved in.
Types of groups • Social Action Groups • Remedial/Therapy/Treatment Groups • Reciprocal/Mutual Aid Groups • Task Groups
Social Goals Groups ●These groups, also known as “social action groups, ” aim to make change on organizational, governmental, and community levels ●Examples may include neighborhood safety groups, groups advocating for legislation, and interdisciplinary groups of professionals working in the same field or area ●Groups may consist of professionals or nonprofessionals
Remedial Groups ● Remedial groups—also known as therapy groups or treatment groups—aim to help members enhance their social functioning ● The role for the social worker in a remedial group is typically as a leader or facilitator ● These groups may be closed or open; in an open group, members may join or leave at any time, while in a closed group, the membership does not change ● Therapeutic groups often arise when a professional identifies several individuals within the agency’s client population that share a common issue
Reciprocal Groups ● Reciprocal groups, or mutual aid groups, come together out of a shared interest or experience ● Reciprocal aid groups differ from therapy groups in that leaders can be professional or nonprofessional, individual members do not typically have specified treatment goals, and the intervention occurs as a result of the members’ interpersonal relationships ● Examples include groups based around addiction, diseases/health conditions, or adoption
Task Groups ●Task groups work collaboratively toward creating solutions to specific problems or issues that affect a larger group ●Examples may include: ● Faculty, staff, and parents in a school working together to put together Individual Education Plan (IEP) ● A task force at a food pantry working together to show appreciation to volunteers
What makes a group? • Structure • Inclusion criteria, task functions (leadership roles and activities), time and place • Function • Group purpose • Goals • Development • Time and relationship
Yalom: Therapeutic Factors in Group Therapy • What makes groups effective practice? • Instillation of hope • Universality • Imparting information • Altruism • The corrective recapitulation of the primary family group • Development of socializing techniques • imitative behavior
Every group develops its own culture, or “norms” • Norms are the explicit or implicit rules specifying what behaviors are acceptable within a society or group. • • “bless you” Spitting (or not) Use of swear words Public restroom etiquette
Group culture and norms Different from regular social norms: • Comment on feelings • Honesty • Spontaneity • Free interaction
Other desirable group norms: • Active involvement in the group • Non-judgmental acceptance of others • Extensive self-disclosure • Desire for self-understanding • Dissatisfaction with present modes of behavior • Eagerness for change
Types of Roles in Groups: • Task-oriented roles • Information-giver, time-keeper, energizer • Social roles • Encourager, compromiser, follower • Individualistic roles • Blocker, recognition-seeker, help-seeker
“Problem patients” (Yalom) • Monopolist • Dominator • Silent one • Boring one • Help-rejecting complainer • Self-righteous moralist • Narcissist
Stages of Group Development: Forming Storming Norming Performing Adjourning
Key Points ●Group work has a long history in the field of social work ●Many of the skills involved in individual and family practice can be applied to group work ●Groups can be oriented toward tasks, social change, remediation of problems, or mutual aid
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