Social Work with Groups and Communities PDF

Social Work with Groups and Communities  Outline Historical contexts of social work with groups and communities Different forms of social work groups Stages of group development Group leadership and facilitation Community social work practice  Learning Objectiv...

Social Work with Groups and Communities  Outline Historical contexts of social work with groups and communities Different forms of social work groups Stages of group development Group leadership and facilitation Community social work practice  Learning Objectives To outline different types of social work with groups and communities To identify how process and structure affect social work with groups and communities To understand the theoretical models underlying group and community practice To examine factors that shape group leadership and facilitation To appreciate how purpose guides group membership, interactions, and dynamics in group and community work Historical Contexts of Social Work with Groups and Communities  Historical Contexts of Social Work with Groups and Communities Social work with groups and communities was informed by social reform–oriented settlement houses (late 1800s/early 1900s) – Adherents to the settlement house movement (volunteers) moved into poor neighbourhoods – Goal was to improve conditions through social, economic, and political restructuring – Focus on education, recreation, socialization, and community involvement – Emphasis on mutual support and democratic participation Different Forms of Social Work Groups  Different Forms of Social Work Groups Treatment group: a group that focuses primarily on socio-emotive or behavioural needs of participants – Range from therapy groups (behaviourally- oriented eating disorder group) to self-help groups (Alcoholics Anonymous) Task group: a group that focuses on completing a specific assignment or goal for a clientele, organization, or community – Range from committees (employees working together to make recommendations) to social action groups (individuals who come together to pressure a decision-making body) Different Forms of Social Work Groups, cont’d Group social work has been defined as: – Goal directed activity with small treatment or task groups aimed at meeting socio-emotional needs and accomplishing tasks – Activity is directed to individual members of a group and to the group as a whole  Different Forms of Social Work Groups, cont’d Across all groups, practitioners share key values: – To respect all group members as equal participants – To encourage solidarity and mutual aid – To empower group members to access their own capacity to make change – To recognize how diversity shapes group processes – To ensure that power structures based on social location are acknowledged so that collaboration and shared decision-making can be achieved – To honour each member’s right to express issues of concern and to share ideas  Different Forms of Social Work Groups, cont’d Groups can be comprised of: – As few as 6–8 members (e.g., a therapeutic treatment group aimed at insight building) – As many as 20–25 members (e.g., an educational group aimed at imparting knowledge) Groups can be open or closed – Open group: members can come and go at any time during the life of the group; members leave when they feel ready and return if a need arises – Closed group: fixed or closed membership; membership does not change during the life of the group  Treatment Groups Psychoeducational Talking/Sharing Therapy Circles Support/Self-Help Treatment Socialization Groups  Support Groups and Self-Help Groups Primary goals of support groups: – Fostering mutual aid – Helping members cope with stressful life events – Revitalizing and enhancing members’ coping abilities Distinguishing feature between support and self- help groups is leadership – Support groups are professionally-led – Self-help groups are led by someone who shares the issue the group shares Both encourage exchange between members, founded on the assumption that peers sharing a similar issue are well positioned to help one another  Talking/Sharing Circles Talking/sharing circles have been a First Nations traditional gathering model for millennia Primary goal is to provide a safe place where experiences and perspectives can be shared, and people can help/heal each other Formal leader is typically an Elder, who opens the group with a prayer or ceremony When ready to share, members hold a sacred object and other participants listen; sacred object is passed around for others to share or sit in silence  Psychoeducational Groups Combine the goal of an educational group (to impart knowledge) with support Typically a two-phase structure: 1. Information is provided 2. A skill is practiced to help members cope or respond better Group members have a common interest in learning/developing skills Group size may be large (up to 50 members), depending on balance between education and support  Therapy Groups Therapy groups come together to address individual issues and are led by a group worker, who is seen as the expert Group members are connected by a common goal of personal growth, but personal issues or concerns may differ Highly interactive; group members take on responsibility for communicating insights Ideal size is 8 members Members’ self-reflection and interpersonal learning capabilities are highly important Self-disclosure is moderate to high  Socialization Groups Socialization groups can be focused on learning social skills or can be recreational Typical purpose is to learn through modelling in order to improve communication, social skills, and interpersonal relationships through activities, structured exercises, role plays, etc. Group worker leads as a director of the group’s activities/programs Members are connected through participation in a common activity, enterprise, or situation  Task Groups Staff Committees Development Teams Social Action Task Groups  Teams A collection of individual staff members who come together to work on behalf of a particular client group Teams collaborate to plan and problem-solve together (as opposed to individual members reporting plans to one another) Social workers are perfectly poised to create and maintain multidisciplinary teams due to training focused on process as well as outcomes Within team environments, roles often overlap, and members must be willing to work within and outside of their particular knowledge base  Many teams are Inter-disciplinary or Multi- disciplinary. These teams bring together professionals from different fields. What do you think might be the advantages and disadvantages of this type of team?  Staff Development Groups The goal is the improvement of service provision by developing and updating workers’ skills Staff development groups provide workers with training opportunities (e.g., new treatment approaches, resources, community services, skills training, case discussion) Personal disclosure is low; however, trust is essential in order for members to fully engage and share  Committees A committee is a group of people appointed or elected with a particular charge Discussions typically revolve around an agenda Decision-making can be by consensus or democratic Committees are usually advisory to a higher body (e.g., a director)  Social Action Groups Social action groups focus on the pursuit of social justice and consist of community members who are brought together to advocate for a particular social issue Also known as grassroots groups Goals are usually to affect/demand some sort of change Role of social worker can be enabling or directive; however, a key element is the encouragement of leadership from within the community and broad participation from those involved with the issue Community participation is a critical element for collective action and sustainable change Stages of Group Development  Stages of Group Development A stage in the context of group development is a distinct period in the process of a group’s growth and development Tuckman’s (1965) conceptualization of group development stages has been foundational in group theory Testing and Intragroup Development Functional Evaluation dependence conflict of group role- and Forming Storming cohesion relatedness termination Norming Performing Adjourning Stages of Group Development, cont’d Stage 1: Forming – Discussion and clarification of group purpose, relationship building, and boundary setting – Members may feel anxiety and apprehension about group participation – Role of leader is to facilitate cohesion – Group begins to develop norms Stages of Group Development, cont’d Stage 2: Storming – Storming (or conflict) is a natural stage in a group’s life – Members may experience conflict as a result of a discrepancy between their hopes for the group and the realities of working together – Some members may not like each other – Leader must be comfortable addressing conflict(s) directly, rather than waiting to see if it will resolve Stages of Group Development, cont’d Stage 3: Norming – Group has developed greater cohesion and optimism that members will be able to accomplish their goals – Members re-establish or revise norms developed earlier, clarify roles, accept feedback, and come up with new ways of working together, planning, and accomplishing goals Stages of Group Development, cont’d Stage 4: Performing – Members are now ready to focus on the work that brought them to the group – Communication is effective, bonds between members are stronger, and responsibilities are distributed democratically – Leader may be able to pull back from the leadership position, with more members taking responsibility Stages of Group Development, cont’d Stage 5: Adjourning – Processing of socio-emotional life of the group and feelings members have for one another, the leader, and the group – Members reflect on successes, identify challenges that were presented and perhaps overcome, speak about personal experiences within the group, express their appreciation for group members, and celebrate achievements – Leader’s role is to provide process tools that allow the group to reflect on past experiences and direct attention toward wrapping up activities Let’s see an example https://www.youtube.com/wat ch?v=ysWWGf8VsOg Group Leadership and Facilitation  Group Leadership and Facilitation Current thinking regarding leadership in a social work context is shaped by ecological theory and an interactional model Interactional model: a model where leadership is not the exclusive domain of the leader but is shared among the members as an empowering function  Group Leadership and Facilitation, cont’d A group leader holds considerable power, particularly in the formation and initial meetings of the group A group is centred on its ability to engage mutual aid and empathy while promoting members’ strengths – Responsibility of successful group work rests on the active participation of all members, including the leader Social location has a considerable impact on group processes – Need to examine the impact of diverse social locations of leaders and group members within a  Interactional Model Group Leadership Purpose of the Group Type of Problem Group as a Whole Environment Size and physical Group Leader Physical Group Members arrangement/ Time Power base/Skill level/ setting/Agency/Social Member characteristics/ limits/ Group dynamics/ Personality/ Service systems and the social Extent of participation Stages of group technology environment development Tips for Facilitating and Leading Groups  Tips for Facilitating and Leading Groups ✔ Give yourself adequate time for preparation and planning the group ✔ Help group members create norms for giving and receiving feedback to ensure they feel comfortable and safe ✔ Offer feedback and invite input ✔ Encourage group members to contribute to problem identification and problem- solving  Tips for Facilitating and Leading Groups, cont’d ✔ Make time for self-reflection regarding how the group is proceeding and what issues have been raised for you personally ✔ Pay attention to group dynamics, particularly issues, biases, or agendas hidden below the group’s surface ✔ Support members while they make improvements ✔ Address taboo topics directly  Tips for Facilitating and Leading Groups, cont’d ✔ Probe offensive behaviour by group members; consider whether to explore possible underlying issues that behaviour may express or to confront directly ✔ Assist members in navigating interpersonal conflicts ✔ Encourage others to take on leadership roles What do you see this leader doing to form the group? https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Tf_smu 76T0&list=PL06lZRkTDtIQbNg8I36ENH4ZZB 4VrAQpY&index=14 Community Social Work Practice  Community Social Work Practice Group work and community work are closely interconnected Community practice work: focused on changing collective social, economic, and political conditions for communities Community-based practice: working with organizations that exist in a particular community focused on an issue of importance to constituents of that community  Community Social Work Practice, cont’d Community can be defined by geography, identity, interest, or any integration of the three Communities can be: – Physically constructed (e.g., based on neighbourhood, municipality, etc.) – Based on shared identity, interest, or experience (e.g., ethnicity, religion, ideology, gender, sexual orientation, etc.) – Built in virtual settings (e.g., e-communities for support or learning)  Community Social Work Practice, cont’d Community practice typically reflects the following assumptions: – Economic and social injustice stems from the failure of the larger society to assist all individuals in meeting their potential – All members of a community have the right to participate directly in decisions that affect them – When provided with information, citizens will participate in the decision-making process – Failure of members of a community to participate in the democratic process may be due to their lack of knowledge about the process, injustices that disenfranchise them, or discomfort with participating due to histories of exclusion  Community Social Work Practice, cont’d Rothman’s modes of community intervention: – Locality development: engaging a wide variety of community members to plan, employ, and evaluate an intervention which contributes to sustainable change – Social planning: analysis of statistical data, needs assessments, and other community- based evaluations – Social action: organization of community members to mobilize and defend their rights What are the strengths and weaknesses of: Locality development Social Planning Social Action For what type of community work might you use one or the other?