Group Work Practice with Asian Clients

While considerable interest has been given to the social work with Asian-Americans, little attention has been paid to the Asian group work practice. This article suggests a sociocultural approach in working with Asian groups, including a knowledge of the sociocultural heritage of the Asian clients, the proper respect for the members of the family on group process, and the group worker's, awareness of the significance of role expectation and its meaning for clients. In dealing with these sociocultural aspects, the social worker's role in Asian group treatment is that of a culture broker and enabler.     

Group Work with Families

Family practice is a special case of social work with groups. This practice especially requires an ethnic and multicultural perspective. Such a framework is presented in this paper with focus on group work with families in Singapore. Singapore is an economically developed East Asian nation populated predominately by three ethnic groups: Chinese, Malay, and Indian. These groups have experienced a wider culture in transition, affecting their family group culture. Through use of the sensitizing conceptual frameworks of family cultural reality and value orientation theory, this paper presents a multicultural perspective and applies it to group work with families in Singapore. The framework used is deemed applicable to practice with the family and other small groups in similar multicultural contexts wherein members experience the effects of swift social change.     

Group Work with Hard-to-Reach Adolescents

Treatment of the adolescent population, especially delinquent and predelinquent youth, has been a difficult challenge in the mental health field. Traditional treatment modalities not suited to unmotivated, verbally unsophisticated teenagers have generally bypassed them. We describe here the adaptation of streetwork and therapeutic activity group practice to this population. Focus is on the flexible use of member initiated program selection as a dynamic group work tool.     

Social Group Work with Elders

No abstract available for this article.     

Consultation for Improving Group Services to Alcoholic Clients

No abstract available for this article.     

Group Work with Black Adoptive Applicants

The variety of uses of groups in the field of adoptions is traced historically and the group process is presented as an effective approach to studying prospective adoptive families. A case study of a culturally specific group of prospective black adoptive applicants is described and analyzed. Special emphasis is placed on the unique skills and knowledge needed by adoption workers in establishing trust and relationships with groups of black families who are interested in adopting.     

Group Work Practice with American Indians

This paper discusses ways in which social group work can be implemented in behalf of American Indian clientele. Social workers should be aware of the value that American Indians have placed on the use of groups within their own culture, and the importance of understanding the impact of American Indian culture on each individual Amcrican Indian client and tribal group. A number of current issues facing American Indian people are identified. Suggestions are offered for consideration in planning specific group experiences.     

Group Work with Low-Income Black Youths

Low-income Black youths face problems which negatively impact on their self-concepts and educational achievement. Without an education, the opportunities for social mobility for them are severely decreased. The small group is suggested as a medium of intervention in the public schools by which large numbers of low-income Black youths can be reached and assisted with problems which interfere with their cducation. This paper discusses group work with this population, the theoretical framework utilized, and the applicability of some of the insights gained from working with this population to group work wilh Blacks in general.     

Group Work with the Deinstitutionalized Elderly

Two series of group sessions were conducted with elderly residents of a group home for deinstitutionalized mental hospital residents. Entitled, "Improving Communication Skills," the sessions were designed to enhance the residents' verbal and non-verbal communication skills and to lay the foundation for greater interpersonal contacts. An evaluation of this pilot program suggests that it did, in fact, help participants improve their interpersonal skills. The paper concludes with suggestions for the establishment of similar groups.     

Group Work with Inner City Persons with AIDS

A model for serving inner city poor persons with AIDS through a medical facility is described. The mixed factors of ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, race and modes of transmission are examined as influences on the group process. Objectives, pre-group planning, formation guidelines, and presenting problems of members are identified. Through case illustrations group issues are used to point out interventive strategies. Because of the shifting demographics of people with AIDS and their families, the group modality provides a vital educative and supportive vehicle to highly disadvantaged persons affected by the disease.     

Multi-Family Group Work

A comprehensive review of the literature on dropout revealed 37 studies involving group treatment. Although these studies represent less than 10% of the work done on premature termination, the problem of dropout is just as prevalent in group work as it is in any other form of treatment. The purpose of this paper is to (1) review the empirical evidence on group treatment dropout, (2) suggest directions for future research, and (3) set forth guidelines which may help practitioners decrease the likelihood of dropout.     

Social Group Work with Asian/Pacific-Americans

This paper discusses the Asian/Pacific clients and the group practice modality. Specific suggestion are offered to help group workers better understand Asian/Pacific-American clients, capitalize on their unique strengths, and minimize their limitations. Part I of this paper addresses practical group work considerations for the Pre-Group Phase; Part II addresses practical group work considerations for the Group Interaction phase.     

Goals for Group Work with Women Transitioning from Welfare to Work

This article reports on focus group data from African American women after participating in year-long groups while attempting to make the transition from welfare to work. Qualitative data analysis is employed to examine the women's words about their experiences, within the context of Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF) requirements and group work models for women who are multiply oppressed. Their words point to recommendations for group work knowledge and skills to best support the needs of these women in the era of TANF.     

Hoops Group: Group Work with Young "Street" Men

This paper presents the "hoops group," a basketball group for young "street" men. The purpose of this presentation is: (1) to further the discussion of services developed for group empowerment for homeless persons, (2) to present a case example of services to this population, and (3) to further the conceptualization using McGrath's (1991) construct of group functions. This article maintains that groups developed around activities in which individuals feel competence (in this case, playing basketball) are ideal in developing a collective identity and facilitating therapeutic gains.     

Group Work with Natural Parents in Permanency Planning

Group work with parents of children in foster care has good potential as a complement to casework services in permanency planning. An underused social work service in child welfare, group work has rarely been provided to natural parents. It can be utilized differentially along the foster care continuum from needs identification through aftercare to provide parents information, support and training specific to foster care. Reports of group work services for abusing parents, parents of children in residential treatment and special programs for natural parents provide relevant information for design of group work with natural parents. An example of a group of parents whose children are in foster home placement is presented. Special considerations for providing group services to natural parents are highlighted. Group work appears to have positive effects on the providing agency as well as on parent group participants. Issues regarding group work in permanency planning include the risk of its misuse through agency-imposed agendas and/or agency determined timetables for individual and group development. It will be helpful to study what group services with which parents at which points in the foster care continuum assist permanency planning efforts.     

Hispanics and Group Work

This article reviews the literature on group work with Hispanics and highlights key practice issues and considerations. A total of 28 publications are analyzed with reference to such elements as group member and leader characteristics and possible facilitating factors.     

Essential Components of Group Work with Black Americans

The article addresses what the author believes to be some of the fundamentals of group work with Black Americans. Three areas of concern are given priority: knowledge of Black Americans, knowledge of group dynamics pertinent to conducting groups which contain one or more black members, and the importance of employing group work models which have a strong person-environment focus. The article is written from a "before you practice group work with Black Americans" perspective. It is addressed principally to black and white group practitioners, who lead either racially homogenous or heterogenous groups.