THE SOCIAL GROUP WORK METHOD

No abstract available for this article.     

CRISIS THEORY AND SOCIAL GROUP WORK

From a particular social group work perspective the con. cept of crisis has a different meaning than from the way it has been formulatedand used in social casework. Crisis is perceived as a variation of ongoing experience and an existential model of worker intervention replaces the medical model. The central themes of the paper are: (1) all living is struggle and all struggle is crisis; (2) crises are to be confronted, not eliminated: (3) all crises are group phenomena: (4) existentially, crises give expression to people's "here and now" being; (5) medical or psychological categories do not accurately describe crises for social workers and should be translated into "here and now" behavioral terms.     

SOCIAL GROUP WORK WITH VULNERABLE OLDER PERSONS

This paper discusses the uses of social group work within the developmental model which looks at group life as a microcosm of the world. The author identifies the group as a modality for meeting differential needs of older persons. These needs are explored and some coincidence with the various stages of group development noted. The skills of the group worker are evoked on many levels-including that of making sound professional judgements regarding the appropriate use of the group for helping each individual. Groups for frail elderly persons may focus on one or more purposes.     

CLINICAL ASPECTS OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK WITH THE DEAF

Social Group work with deaf clients is virtually non-existent although there is a need for it in the deaf community. The author describes some of the psychosocial factors that should be considered when working with the deaf, and some of the skills that social workers should have before attempting it. In addition, some of the author's own experiences in working with a group of deaf clients are described and related to the foregoing psychosocial factors.     

THE SIGNIFICANCE OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK BASED ON ETHICAL VALUES

No abstract available for this article.     

SOME ASPECTS OF GROUP LEADERSHIP IN A SCHOOL SOCIAL WORK TRAINING UNIT

The experiences of a graduate social work student unit in a school setting illurtrate some of the major variables around which professional group work skills are developed. Issues such as individual vs. co-leadership. pre-group planning, early group considerations, ongoing considerations and termination are discussed in light of the problems and potentials for learning.     

RELATING THE MAINSTREAM MODEL OF SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS TO GROUP PSYCHOTHERAPY AND THE STRUCTURED GROUP APPROACH

No abstract available for this article.     

SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS IN THE GENERIC BASE OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

Social work with groups in generic practice requires more integration of group process theory and group work methodology in relation to two questions: What is important for all social workers to know about groups and group work and when is the group the most appropriate method-of-choice in generic practice? Important premises and knowledge for this practice are the relationship of the individual to the group; the small group as a microcostic social system; and especially, the stages of group development. This knowledge base and the understanding of the "curative factors" or "change mechanisms" in groups is suggestive of the selective use of groups for providing services in generic social work practice.     

GROUP WORK IN BRITAIN

No abstract available for this article.     

RETROSPECTIVE REFLECTIONS ON GROUP WORK AND GROUP DYNAMICS

The development and history of group dynamics and its connection to social work is described through the personal recollections of the author. Of particular interest in this history is the role of Kurt Lewin, the National Training Laboratories, and a number of social group work pioneers: Grace Coyle, Gordon Heam, Fritz Redl and others.     

CONFIDENTIALITY IN GROUP WORK PRACTICE

Despite a growing array of challenges and other obstacles, social caseworkers have had some success in buttressing the need for privacy in worker-client relations by means of the legal expression of confidentiality. Because of particular circumstances in the group setting, however, the same degree of legal protection may not be extended to group workers and their clients. Group workers, therefore, must grapple with the issue of confidentiality in their practice, while advocating for legal recognition of the privacy of group communications.     

GROUP WORK FROM THE NORTHWEST

No abstract available for this article.     

GROUP WORK IN GENERAL HOSPITALS

This paper identifies issues which influence the interdisciplinary development and maintenance of situation/transition groups as patient care programs in the general hospital. This type or group is defined and described. Issues discussed include needs assessment, sponsorship, and interdisciplinary sharing of power, authority, and control, and program evaluation. The authors illustrate strategies for program development with examples from their own practice.     

SOCIAL GROUP WORK'S CONTEXTUAL PURPOSES

A study of social group workers' purposes shows them to be diverse. They are relative to prevailing social conditions within the context of the profession's values. The theories of group work ought to be derived inductively from practice experience rather than deductively from abstract social and behavioral categories. A major focus of social group work today ought to be the strengthening and development of social networks.     

STRUCTURING CO-LEADERSHIP IN SOCIAL WORK TRAINING

No abstract available for this article.     

GROUP WORK WITH DISORIENTED NURSING HOME RESIDENTS

This article presents the goals, rationale, history, and some implementing techniques to help disoriented old-old restore dignity and self worth in a group. The techniques focus on non-verbal helping methods. Validation/Fantasy is based on the following principles: 1) There is reason behind all behavior. 2) Each stage of life has different goals. 3) Goals of severely disoriented aged are to resolve the past. 4) Each human is valuable and unique. 5) The helper must use empathy and genuine human regard, tuning into the goals of the "other." 6) Damage to sensory cells can lead to a gradual blurring of present reality and self-awareness. 7) Early-learned emotional memory replaces cognitive thinking in disoriented aged. 8) Disoriented aged can tap logical thinking centers when they are helped to resolve the past. 9) Validation/Fantasy tunes into the old-old. Some prefer to remain in the past. Some can return to the present. No one formula works for everyone. 10) People who are disoriented and old-old and who cannot return to the outside community deserve to resolve the past and justify their past roles before death.     

ASSESSMENT OF MARITAL DISCORD IN SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE

This paper rcports the revalidation findings of the "Index of Marital Satisfaction" (IMS) that were obtaincd from three separate studies. The scale was found to have a reliability in excess of .90 and it also has excellent discriminant, construct, content, and factorial validity. The IMS scale has bccn revised so that it can be used with unmarried partners. Findings are also presented to show how marital relationship problems relate to a number of other problems in personal and social functioning and to several biological and social characteristics of respondents.     

A STUDY OF SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE WITH GROUPS

This paper presents the second stage of a study on group use in social work in Quebec. The first stage had identified 72 practitioners working with 130 client groups, and 60 of these workers participated in the second stage interview. The interview explored characteristics of social work practice with groups, and studied personal and organizational factors which may influence group use. The findings suggest group use in social work is characterized by a diversity of group goals, client populations and service settings. Most groups are small units formed by the worker. and their membership is closed during the duration of the group which is usually from 8 to 15 meetings. Structure varies, but most groups base program on discussion or structured exercises, and most workers assume a facilitator or therapist role. Despite these commonalities, there appear to be several distinct styles of practice which vary according to type of group goal, role of worker, and theoretical influences on the worker. These styles vary especially in the extent to which the worker takes a central leadership position or shares group tasks with members.