Helping each other: a peer supervision group with facilitators of mutual aid groups

ABSTRACT

Mutual aid groups can help people cope with life’s problems. A peer supervision group can help facilitators to better understand their role and improve their facilitating skills in mutual aid groups. Peer supervision groups aim to support facilitators ability to reflect on their difficulties in working with groups, deepen their methodological questions, and improve their understanding regarding how to best proceed as facilitators. This paper studied a peer supervision group of experts-by-experience facilitators to demonstrate the dynamics of mutual aid that characterized the group’s functioning.     

Online psychoeducation with parent management training: Examining the contribution of peer support

Psychoeducation is an empirically based intervention that is increasingly delivered online to individuals and groups. Low participation has been a problem for online designs that include peer support. New technology designs have been called for, and in response, we developed a model that synchronized the delivery of individual and group‐based psychoeducational activities for parent management training. We used a problem‐based learning strategy delivered to caregivers of youth demonstrating oppositional behaviours to encourage the development of helping processes and peer support. This mixed methods intervention study had high rates of participant retention and positive measurable changes for two of its three psychoeducational outcome measures. When we merged the study data, we observed that mutual aid—a frequently sought goal of group‐based interventions—contributed to participant outcomes.     

Transition to Parenthood

Time limits, task assignments and mutual aid underpinnings form the basis for this six-session model of group work, specifically adapted to meet the needs of parents-to-be. Grounded philosophically in the developmental life model of social work practice, this time-limited mutual aid group approach incorporates elements from Schwartz' reciprocal (mutual aid) model, crisis, and task-centered approaches. The article stresses the preventive implications of group support and psychological preparation for couples in the critical period of their transition to first-time parenthood.     

Flipping the Equation: The Need for Context-Focused Group Work Education

For many students of social work, traditional group work curriculum promotes the development of mutual aid as the criterion for success in a group. However, a dichotomy exists between a reduction in agency-sanctioned mutual aid–focused groups and the expanded use of groups to deliver services. The contrast between MSW students' expectations and the practice realities they face is particularly challenging for classroom instruction. This article proposes a context-focused approach to teaching an elective in social group work, which links theories and skills to organizationally specific practice contexts. This approach encourages students to engage in critical reflection of practice through consistent interaction between foundational concepts and practice realities.     

Who Owns the Group? The Role of Worker Control in the Development of a Group: A Qualitative Research Study of Practice

This paper presents an application of the qualitative research methodology of ethnographic content analysis as a means to discover the salient features and nature of a social work group. Observational data from process recordings of a thirty-week group of mothers at a child guidance center are systematically analyzed. This paper addresses a number of issues: (1) the need to explore and further articulate the role of worker vis-à-vis the dynamic of mutual aid in social work groups, particularly in regard to the concept of exercising 'control;' (2) the applicability of qualitative research methodology as a means of conceptualizing aspects of group work practice, thus contributing to our theory base and knowledge and tools for practice; and (3) the wealth of data for such research lying available in the written recordings of every group practitioner, and the natural logic that the development of theory in social work with groups comes most aptly from the practice domain.     

Mutual Aid Group Work: Social Work Leading the Way to Recovery-Focused Mental Health Practice

The emphasis on recovery principles in mental health practice in Australia challenges the predominant medical model in mental health service delivery. This article describes a mental health-based, telephone-mediated, mutual aid support group for carers of people with severe mental illnesses. Data was collated from evaluations of these groups over a period of 7 years. Outcomes of the evaluation indicated that participants of these groups highly valued the supportive and collaborative nature of the mutual aid groups. The author emphasizes the potential of this approach and the promise of social group workers leading the way to recovery-focused mental health practice.     

Open Mic: reciprocity,parallel process,and mutual aid in a discussion group for faculty working with adult students

ABSTRACT

This article describes Open Mic on Mentoring Practices, a mostly online and occasionally in-person discussion group for faculty and professionals at a geographically dispersed public college serving adult students. The evolution, purpose, membership, and themes present in the group discussions are explored. Specific group dynamics of Open Mic follow, including the role of parallel process, mutual aid and reciprocity, are addressed, with attention to their relevance for adult learners. Finally, the paper ends with a discussion of challenges, surprises, and recommendations for replication or adaptation of Open Mic groups.     

THE COMPARATIVE EFFECTIVENESS OF TWO GROUP WORK APPROACHES FOR THE DEVELOPMENT OF MUTUAL SUPPORT GROUPS AMONG THE ELDERLY

Two major group work approaches were compared on their effectiveness in developing support groups among community based elderly. One approach, Type 1, was based on a discussion, group process type of format with a less structured and less directive leadership style than the Type 2 approach, which was more structured and task oriented, utilizing behavioral role play and analysis to enhance social and supportive skills. Group work participants were assigned to two Type 1, two Type 2, and two control groups. Results clearly suggest that the Type 1 group approach is more effective for the development and maintenance of mutual support groups among the elderly.     

Mutual aid in the welfare system in the Republic of Korea

For the past two decades, in many Western industrialized states, problems of their welfare systems have become more and more obvious. Three common complaints about welfare systems are high taxation, minimal effectiveness and impersonal bureaucracy. Various measures (such as budget cuts, decentralization and privatization) have been undertaken in order to overcome these problems by many welfare states. In any case, public welfare systems in many Western industrialized states do not cover the affective element which is inherent in the Korean welfare system. In Korea, where the public welfare system is in the formative stage, mutual aid, which is based on a long tradition of personal and voluntary networking, has played an important role in meeting citizens' welfare needs not only by material aid but also by psychological support. To understand welfare in society, it is necessary not only to study the welfare provided by the state and the market but also to consider the welfare provided by mutual aid networks.     

It Is Not Always Easy to Sit on Your Mouth

ABSTRACT

This paper describes the use of small groups in an after-school tutoring program for children, ages 5 to 12. Five group work principles are emphasized: (1) beginning where the group members are and drawing upon their interests; (2) enhancing mutual aid among group members; (3) taking the stages of group development into consideration when planning activities; (4) using the leader's role in ways that encourage and are helpful to group members; and (5) believing that members have something valuable to contribute to the group. Incorporation of group work principles into academic enrichment programs, rather than reliance solely on one-to-one tutoring, is urged.     

弱关系型民间借贷的运行逻辑与实现机制--以山西田村调查为例

民间借贷行为在农村一直普遍存在,山西田村作为经济欠发达与社会低度分化地区的代表,其民间借贷行为除了发生在强关系的亲戚朋友之间,以第三方主体为中间人的弱关系的村民间借贷也占据一定地位。不同于市场经济下陌生人间的理性行为,弱关系的民间借贷行为遵循着互惠与道义的运行逻辑,而互惠与道义的实现依托于村庄公共信用体系。村民间互助即仪式性互助与日常生产生活互助奠定了村庄公共信用体系的社会基础。     

Examining the Structure and Dynamics of Kinship Care Groups

ABSTRACT

In the fall of 2006, a self-administered Internet survey was made available to all kinship care group facilitators listed in the 2006 New York State Office for the Aging's directory for kinship care providers. The survey sought facilitators' views on the purpose and structural aspects of the groups and to understand whether and how mutual aid processes were occurring. A purposive sample of 16 participants (53% response rate) completed the online quantitative survey that included space for qualitative comments. Findings revealed that 75% of participants facilitated a kinship care group in the past 5 years, and they believed their group purposes primarily included support and growth. Additionally, participants reported that all mutual aid principles occurred in their groups, with the supportive mutual aid interventions occurring more frequently than the challenging ones. Finally, themes from open-ended responses included 1) an enhanced sense of solidarity developed among group members, 2) the importance of facilitators' show of compassion for group members, and 3) facilitators' need to have a working knowledge of and ability to maximize available resources. Implications for serving the needs of kinship care providers through groups and other practices are addressed.     

Using the End of Groups as an Intervention at End-of-Life

SUMMARY

Support groups are an effective therapy at end-of-life. Patients with life-threatening illness and caregivers of the terminally ill have benefited from the mutual aid process provided by groups. Mutual aid is fostered by talking about feelings and developing group cohesion. Difficulty discussing the multiple issues of loss faced at end-of-life, including death and dying, can stifle sharing and impede this process. Group endings offer a unique opportunity to symbolically introduce these topics. This article explores the utilization of the group developmental stage of termination when facilitating groups for this population.     

Mutual Aid: A Contribution to Best-Practice Social Work

This keynote speech, delivered in French and translated to English with minor adjustments for publication, presents some of the author's ideas about mutual-aid practice as best-practice social work. The author discusses the etiology and centrality of mutual aid in social work with groups, presents five characteristics of mutual-aid practice that reflect best-practice social work and identifies four key characteristics—joy in sharing, faith, courage, and curiosity—of mutual-aid practitioners. Similarities between mutual-aid practice and evidence-based group work, practice evaluation and participatory-action research are discussed as well. The author presents group work as inherently evidence based and challenges the idea that subjective measures alone may not be valid in reaching this determination.     

The Impact of Time and Place on Mutual-Aid Practice with Short-Term Groups

ABSTRACT

This paper aims to help practitioners promote mutual aid to short-term groups. It describes and discusses the impact of time and place on the process of such groups. The challenges of the short-term group are identified and implications for practice are drawn.     

Group Work Gets Physical: Self-Defense Class and Social Work

SUMMARY

This article examines how a self-defense class is a social work group when it incorporates basic group work principles. The ways in which stages of group development, member roles and mutual aid are used in a self-defense class will be explored. The article also highlights how a self-defense class can be a legitimate intervention for women who have been victimized.     

The Use of a Mutual Aid Group with Home Attendants

SUMMARY

This article reflects the experience of six home attendants whose clients were individuals diagnosed with Alzheimer's and other related dementias. It examines how they used a mutual aid group to discuss the stresses, professional and personal problems that resulted from their work.     

Support for Parents of Children with Cancer

Self-help and mutual support groups play an important role in the spectrum of resources useful to parents of children with cancer. These groups can provide parents with opportunities to share their experiences with other parents in similar situations, to learn from and teach others, and to create a new social network. While much has been written about such groups, very little attention has focused on factors related to parents evaluation of their group experience. This paper examines factors related to parents' perceptions of the value of self-help groups.     

Facilitating Arts-Based Mindfulness Group Activities with Vulnerable Children: An Example of Nondeliberative Social Group Work Practice

ABSTRACT

This article discusses the process of facilitating arts-based mindfulness group work and activities with vulnerable children age 8 to 12 years who were involved with the child welfare or mental health systems. Specifically, it delineates connections between our group program and Norma Lang’s nondeliberative social group work practice. Importantly, in working with vulnerable children, the authors purposefully fostered the development of mutual aid, creativity, and strengths and recognized that each group had a life of its own.     

Teaching Group Work in the BSW Generalist Social Work Curriculum: Core Content

In this article, nine considerations associated with social work practice with groups are identified and discussed. These range from the importance of mutual aid and the role of the group leader to multicultural competence and practice skills needed in the beginning, middle, and ending phases of group work. Group work is only one of four modalities that must be taught in the undergraduate practice sequence. Therefore, the nine considerations represent the essential content on group work for the generalist practice curriculum. The author assumes that this content can be presented in a 7-week time frame. In a companion article, the author presents teaching strategies and techniques that assist the instructor in conveying the principles for practice discussed in the present article.