A Groupwork Approach with Adult Children of Institutionalized Elderly:

It has been the experience of the authors, through individual and family counseling, that adult children of institutionalized aged live through a series of stressful experiences with the elderly parent. It appears that this living through process not only exists during the initial adjustment period, but endures throughout the institutionalization of the parent. A groupwork approach is suggested as a means of sharing and mutual support.     

Parents Beyond Oceans: A Social Group Work Curriculum for Chinese Immigrant Parents

ABSTRACT

Parents Beyond Oceans is a unique curriculum that was first implemented in 2011 as part of The Center for Family Life’s efforts to work with Chinese immigrant parents in Brooklyn, New York. Drawing on best practices in social group work and culturally competent social work, the curriculum creates a space where parents can share and process their immigration stories and traumas. Pre- and posttesting show that after participating in the program, parents felt less isolated, more a part of community that treated them like equals, and more accepting of cultural differences in parenting practices.     

Challenging the Myths of Black Women—A Short-Term,Structured, Art Experience Group: Exploring the Intersections of Race,Gender, and Intergenerational Trauma

ABSTRACT

The authors describe a short-term structured group process for African American women in the suburbs of Washington, DC, highlighting the perspective of the group leaders. The group was started to address the unique needs of African American women who are also survivors of childhood abuse and neglect. The group leaders used discussion and art in the group to explore the intersections of race, gender, and intergenerational trauma. Having shared experiences with the participants of the group, the authors explore the ways the group leaders were changed and challenged in the process.     

Interdisciplinary Co-Facilitation of Support Groups for Parents of Children with Autism: An Opportunity for Professional Preparation

Skillful cofacilitation of groups provides group members with shared leadership, combined knowledge, and broadened problem-solving capability. Interdisciplinary cofacilitation offers group members different points of view and diverse professional expertise. This article presents a support group approach for parents of children diagnosed with autism and describes the benefits of interdisciplinary cofacilitation by social workers and early childhood special educators. The advantages and challenges of interdisciplinary cofacilitation are discussed.     

Parents Beyond Borders: A Social Group Work Curriculum for Supporting Immigrant Parents and Building Solidarity

Parents Beyond Borders, a curriculum first implemented in 2008 as part of The Center for Family Life's ParentShip Program, encourages group members to create a shared narrative about their traumatic immigration experiences. The result is twofold. First, immigrant parents gain a more assertive and poignant voice to communicate with family and others in their lives when sharing their family's acculturation experience. Second, because social group work promotes recognition of collective trauma due to the community's experience of marginalization, it improves members' group self-concept and empowers them to take action and advocate for themselves.     

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.     

As Parents Grow Older:

For those older persons with families, the family is the vital, natural support system while also being the link between the older person and formal community supports. No matter how many community services and supports are provided for older persons, these services only supplement the emotional ties and support from the families. Enhancing the family's supportive role is crucial. This paper describes a community based support group model called "As Parents Grow 0lder" as an example of a systematic, effective effort to provide services to this natural system. This model has evolved and been used with 10 different groups totalling l25 participants over the past four years.     

对农村文化贫困女性的社会学考究

农村女性文化贫困体现在文化素质低、思想观念陈旧、生活方式落后、心理健康堪忧等方面。农村女性应以进城务工女性和都市现代女性作为参照群体,以她们的价值和规范作为评价自身和她人的基准,从自身主观意识的觉醒、自立意识的增强、文化水平的提高、文化生活品位提升等方面来解决其文化贫困问题,以积极状态面对生活,在社会主义新农村建设和农村文化建设中发挥积极作用。     

Men's Domestic Violence Treatment Groups

A survey of all 13 men's domestic violence treatment groups in North Carolina found that such programs were similar in program philosophy and goals but highly divergent in group struc- ture. All programs utilized a feminist orientation which viewed domestic violence as resulting from socio-cultural and social learn- ing factors. Groups generally focused on the development of anger control, problem solving, and communication skills. Groups dif- fered widely in their agency affiliation, relationship with the court as referral source, degree of structure, leadership patterns, number of members, number of sessions, degree of co-ordination between men's and women's programs; follow-up procedures; and sophisti- cation of program evaluation. The diversity of men's domestic violence group treatment models is a result of grassroots laissez faire program development. This diversity offers opportunities to test the effectiveness of various group approaches. Considerations for men's domestic violence treatment programs are outlined. In addition, the need for systematic program evaluation and a statewide co-ordinating mechanism is dis- cussed.     

The Relevance of the Structural Approach to Group Work with Immigrant and Refugee Women

ABSTRACT

This article applies a structural approach to social work with immigrants and refugees. Specifically, the use of structural principles and procedures is illustrated in work with an Hispanic Women's Support Group.     

Utilization of Formal Support Services Among Hispanic Americans Caring for Aging Parents

Abstract

Most studies of formal service utilization among ethnic minority groups reveal little about the within-group variation in formal service use by caregiving families. The present study explores patterns of formal service utilization among 43 Hispanic caregiving families that vary according to differences in level of acculturation. In so doing, the utility of Andersen's behavioral model of health care service utilization is called into question.     

Multifamily Group Intervention for Chinese Parents and Their Children with Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in a Chinese Context

Despite the empirical evidence of multifamily group (MFG) in helping children with mental health needs in Western contexts, there is a dearth of clinical studies in Chinese societies such as Hong Kong to explore such adaption to help Chinese families of children diagnosed with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. In this article, the authors describe the MFG model adapted to the Chinese context and assess the perceived helpfulness of the intervention, using a client-driven approach in evaluation. The parents’ evaluation toward the MFG program is positive whereas the children’s feedback is less favorable. Modifications have been made including a 30-minute pregroup meeting for the parents and more challenging games and outdoor activities for the children.     

Who participates? Socioeconomic Factors Associated with Women's Participation in Voluntary Groups

Participation in voluntary groups is potentially an important way to create health promoting social capital. This paper investigates women's participation in voluntary groups, utilising data from a postal survey of 968 female respondents and in‐depth interviews with 30 women. Logistic regression was conducted to examine factors associated with frequency of women's group involvement. Not working full time, living in a married relationship, and having a university education were all significantly associated with regular involvement. The qualitative data further illustrated some of the ways in which these three factors were linked with women's involvement in groups. We conclude that women who were able to regularly participate were those who already enjoyed levels of social and economic privilege. Policies to promote social capital via participation might focus on identifying what types of group involvement benefit women's health, and increasing the accessibility of such groups to include diverse groups of women.     

Athena's Legacy: Preparing Women for a Mentoring Program

ABSTRACT

A community-based research study conducted in 2004 identified a number of women from disadvantaged communities who sought mentoring in personal, educational, and vocational aspects of their lives. Informed by this earlier research, a program titled Map Your Future was developed, and a pilot mentoring program commenced in 2005. This article describes the group program that was developed to prepare the women for a mentoring relationship, and the research methodology underpinning its development. It concludes with an exploration of the women's experiences of the program.     

Enhancing Psychosocial Competence Among Black Women: A Psycho-Educational Group Model Approach

ABSTRACT

The lack of social work intervention models targeted toward the specific mental health needs of Black women has been recognized as a major gap in our knowledge concerning effective treatment. More recently, group work has been recognized as a useful and effective method of treatment for this population. This paper discusses the utility of a culturally specific, group intervention with Black women aimed at enhancing psychosocial competence as an effective mechanism to assist Black women in coping with the tasks of life and contributes to their ability to master life events. The model incorporates the use of literary works, authored by Black women as an innovative tool for enhancing the group process. Case vignettes are offered.     

GUEST EDITORIAL

No abstract available for this article.     

Family Support and Empowerment: Post Autism Diagnosis Support Group for Parents

Receiving a diagnosis of an autism spectrum disorder often elicits strong emotional reactions from parents of the diagnosed child. Follow-up services and continued support for these families is a necessary component to help families adapt and meet their and their children's needs. This pilot study measured the effects of a six-session, co-facilitated, support group on the advocacy skills and self-efficacy of parents coping with a child's diagnosis. Statistically significant increases in the average mean scores for the three subscales of the Family Empowerment Scale were found. Implications for practice and research are discussed.     

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.