GROUP WORK WITH KIN AND FRIENDS CARING FOR THE ELDERLY

The significant roles of kin and friends in caring for the frail elderly necessitates an extension of group services to this population. The rationale for caregiver groups is developed through an examination of gerontological research. A group program and a practice framework for services to kin and friends are presented. Practice issues in running groups entail profound stresses on families and friends and the worker's ability to face thematic and interactional problems of considerable intensity. Guidelines for intervention are specified to handle phase specific situations in these groups.     

The Role of the Facilitator in Support Group Development

Support groups for family members of persons with mental illness have become common in the past fifteen years. Much has been written about appropriate formats and content for such groups, and research indicates that persons who participate in them frequently receive important benefits. However, less has been written about the process of effectively recruiting members for groups. Family members, for various reasons, are often reluctant to take the step of joining a support group. In this paper, the authors report their experience in organizing a support group for siblings and adult children of persons with mental illness. The role of the facilitator is highlighted, which was found to be essential in helping interested but ambivalent prospective members eventually join the group.     

Time-Limited Treatment Groups for Children

Children with psychosocial problems relating to school, health, and mental health difficulties have been treated in time-limited groups. The present article explicates the process of small group treatment with children using the time-limited approach. The objectives, establishment, planning, and composition of groups as well as the leadership, activities, termination, and evaluation of these groups is presented.     

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.     

Computer-Based Self-Help Groups

Computer-based self-help groups utilize existing telecommunication networks to provide information and support for a variety of social problems. This article discusses their use as an adjunct to support groups. Computer-based groups offer advantages including elimination of time and distance barriers, lack of group size restrictions, increased variety and diversity of support, anonymity, pre- and post-group support, opportunity for expression through written communication, and potential training experiences for group leaders. A pilot project using a computer-based group for sexual abuse survivors is described, and the need for research related to process and outcome in computer-based groups.     

Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy With Older Adults: An Exploratory Study

An 8-week mindfulness-based cognitive therapy (MBCT) group for older adults with depression and/or anxiety is described. This article is based on an exploratory study of this therapeutic approach and changes in participants’ symptoms associated with participation. Pre-post data from 5 MBCT groups showed significant improvements in reported anxiety, ruminative thoughts, and sleep problems and a reduction in depressive symptoms. Case examples are presented to illustrate these symptom changes. Findings showed that this nonpharmacological intervention is acceptable to older adults and is associated with positive changes. Suggestions are provided for both practitioners and researchers interested in using MBCT with older adults.     

The Multiple Meanings of Peer Groups in Social Cognitive Mapping

Social cognitive mapping (SCM) is a common approach to identifying peer groups in developmental research. However, this approach involves three stages that each implies a unique conception of peer group. This article aims to bring conceptual clarity to the identification of peer groups using SCM by demonstrating how the meaning of peer groups differs at each stage of SCM. First, in the data collecting stage, interaction groups identify sets of children that hang out together. Second, in the data aggregating stage, co‐membership groups identify sets of children who are members of many of the same interaction groups. Third, in the data analyzing stage, similarity groups identify sets of children with similar patterns of relationships with their peers. After reviewing these three conceptions of peer groups, we briefly discuss some potential problems with using SCM as a tool to measure children's social networks and peer groups. Finally, we conclude by arguing that despite these issues, SCM remains a valuable methodology, and indeed one with untapped potential. Thus, we offer suggestions for the appropriate application of these theoretically and empirically distinct conceptions of peer group, noting that developmental researchers using SCM must identify which conception of peer group is used and justify why this conception is the appropriate one.     

Auditing biochemical research data: A case study

There is little documentation in the literature of how to conduct a data audit of laboratory research. The purpose of such an audit is to verify the extent to which the published data agree with the corresponding laboratory notebook data and whether the data thus examined appear to be sufficient to justify the published conclusions. A case study is presented, which demonstrates a step by step approach towards conducting a data audit of a published research study.     

The Political and Economic Impact on the Development of Social Group Work in Taiwan

This article uses a political-economic lens to clarify the development of social group work in Taiwan. During the past 50 years, Taiwan has experienced a great economic and political transition. This article focuses on three different periods of time. Under the political repression of the 1950s and 1960s group activities were a means of social control. In the 1970s economic development evoked social changes that led to relaxed controls over civil organizations and political freedom. Community development and “Americanized” social work education marked the first step for social work with groups. During that period group work in Taiwan placed more emphasis on individual problems. In the 1980s political change brought the expansion of group work in Taiwan. An open political scene and flourishing social movements gave impetus to extension of various forms of group work in all kinds of situations. In particular social action and self-help groups played a critical role in the growth of the interests of people.     

Multiple objective policy analysis: A factor analysis and tradeoff approach applied to the agricultural sector of the Dominican Republic

The technique of factor analysis is applied to a situation in which result data from multiple objective policy analysis need to be reduced to a subset of information for policy makers. Use of factor analysis in this context is developed in some detail, and the process is applied to results of pricing policy simulations from a model of the agricultural sector of the Dominican Republic. It is concluded that factor analysis can be a useful first step for the analyst to determine the relationships among groups of variables. The technique also aids the process of data reduction to allow graphical presentation of tradeoffs.     

The Group versus the Individual as the Unit of Analysis in Small Group Research

It is common for social work researchers to use the individual as the unit of analysis in small group research. This paper examines the discrepancies that may exist between analyses that incorporate the individual and those that incorpo- rate the group as the unit of analysis. An example is presented with data collected from 331 members of 53 workgroups in 22 different human service organizations. Researchers are cau- tioned against drawing conclusions about groups from data based on the individual as the unit of analysis.     

A Behavioral Approach to Time-Limited Groups

A time-limited model for behavior modification with groups is presented. The basic features and relevant techniques of the model are applied to assessment, planning, intervention and evaluation. Issues in group functioning are examined in relation to optimal performance of the group in addressing the concerns of its members. Research findings using this model in several settings are discussed. Various applications of the model are presented, including implications for future development.     

Adventure Therapy: Nondeliberative Group Work in Action

ABSTRACT

Nondeliberative group work allows group members to generate their own solutions and provides experiential opportunities to transfer learning to life outside of a therapeutic setting. Adventure therapy is explored as a tool for engaging groups in a nondeliberative manner. The theoretical underpinnings of adventure therapy are presented and contextualized within the larger framework of experiential education. Specific methods and models of adventure work are presented and considered in relationship to nondeliberative social work with groups. Two case examples are presented to illustrate the nondeliberative nature of adventure therapy.     

Collaboration between service users and professionals: Legitimate decisions in child protection – a Norwegian model

The aim of this study is to examine the conditions for achieving free and open communication in collaboration. The context is child protection where ‘the best interest of the child’ is at stake. First, a theoretical standard based on free and open communication and equal partnership (deliberation) is presented. Secondly, an explorative analysis is undertaken of the collaboration process between professionals and service users in two review groups regarding two young people, Jane and Tom, both of whom appear to have psychosocial problems living in residential care. Thirdly, on the basis of this analysis, recommendations on how to improve collaboration in review groups are made. The findings show that collaboration has several functions: formal decision‐making, legitimate decision‐making and learning. There is a need to clarify the purpose of collaboration and strengthen structural arrangements as well as develop guidelines for handling challenges at different levels.     

Mobilizing Women's Strengths for Social Change

Group work aims both at helping individuals cope with personal difficulties and at eliminating social problems through collective action. Women's groups have made a unique contribution to linking personal and social change through their explicit dual focus. This paper deals with the different ways women use groups to mobilize their strengths towards social change. It begins by explaining why women chose all-female groups as the primary tool for building both individual strengths and a social movement. Key features of different group types are presented, including those focused primarily on social change and those in which social action is a secondary goal. The paper ends with a discussion of obstacles to social change and some ways women's groups can overcome them.     

Social conflict within and between groups by De Dreu,C. K. (Ed.)

This article identifies pregroup planning-the thinking and preparation done by the social worker in developing a group program-as a neglected area of social work practice. Though the importance of planning is recognized by many writers, little is said about the planning process itself that can help direct and guide the thinking of the social work practitioner. Possible reasons for this gap in our literature and practice are presented. Development of a model of planning for group practice is called for. Components of such a model are drawn from social work writings on work with groups and from research, and a tentative model is suggested.     

Are girls more than boys subjected to disrupted conditions of upbringing?

Basing findings on data from the longitudinal programme Individual Development and Adaptation (IDA; n = 1383) it was found to be twice as common for girls to have been subjected to problematic upbringing conditions as for boys (here defined by experiencing major changes with regard to the child's caregivers; i.e. not just one parental divorce). This characterized 7.4% of the girls and 3.5% of the boys, a highly significant difference. A simple count of the number of parental transitions a child had been subjected to during upbringing also showed a sex difference in the same direction. As expected, girls with such disrupted upbringing showed adjustment problems during the school years, especially with regard to hyperactivity-related behaviours and conduct problems. The corresponding group of boys showed less pronounced adjustment problems. The generalizability of the results are discussed and tentative explanations presented for the sex differences that were found.     

走出企业国际化的误区

中国企业国际化已经成为不可逆转的历史潮流,但学术界和企业界在企业国际化的真正内涵、企业如何进行国际化等问题上,还存在不少认识上的误区。我国已经进入WTO后过渡期,企业国际化的经济背景发生了深刻的变化,一大批中国企业国际化的步伐加快,迅速跻身全球化竞争的行列。但在具体实践过程中,我国企业国际化面对贸易争端不断、缺少国际化的品牌、对外投资规模小、海外并购并非一帆风顺等难题。中国企业应该具有全球化的视野,走出企业国际化方面的认识误区,在全球产业链中寻找自己合适的位置,培养独特的核心竞争力,认真按国际规则办事,走出一条适合自身特点的国际化道路。     

Social Support and Government Policy on Services for the Elderly

Government policy on services for the elderly is to increase the provision of care in the community. This paper examines this policy in relation to informal help received from relatives and friends.
Drawing on the results of a pilot study of 92 people over the age of 75, registered in a group general practice, data are presented on the balance between informal and formal help over a group of activities of daily livhg. The main informal helpers are described with the range of activities for which people in the study were receiving assistance.
Community services are, at present, limited in the help they can provide for people in their own homes. If policies of community care are to be successful, then they must take into account the strengths and weaknesses of informal support. Using the data presented, suggestions are made a bout improvements in services including task specific services not currently provided and the definition of groups at risk of their social support breaking down.     

Double jeopardy: the link between child abuse and maternal depression in child and family social work

The link between child care and mental health problems in social work clients has begun to attract some attention. Despite some review articles, research is, as yet, at a very early stage of development. Maternal depression and child care problems in particular appear likely to be closely associated. This paper focuses on the link between maternal depression and the most severe of child care problems: child abuse. The paper shows a significant relationship between maternal depression and child abuse. It explores this relationship by distinguishing three groups: families where no abuse had occurred (non abuse families), families where abuse had occurred but where the mother was not depressed (non depressed-abuse group) and families where both child abuse and maternal depression were present (depressed-abuse group). The depressed-abuse group are shown to be considerably worse off than both the other groups for a range of measures, including indices of deprivation and range and severity of social problems. The depressed-abuse group were also more chronic users of services and consumed far more resources than the other two groups. Remarkably, there were few differences between the non abuse group and the non depressed abuse group in nature and severity of problems and intervention. Depression in mothers, then, provides the major distinction between families where abuse was an issue compared with families where abuse was not present. Such families are characterized not simply by maternal depression and child abuse, but frequently by abuse of the mother herself, who is often socially isolated. These findings are of major importance for child care practice, indicating that working with the mother's depression and the social conditions that provide its backdrop, are a major aspect of social work practice.