Establishing Positive Youth Development Approaches in Group Home Settings: Training Implementation and Evaluation

This article reports on a training program for group home supervisors that was designed to utilize positive youth development principles in work with youth transitioning from care to independent living. Over a period of 5 months, eight one-day training sessions took place across one state in the U.S. (Massachusetts) with a total of 186 group care staff in attendance. The evaluation consisted of three components: observation of participant feedback during training, training day post-test, and follow-up with participants 2–3 months after training. Implications of the data, particularly barriers to implementation of training programs, are discussed.     

The Development and Implementation of a Minority Recruitment Plan: Process,Strategy and Results

Abstract

The authors identify and discuss the planning process and results of a three-year minority recruitment effort. The recruitment principles and framework used to influence decisions are explained. The recruitment and retention effort consisted of six phases: Gauging the environment, preinitiation, program planning and development, implementation, evaluation, and institutionalization. Each phase is discussed along with the tasks and strategies which proved to be effective.     

Group Dynamics in Development of the Poor: Experience from BRAC

The groups deliberately formed by nongovernmental organizations to organize the poor for their development are often subgrouped for better performance. In this connection, the study investigates the extent subgroups contribute to group performance, the mechanisms that lead to the contribution of subgroups to group performance, and changes in the contribution of subgroups to the performance of a group. Altogether 239 Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee groups, i.e., village organizations (VOs), with and without subgroups were investigated. The VOs with subgroups performed better than those without subgroups. The performance of the VOs with subgroups, however, declined over time. One of the reasons why effectiveness of VOs with subgroups declined was the belief that pursuing subgroup responsibilities would not bring any personal gain for members.     

The Bells that Ring: A Process for Group Supervision;

In this article, the development of a process for group supervision is outlined, and placed in context. Most of us, as Family Therapists, spend time participating in group supervision, whether because of the mandatory requirements of training and qualifications, or because we regard supervision groups as an important vehicle for support, professional development, and accountability. Peer supervision groups particularly, and group supervision generally, have been under-explored in the literature. As a ‘supervisor,’ I developed this structure with the aim of facilitating a group process that is empowering for the therapist presenting his/her work, and creatively involving for the group members.     

Distance Education: The Role of the Site Advisory Committee

SUMMARY

This paper describes the role of the Site Advisory Committee (SAC) as a link between the off-campus sites and the host university. The role of the SAC is to provide advice, regional perspectives, and suggestions for distance education program enhancement. SAC activities, structure, and a program evaluation plan will be addressed.     

Beyond the Self: External Influences in the Career Development Process

The purpose of this article is to explore the wide spectrum of external influences that affect career decision making across the life span and, in particular, how these factors may directly or indirectly alter one's career trajectory and the extent of one's work volition. Career development practitioners are encouraged to respect externally oriented frameworks, explore the social influence of career choice alternatives faced by clients, encourage clients to voice their emotional responses to external constraints, and use career decision‐making strategies that seek an optimal balance of internal and external influences.     

Organizational Consultation and the Teaching of Family Therapy: Contrasting Case Histories*

This paper describes the process of attempting to teach the principles and effective utilization of family therapy to the indigenous staff of two mental health institutions. Both interventions are conceptualized as entrees into entrenched organizational systems requiring shifts in power alignments, clarification of self and group goals, articulation of needs, reallocation of resources, and attention to group process in order to succeed. One case, where such issues were overlooked and neglected, resulted in failure in which apparently little learning of family therapy occurred. The second, where these issues were anticipated, addressed and resolved, resulted in successful learning of family therapy, implementation of therapy programs and lasting change in the organizational climate to support those programs. The teacher of family therapy, by functioning as an organizational consultant, can help create the kind of working conditions which are best suited to effectively treating families.     

Public Policy and the Plans and Preferences of Older Americans

This study compares the retirement plans and preferences of a recent sample of 3,500 men and women of pre-retirement age- 50 to 64. The data suggest that a minority of older workers expect to retire earlier than they really want to, and that many would delay retirement if they faced different terms and conditions of employment. Although most older Americans cannot or do not want to work, many do, and they represent a significant underutilized labor market resource.     

Reflections on Study Abroad Education: Guidelines on Study Abroad Preparation and Process

In view of constant changes in today's world, it is imperative that social work education embrace a global perspective. Therefore, educators must continue to pay attention to, and adopt methods of, social interventions needed to address changing world circumstances. This paper will present a rationale for the study abroad experience and for the use of social networking to enhance the experience. Shared are points to consider when preparing and educating social work students for a global perspective in social work practice. Participant partners were Fayetteville State University, the University of Dar Es Salaam, and the Institute of Social Work.     

Improving the Quality of Outcome Evaluation Plans

Nonprofit agencies are struggling to meet new funder demands in outcome evaluation. This study is the first of its kind to examine factors that contribute to agency progress in this area. Path analysis is used to examine chains of influence among five predictors of success as well as three control variables. Study findings indicate that agency culture, technology, management support, and involvement are key predictors of quality. Nonprofit managers who want to succeed in the new era of accountability should consider the potential impact of these factors on the quality of outcome evaluation plans in their agencies.     

Faculty Development: The Continuing Preparation of the Social Work Education Teacher

Faculty in both class and field who are teaching students in these rapidly changing times need the opportunity to continue to enhance their learning on the job. Beyond the advancing knowledge in their own content area, faculty need to be aware of new developments in the field, content on emerging theories in social and behavioral sciences, and refinements in methods of teaching in professional education. This paper explores the need for new and renewed knowledge and various modalities for faculty development based on the experience of the faculty of one school.     

Paper Parachutes: Hartson and Payne's Creating Effective Parenting Plans

ABSTRACT

Two Iowa psychologists have written a guide to parenting plans for legal professionals, published by the American Bar Association's Family Law Section. By concentrating only on residential schedules for low-conflict families, the authors of Creating Effective Parenting Plans give family lawyers a helpful primer on child development, but fall short of providing the comprehensive treatment of parenting plans that their audience needs most. Reliance on the primary parent paradigm, failure to address any aspect of parenting plans other than the residential schedule, and exclusion of complex issues limit the value of this guide.     

Failures in the Development of Potential Space in a Group

In this paper I shall use Winnicott’s concept of potential space to discuss the impasses, which arises when failures occur in the development of group potential space. Because clinical social work is a service usually provided by public bodies with limited economic resources, unstable social and political realities are driving many social workers to search for methods of responding to the needs of many without compromising the quality of the service provided. This requires the acquisition of increasing knowledge in the field of group therapy, in order to help our clients, who often suffer from disabling conditions, to become functioning community members. The paper reviews Winnicott’s concept of potential space and Ogden’s formulation of the psychopathology of potential space, and describes various manifestations of impasses in group work and group development. Three clinical examples describing therapeutic groups led by clinicians in various public frameworks, are used to illustrate three different forms of group collapse following a failure in the formation of potential space. A fourth type of collapse is also discussed.

青少年心理发展团体训练模式研究

本文探讨如何通过青少年以团体心理预防和心理增强为主的发展性训练模式,达到健脑益智和轻松愉快的目的.笔者针对在校中学生心身发育特点和一周心态变化规律而设计的一种训练模式,不仅避免了枯燥无味的呆板训练,还全部配以优美的画面背景和动听的民族音乐,在重要环节加入青少年喜欢的充满活力的模特步和秧歌舞,寓心理训练于快乐之中.