The Use of Purpose in On-Going Activity Groups: A Framework for Maximizing the Therapeutic Impact

SUMMARY

This article explores the purposeful use of on-going activity in social group work. It examines the ways in which the group's purposes fluctuate over the group's life, with the activity-oriented purpose taking precedence in beginnings, the personal growth-oriented purpose taking precedence in the middle stage, and both purposes sharing importance in endings. Throughout the paper, illustrations from a co-ed teen ceramics group are provided.     

Remembering with and Without Awareness Through Poetry to Better Understand Aging and Disability

SUMMARY

Poetry has been described as a universal translator. I offer three poems that are evocative of my experience as a child with my grandfathers and their disabilities; and as an adult attempting to deal with the impending death of my father. My wish is that the first poem will reinforce the idea that connecting with one's own memories of aged and disabled family members might support our interactions with people who are aged and disabled in the here and now. I present the final two poems to encourage those working with family members of seriously ill aged people in a hospital setting to better understand the stress of decision-making and to consider devising short-term mutual aid groups to support them during a time for which no preparation exists.     

Interorganizational Groups in Human Services: Environmental and Interpersonal Relationships

Despite the frequent use of interorganizational groups in human services, their performance tends to be uneven. A dual focus on both environmental and interpersonal dimensions is required to understand variations in the development and outcomes of these groups. The author proposes a conceputal framework, grounded in open systems theory, exchange theory, and small group theory, to integrate both external and internal perspectives. Four types of interorganizational groups are identified based on their origin (mandated vs. voluntary) and the source of task structure (externally directed vs. internally developed). The four group types are illustrated with scenarios that highlight potential benefits and concerns. Characteristics of each group type are discussed. Further, administrative and policy guidelines are suggested for improving the performance of each type of group.     

Mortality inequality in two native population groups

A sample of people aged 40–67 years, taken from a longitudinal register compiled by Statistics Finland, is used to analyse mortality differences between Swedish speakers and Finnish speakers in Finland. Finnish speakers are known to have higher death rates than Swedish speakers. The purpose is to explore whether labour-market experience and partnership status, treated as proxies for measures of variation in health-related characteristics, are related to the mortality differential. Persons who are single, disability pensioners, and those having experienced unemployment are found to have substantially higher death rates than those with a partner and employed persons. Swedish speakers have a more favourable distribution on both variables, which thus notably helps to reduce the Finnish–Swedish mortality gradient. A conclusion from this study is that future analyses on the topic should focus on mechanisms that bring a greater proportion of Finnish speakers into the groups with poor health or supposed unhealthy behaviour.     

从创作功用观透视戏曲形式的发生与发展

戏曲形式的发生发展大致经历了元杂剧、明清　传奇、花部等几个阶段。这里所谓的发展，有就“以歌舞演故事”的戏曲形式的整体而言的　，也有就形式的某一方面，如语言、音乐形式和结构等而言的。发展变化的原因是很复杂的　，其中创作群体的变迁及其对创作形式的能动选择是最具活力的因素。本文试图通过变化着　的创作群体和随之变化的创作观念来透视戏曲形式的发生发展。     

论转型时期的政策利润

我国在由计划经济向市场经济转型过程中 ,改革的每一步都是靠政策推动的 ,政策利润是在不同时期对不同对象开放的 ,由此形成我国主体不同的政策利润和不同时期的富裕群体。政策利润的生成及由此形成的富裕群体是我国转型时期的必然产物。随着我国市场经济体制的建立和买方市场的形成 ,各种类型经济主体赚取不同政策利润所造成的事实上的不公平竞争和市场法则复杂化的问题日益突出 ,因此 ,我们必须清理各种政策利润 ,实现各经济主体的无差别化 ,使之在公平的环境下平等竞争     

The Social Construction of Reality in the Realm of Children's Mental Health Services

ABSTRACT

Across the United States, systems of care have emerged to provide mental health care to children and their families; fragmentation inhibiting the success of collaboration by stakeholders is common and compromises these systems of care. Survey data were collected from 1,428 respondents in a Midwestern state to examine problems that exist within systems of care from the perspective of the different stakeholder groups. Stakeholder group membership was based upon the respondent's employment or involvement within various child-serving systems and included those in child welfare, juvenile justice, and education, mental health providers, and consumers (i.e., caregivers/parents). Group differences revealed patterns of “finger pointing” by the stakeholder groups on where specific problems exist within systems of care. The findings provide insight into how the social construction of service delivery and practice emerges as stakeholder groups describe, understand, and evaluate problems within the system of care as a function of their own practice location within the system of care. Future research should consider exploring methods that might minimize the competitive nature of disparate child-serving systems and its potentially negative impact upon system performance and treatment outcomes.     

Social Network Analysis for Analyzing Groups as Complex Systems

ABSTRACT

The introduction and application of social network analysis, a method seen as superior to experimental or single-system research design for showing group change, examined group dynamics and change over time using a hypothetical example of an Internet group for gays and lesbians. Rather than utilizing traditional definitions of independent and dependent variables, the analysis utilized hypothetical data with nodes or individuals, ties, and the relationships they formed. The recently developed computer program NodeXL provided diagrams and statistics that demonstrated node and tie variation and individual and group development over time. Discussion demonstrated the utility of such diagrams for research and practice.     

HUMAN RELATIONS LABS AS A REQUIRED PART OF SOCIAL WORK EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Human relations labs have increasingly become components of social work education and training programs and in many instances are required experiences for social work students and trainees. In this paper the author raises and addresses issues concerning (a) purpose, (b) ethical considerations, (c) format, and (d) core content of these labs. In an effort to operationalize solutions, a model human relations lab is outlined.     

Goal Setting Process: Supporting Choice in a Feminist Group for Women with Alcohol Problems

ABSTRACT

Women who seek help for alcohol related concerns may have goals ranging from maintaining abstinence to moderating or simply monitoring their drinking. Facilitating a group when participants' goals vary is challenging but not impossible. The potential for slipping into the common stance of identifying abstinence as the most desirable goal can be avoided by sensitive group facilitation. This paper describes how a feminist group intervention employed the group process to support decision-making across a range of goal choices; it provides some guidance on how social group workers can assist in the difficult work of identifying, clarifying, and working toward self-selected goals.