Small social groups are fundamental for achieving personal growth, social development, socialization, and the skills of sustaining relevance, relationships, and connections to society. Unfortunately, those who would benefit most from small groups often find themselves unable to achieve membership. Lacking the necessary skills for entry, these individuals may never enjoy the advantages of group membership. Advancing a practice methodology that specifically targets the socially unskilled, Norma C. Lang provides much-needed guidance to practitioners helping individuals become part of group life. Grounded in extensive practice, Lang's methodology addresses the special needs and anomalous functioning of individuals who lack the skills to form and use groups. She outlines the unique pregroup processes of socially unskilled populations and provides a methodology for advancing social competence. She also identifies the professional and agency requirements for working with presocial processes. Widely applicable to practice with social work groups, Lang's method greatly expands the literature on social work theory and practice with individuals and groups.
Here is an exciting and stimulating book featuring expert evaluations and descriptions of current social work group practice with an overall focus on competence and values. The contributors give detailed information on group work theory, group structure, gender and race issues in group work, group work in health care settings, and the use of groups for coping with family issues that will be invaluable for all professionals in their daily practice. This thorough and inspiring overview of the state of the art in social group work today contains the published proceedings of a recent Symposium for the Advancement of Social Work With Groups.
Not simply another "how-to" book, this provocative collection of readings does not advance a single viewpoint or approach to group work. Instead, the 25 selections present the full spectrum of classic and current perspectives, providing student and practitioner alike with a sound basis for evaluating contemporary practice and for formulating a personal approach to social group work. The historical and conceptual roots of modern social group work methods are examined in Part I, "Conceptual Foundations" which contains some of the classic statements in the field. Part II, "Current Perspectives", explores the most widely influential contemporary models of group work, "social goals" perspectives, "remedial" perspectives, and "mediative" perspectives. The two-part section that concludes the volume focuses on applications: group work is first discussed in relation to family and community casework and administration; then, self-help groups and other techniques used in the fields of medicine, counseling, and psychology are surveyed in light of their implications for social workers. To encourage the reader's active participation in the development of an individual philosophy and approach to social group work, Dr. Alissi concludes each chapter with probing study questions. These open-ended questions stimulate comparisons among the methods presented and urge the reader to relate new ideas to his or her own experience in the field. Introductions to each part and chapter also stress comparative aspects. An annotated list of articles and books on the subject of each chapter allows the reader to explore it in greater depth. A stimulating and systematic exposure to the most important ideas in social group work today, "Perspectives on Social Group Work Practice" expands the repertoire of working concepts vital to contemporary practice.
The perfect text for preparing students to work with either treatment (ongoing) or task (special focus) groups, this newly revised edition offers the most up-to-date research and technology available in the social work field. "An Introduction to Group Work Practice, Fifth Edition," continues to stress the importance of developing skills in group-work and provides the most comprehensive information available on the market today. Students receive a thorough grounding in areas that vary from treatment to organizational and community settings. Chapters on the history of groups, group dynamics, group leadership, and diversity help the reader build a solid knowledge base about groups and it apply to real-life social work practice. The addition of new case studies, practice examples, and guiding principles add to the ease and readability of this popular text. New To This Edition Special attention to the problem-solving stages used in social work practice better prepare students for leadership roles in groups. Expanded research-based literature throughout exposes students to more evidence-based practice. More practice problems and short case examples allow students to apply content and obtain feedback, helping to reinforce chapter content. Newly revised material on group dynamics, including information on work with organizations and communities, assessment, group leadership, and diversity students can use in both HBSE, Practice courses and across the baccalaureate curriculum. What Reviewers Are Saying... ""The authors' thorough coverage of this material in an organized format is exactly why I chose this text over others."" Janice G. Wells, Ph.D., Winthrop University ""The readability of all these chapters... is very good for either graduate or undergraduate level. This is certainly one of the most important overall strong points of the text. "" Daniel Liechty, Ph.D., Dmin., ACSW, LCSW, Illinois State University "" An Introduction to Group Work Practice is very comprehensive and well-researched. It has the rigor that I would expect in a substantial treatment of this subject, but the accessibility to the beginning student. It's very informative. "" Matthew R. Buckley, Ed.D., Delta State University ""I believe the text includes virtually everything that should be included in a beginning group work textbook. Its completeness is a great strength. "" Kendra J. Garrett, DSW, University of St. Thomas Students, study smarter--not harder--with these grade-boosting supplements from Allyn & Bacon! Instructors, give your students the extraordinary benefits of these study aids by ordering them packaged with this Allyn & Bacon text. Contact your Allyn & Bacon representative for ordering information. Allyn & Bacon's Career Center offers registered students eight 30-minute sessions with a career specialist. This $25.00 retail value is FREE when packaged with any Social Work textbook. For more information visit www.ablongman.com/careercenter.. Title of related interest from Allyn & Bacon: Toseland/Rivas: "Student Workbook, 5/e" ISBN: 0-205-42995-5
Group work is a popular and widely used social work method. Focusing particularly on the central role of mutual aid in effective group work, this text presents the theoretical base, outlines core principles, and introduces the skills for translating those theories and principles into practice. A Mutual-Aid Model for Social Work with Groups will help readers to catalyze the strengths of group members such that they become better problem solvers in all areas of life from the playroom to the boardroom. Increased coverage of evaluation and evidence-based practice speaks to the field’s growing concern with monitoring process and assessing progress. The book also includes: worker-based obstacles to mutual aid, their impact, and their antidotes pre-group planning including new discussion on curriculum groups group building by prioritizing certain goals and norms in the new group the significance of time and place on mutual aid and the role of the group worker maintaining mutual aid during so-called individual problem solving an expanded discussion of anti-oppression and anti-oppressive practice unlocking a group’s potential to make difference and conflict useful special considerations in working with time-limited, open-ended, and very large groups. Case examples are used throughout to help bridge the gap between theory and practice, and exercises for class or field, help learners to immediately apply conceptual material to their practice. All resources required to carry out the exercises are contained in over 20 appendices at the end of the book. Key points at the end of each chapter recap the major concepts presented, and a roster of recommended reading for each chapter points the reader to further resources on each topic. Designed to support ethical and successful practice, this textbook is an essential addition to the library of any social work student or human service practitioner working with groups.
Spotlighting the skills of social group work, this handbook offers practical guidance and theoretical knowledge, enabling the reader to facilitate groups of varying types with increased clarity, purpose, and confidence. The reader is helped to understand what skill to employ, when, and why. New or veteran group facilitators are reminded to empower group members to both employ their strengths and engage in mutual aid – the fundamental value and methodology that underlies social group work. Specific skills help group members to coalesce as a cohesive group and optimize their capacity to reach their goals whether exploring therapeutic answers or accomplishing work tasks. This book illustrates that there are “basics” to the method of human service work with groups that can help you to feel more at ease with and more effective at working with people in groups. The group work method is delineated for you, outlining: (1) skills of working with groups (ways of thinking or doing to make things happen), (2) practice principles (the moral reasoning that underlies what you choose to think and do in your practice), and (3) theoretical underpinnings for those choices (why your choices will achieve desirable ends). Anecdotal material and skills in action provide explicit examples of what skills look like in real time. Social work students and academics as well as students and professionals working in the fields of youth work, counseling, mental health/clinical social work, and related health subjects will find this book of interest.
Working with families, carers, groups and communities is something all social work students must prepare for. Written to guide you through these varied and complex groupwork situations, this book explores the knowledge, skills and values required for groupwork practice. Divided into two parts, the first provides an understanding of groupwork, its concepts and contexts, while the second takes you step-by-step through groupwork practice, from planning and preparation, to starting out, facilitating and finally ending work with a group. Different service contexts including work with children, with users who have learning disabilities, in mental health settings, and more, are covered throughout the book, with case studies, activities and reflective opportunities helping you to understand the complexities of these contexts. This text is a comprehensive and contemporary guide to groupwork in social work today.
Practice Skills in Social Work and Welfare has established itself as the essential text to prepare students for the wide-ranging challenges they will face in today's human service sector. This new third edition continues the text's core strength of combining grounded theory with practical examples to build the reader's confidence and expertise in key areas of practice. Part I outlines the anti-oppressive and strengths-based practices that underpin the book's approach and provides the context for learning practice skills in a group setting, during community development projects and with individuals. Part II focuses on developing effective relationships with clients, illustrating through realistic scenarios how social work and human service workers can apply their practice skills in a range of settings. In Part III the essential elements of client assessment are explored, including risk assessment and cross-cultural perspectives. Issues surrounding intervention are examined in Part IV from working with families and groups to challenging constructively and safely, while research, evaluation and facilitating closure are covered in the final part. This third edition is fully revised and updated, and features new material on using information technology, working with Indigenous Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples and Maori, and engaging with families in the statutory system. 'The main strength of the book is the consistency of its themes throughout the text.' - Karen Heycox in Australian Social Work
Inclusive Group Work offers an innovative approach to working with intervention groups and task groups by redefining the concept of diversity and reframing core group work concepts. Appropriate for both undergraduate and graduate courses, this book introduces readers to the foundations of group practice with an emphasis on social justice. The book presents diversity as a relational concept that is at the heart of all group interactions. Individual identity is complex, and in order for all members to be treated equally their individuality must be accepted and respected. Using this framework, the book discusses the values and ethics of social work with groups, explores the stages of group work including planning, and presents both basic and advanced skills such as conflict resolution and the use of self. Theories are put into practice in three chapters of case studies that show in-detail how diversity can be employed as a strength in multiple settings to achieve the wide variety of goals groups pursue. Through this new approach, students and practitioners alike will learn how to harness diversity to engage and maintain participation in inclusive group processes.
