This classic volume is a major contribution to the ongoing revitalization and growth of social work with groups. A variety of perspectives and practice problems in social group work are explored, selecting the direction in which work with groups is being channeled today. Social work educators and practitioners examine the new experiences that are demanding expansion of theory or its application, as well as the emerging new theory that might help practitioners in shaping their plans for work with clients in groups. The most current thinking in the field is illustrated by the well-balanced topics that are thoroughly addressed, including teaching/training, health settings, theory and technique, family issues, empowerment, research and organization, administration, and program development.

Help change the world by bringing ideas of social justice into your group work practice! Social workers who use hip-hop music to reach out to troubled adolescents. Practitioners who compare First Nations talking circles with social work practice with groups. A retired professor who transforms the way her fellow senior living center residents participate in their world. Fathers of children with spina bifida who help one another through an online discussion group. These and other examples you’ll discover in Social Work with Groups: Social Justice Through Personal, Community, and Societal Change will help you to assist groups to gain a sense of empowerment and create change in their own lives and communities. In Social Work with Groups: Social Justice Through Personal, Community, and Societal Change you’ll also find: definitions of social justice within the context of social work a proposal to help focus on social justice in teaching guidelines for group facilitators making decisions about self-disclosure studies of innovative group work discussion of the challenges to achieving social justice in group work valuable ways to ground social group work in rich cultural traditions This new book rides the crest of the growing wave of justice in social work with groups. Culled from the proceedings of the 22nd International Symposium of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, it gives you the innovations and current thinking of professionals who, while coming from different cultural and professional backgrounds, are focused on helping all people enjoy the same rights and opportunities. If you want to use group work to challenge social inequality, Social Work with Groups will be a welcome addition to your library. Social action that gets results has to start somewhere—let it begin with you!

"This book focuses on the digital applications of social work, the effects of pandemic and digital transformation on social work, and practices and studies related to social work covering many issues such as gender, feminism, post-war social cohesion, social security, occupational health and safety, aging, ageism, social policy, migration, racism, sexual abuse, violence against women "--

This comprehensive handbook presents major theories of social work practice with groups and explores contemporary issues in designing and evaluating interventions. Students and practitioners gain an in-depth view of the many ways that groups are used to help people address personal problems, cope with disabilities, strengthen families and communities, resolve conflict, achieve social change, and more. Offering authoritative coverage of theoretical, practical, and methodological concerns--coupled with a clear focus on empowerment and diversity--this is an outstanding text for group work and direct practice courses.

This book presents the wide range and diversity of effective group work practice in today’s troubled society. Representing the best in current practice, chapters discuss modern group work and contain rich examples of practice and theory. Group Work Practice in a Troubled Society examines the social realities in which group work is now practiced and addresses present-day social issues and problems. Contributing authors to Group Work Practice in a Troubled Society discuss innovations in practice, programs, and theory, and a wide variety of work with clients in many different settings. There is a breadth and strength and diversity in contemporary group work practice, and the authors--practitioners and educators from the United States, Canada, and Hong Kong--represent the vitality of current practice and theory. Among the many topics they discuss are: contextual group work practice latent content in work with groups group work in administration cultural sensitivity and diversity in small-group practice group work in other cultures and with immigrant populations feminist group work and unique considerations in work with women’s groups group work with sexually abused children, with incest survivors, and with sexual offenders group work in community centers group work with mentally ill chemical abusers group work use in an innovative 12-step modality Group Work Practice in a Troubled Society provides a wealth of information and ideas for social workers and students of social work who are interested or involved in group work and who wish to learn more about current practice and developments in the field.

This book explores new forms of democracy in practice following the 2011 global uprisings; democracy that comes from below, by and for the ‘have-nots’. Combining theories of social innovation and collective leadership, it analyses how disadvantaged communities have addressed the effects of economic recession in two global cities: Barcelona and New York.

Offering some of the most advanced thinking and practice in the arena of social work with groups, From Prevention to Wellness Through Group Work synthesizes the discussions and findings from the Annual Symposium of the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups (AASWG). Gathered here are different ideas, techniques, and research (with a focus on prevention) for group work with seniors, adults, teens, and children. With a mix of authors from social work academia and practice, this book gives you groundbreaking theoretical pieces as well as emerging skills and techniques in group work. If you attended the conference you will refer to this book as a guide to the information presented. If you were not in attendance you need this book to discover what you missed! The two primary chapters in From Prevention to Wellness Through Group Work provide a look into constructivism and the power model and the empowerment approach as a paradigm for international social work practice. Other pertinent topics you learn about include: conflict management in group treatment a social skills program for emotionally disturbed children bullying and scapegoating in groups groups for persons who have experienced transplants groups for persons with AIDS the intersection of different realities in the group setting using poetry to revive traditional practice methods, theories, and values mutual aid, democratic participation, power sharing, and consciousness raising From Prevention to Wellness Through Group Work also shows you how group experiences prevent breakdown and encourage wellness for older adults in senior centers and retirement communities; the definition, scope, and usefulness of psychoeducational groups; how group-based methods can enrich research; and how monitoring group practice can strengthen your effectiveness and credibility. You’ll find the book’s consistent focus on prevention while providing ways to improve both group work practice and research through cooperative efforts most helpful.

A comprehensive introduction to policy and planning approaches, methods, models, ways of thinking, and techniques, Social Group Work Today and Tomorrow is presented in a reader-friendly fashion for persons with no prior formal training in this area. The book teaches social workers, group counselors, educators and students, and practitioners how to apply group work theory to practice in an increasingly time-limited and managed-care-oriented society. Social Group Work Today and Tomorrow converts sophisticated policy and planning concepts and techniques into a form which even non-experts can understand, relate to, and apply in their own practice. Chapters reflect the work of the “giants” of social group work and also recognize contributions being made by the current generation of educators and practitioners. The contributors’chapters span many topical areas, among them: an interactionist theoretical perspective on creative uses of groups a moving look at the second decade of the AIDS epidemic creative use of dance with group work creative group work with ill elderly practice groups for students to prepare them for professional work with groups women’s issues and empowerment creative ways to use groups to educate among homosexual men on safe sexual practices the use of one-session groups to respond to job-related trauma Chapters strike a strong note for social group work’s base in an interactionist perspective and for the overall efficacy and uniqueness of the method. Throughout the text, readers learn and explore group types and formats ranging from verbal to activity; from one session to beyond a year; from education to support; and from developmental to rehabilitation. Ethics, self-esteem, identity, and empowerment themes are prominent throughout this work’s pages. Social Group Work Today and Tomorrow is an accurate reflection of the quality, creativity, and energy that made up the Fourteenth Annual Symposium on Social Work With Groups. The creativity and innovativeness reflected in these pages offers new ideas and direction to all of social workers, counselors, and educators who choose the experience of working with groups.

As we grapple with how to respond to some of the world’s most pressing problems, such as inequality, poverty and climate change, there is growing global interest in ‘social innovation’ as a potential solution. But what exactly is ‘social innovation’? This book describes three ways to theorise social innovation when seeking to manage and organize for both social and economic progress.

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.