This issue of Currents celebrates the power of group work and its unique ability to heal and to facilitate learning and change.
To find common ground, to be connected, to be part of a group: The importance of being a member of a community has long been acknowledged as central to civilization. Groups are the glue that hold the fabric of society together. They are also a powerful method to promote personal growth and healing. The power of group resides in its ability to provide an experience wherein members who have similar problems or interests, can help one another. This feature is emphasized by the standards for social practice with groups set forth by the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups. They affirm that:Central to social work practice with groups is the concept of mutual aid. The group worker recognizes that the group, with its multiple helping relationships, is the primary source of change. The group worker’s role is one primarily of helping members work together to achieve the goals that they have established for themselves.
The history of social work groups is closely tied to the evolution of the profession, reflecting the needs and concerns of the times. During the formative years of the profession, in the late 1880s, social work groups were a part of a social reform movement called the Settlement House movement. During this period, social workers and other community workers came together in groups to protest the conditions of the poor and immigrant city residents. These groups had a social action orientation.
In subsequent years, group work has expanded to include a focus on treatment. At present, it is most commonly associated as a therapeutic tool. Social work group practice is found in many settings: hospitals, clinics, schools, prisons, and the workplace. Group work is also an effective modality in response to managed care concerns and can a useful way to provide treatment with carrying a larger caseload. For many providers as well as clients, groups can be a less expensive alternative to treatment than individual care.
In addition to its therapeutic functions, Group work is also an excellent tool for training, supervision, as well as research. In recent years, focus groups have become a popular method for gathering data.
While many disciplines practice group work, social work is uniquely suited to group practice because the theoretical foundation of group work is consonant with social work values of democracy and empowerment. The Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups defines group work as democratic in nature. It emphasizes the equal worth of members and workers, and that groups seek to promote individual growth as well as social change.
