SOCIAL GROUPWORK (WORKING WITH GROUPS)

I. OVERVIEW OF SOCIAL WORK

A. Social Work Ultimate Goal (Also known as Major Purpose of SW or SW’s focus of concern)

- Social Work as a profession is concerned with the person-in-his-life situation or, more
specifically, the individual’s social functioning.
- The enhancement of social functioning whenever the need for such is either socially or
individually perceived.
- To enhance a person’s Social Functioning, the improvement of his interaction between
himself and his environment.
Functions of Social Work

1. Preventive - concerned with identifying and dealing with potential areas of disequilibrium
between persons and the environment
2. Remedial – (including rehabilitative, curative and restorative) aims to assist people in
identifying and resolving problems that have resulted from disequilibrium between
themselves and their environment.
3. Developmental – aims to seek out, identify and strengthen the maximum potential of
individuals, groups, and communities through provision of social resources.
B. Development of Social Work in the Philippines

Casework method was first used by Associated Charities of Manila (1917) and
child welfare services
Socio-civic organizations started using leisure-time activities for personality
1920s development and character-building purposes i.e. YMCA (1911), YWCA (1926),
Philippine Boy Scouts of the P (1936). These agencies first influenced group work
activities, their purpose relate to what was termed in the US as the “Socialization
Function”
CO started as “community chest” work. Community Chest is a voluntary
organization which raises the necessary funds for the operations of its member
1950’s agencies through a united fund campaign.
Community Chest of Greater Manila (1949) was organized with 19 member
agencies
A Community Chest Council of the Philippines (CCCP) was established as a
response to the formation of community chests across the country, with its
1970’s services expanding to planning and development of community programs
Martial Law spurred the “Social Action” model of CO

C. Traditional Methods of Social Work (Primary Methods)

1. Casework
2. Groupwork
3. Community Organizing
D. Generalist Approach

- Also called “Integrated Method”, “Generic Practice”, “Multi-method Practice”, “Unitary

Approach”, and “General Method”.
- A wholistic approach to Social Work where the individual, the group, and the community
are used as functional points of entry using skills based on generic aspects of the primary
methods of SW.
 - Personal problems cannot be taken out of its situational contexts, hence, we more than
ever, need generalist social workers that specialist caseworkers, group workers and CO
workers.
E. Components of Social Work Profession

1. Values Foundation

a. Philosophy - “Every human being has worth and dignity”

b. Values – Social Work Values are can be observed in what are the things the Social Work
as a profession gives worth and importance. Our values is manifested in our value
commitment which is “It is good and desirable for every human being to fulfill his
potential, to realize himself, and to balance this with equal efforts to help others do the
same”
c. Principles - Acceptance, Individualization, Non-judgmental Attitude, Purposeful
expression of feelings, Controlled emotional involvement, Confidentiality, Self-
determination, Participation, Worker Self-awareness
d. Professional Ethics
 Ethics – science that concerned with morals and right conduct
 Professional Ethics – serves as guide of professionals on how to conduct
themselves i.e. Code of Ethics
 Informal and Unwritten Rules – these are the “givens” that don’t have to be
written down. These comes from the worker’s “sense of reason” and
“conscience”.
Example: During a meeting, greetings of “Good morning/Good Afternoon/Good
evening” is observed even if it’s not a written rule to do so.

2. Knowledge Foundation
a. Knowledge of the person and the environment (HBSE)
b. Knowledge about Social Problems and society’s response to them in terms of
social welfare policies, programs, and services (SWPPS)
c. Knowledge about SW Practice (SW Goal, SW Functions, Methods, Helping
Process, Helping Tools/Techniques)
II. Historical Background of Groupwork
1. Before the Sixties: Socialization Goals

- Socialization: process by which people selectively acquire the values and attitudes of
the groups of which they belong.
- YMCA (1911), YWCA (1926), BSP (1936) used groups for personality development and
character building through leisure-time activities
- 1950s: Phil. Youth Welfare Coordinating Council started using groups for preventive
and developmental goals through leadership and skills training for OSYs
- Foster Parents Plan organized mothers groups to promote responsible parenthood.
- 1958-1959: Phil. Mental Health Association had outreact programs for prevention of
juvenile delinquency organizing parents for education programs
2. 1960’s: Prevention, Treatment and Developmental Goals

- Special Child Study Center Inc.: organized parents’ groups to help them accept,
understand and deal with their childrens conditions.
- PMHA: conducted group therapy sessions using psychodrama with emotionally
disturbed patients in its Day Care Center
 - DSWD – organized groups of tenants to deal with their concerns on government
housing and resettlement
- PSSW (PWU) and PYWCC: organized youth groups for socialization and
developmental goals
- UP-DSW (CSWCD) and St. Luke: organized groups with poverty-stricken families
3. 1970’s: Emphasizing Developmental Goals

- 1960’s (1st Developmental decade) and 1970’s (2nd Developmental Decade)

- Increase in Self-employment assistance, leadership training, day-care, responsible
parenthood, family life education programs
- Barangay Approach: use of the barangay as a point of entry for Social Workers
- Socialization and Re-socialization
- Martial Law
III. USES OF GROUPS
A. Advantages of Group Approach

- When a person is in a group, he/she is much more motivated to do something about

it if he/she sees that others have the same or even more serious problem
- “Helper Therapy” principle – group members receive psychological rewards from the
experience of helping others
- Forces in groups can influence individuals, the group becomes an instrument for
effecting change
- Groups can hasten decision-making processes
- Groups save time and resources
B. Categories of Group Use (Margaret Hartford)

1. For effect of Participants

2. For collective problem solving
3. For change in the social situation or conditions outside the group
C. How Groups Effect Change (Dorwin Cartwright)

1. The group as a Medium of Change – the target of the influence is the individual
member, and the source of influence is the group
2. The group as a Target of Change – the target of influence is the group as a whole or
certain aspects of the group to change i.e. group conditions. These group conditions
might be the composition, climate, structure (size, operating procedures, sub-groups)
and processes.
3. The group as an Agent of Change – the target of change here is outside the group
i.e. features and forces in its social environment.
D. INTEGRATED APPROACH TO WORK WITH GROUPS

As in the integrated approach in Social Work, there is also an expectation on the Social
Worker to be able to work with groups as a medium, target, and agent of change and use the
techniques on how to effect change in an integrated manner.

“What is expected is that a social worker will do what is necessary and appropriate, not
withholding any effort that would make for more effective helping” - Thelma Lee-Medoza

E. PHASES IN GROUP DEVELOPMENT

 Group – at least two people, but usually more, gathered with common purposes or
interests in a cognitive, affective, and social interchange in single or repeated encounters. A
simple collection of people is not a group.

1. Conceptions of Group Phases

Margaret Garland, Northern Sarri and Harleigh Sue Henry

Hartford Jones Galinsky Trecker
and
Kolodny
Pre-group Phase Pre-Affiliation Preparatory Origin Phase Initial
a. Private Stage
b. Public Convening
c. Convening Planning Stage
and Intake
Group Formation Phase Orientation Formation Beginning Stage Formation
Stage Phase
Emergence of
some group
feelings,
organization and
program
Integration, Power and Exploring and Intermediate Development of Conflict/Disequili
Disintegration, Re- Control Testing the Phase 1 bond brium
integration Phase Intimacy Group
Revision Phase

Intermediate
Phase 2
Group Functioning and Differentiation Problem Maturation Strong Group Maintenance
Maintenance Phase solving and Phase Feeling; Goal
Stabilization Attainment

Decline in
interest; Les
group feeling
Termination Phase Separation Termination Termination Ending Termination
a. Pre-
termination
b. Termination
c. Post-
termination

2. PHASES IN GROUP DEVELOPMENT (by Margaret Hartfort) in relation to the HELPING PROCESS
and the HELPING RELATIONSHIP

Phases in Group
Helping
Development Phases in the Helping Relationship
Process
(Margaret Hartford)
Pre-Group Formation
Assessment
Group Formation Phase Beginning Phase
Action Planning
Integration/Disintegration
Plan
/Reintegration Middle Phase
Implementation
&
 Group Functioning and
Maintenance Phase
Evaluation
Termination Phase Ending Phase
Termination

3. PHASES IN GROUP DEVELOPMENT (Margaret Hartfort)

Phases in Group
Development Description
(Hartford)
Private Pre-group Phase
- The period where an idea occurs to one or more persons
to organize a group for some purpose.
- It may come from someone in an agency or from
someone not affiliated with the agency.
Public Pre-group Phase
- When a decision is made to organize a group and when it
is shared with others.
- Announcements are made, verbally or in writing. This is
basically publication of the offered group service.
- The purpose, time frame, criteria for membership,
Pre-Group Formation
techniques/approaches to be used, and resources, on the
part of the agency, should have been prepare by this
point.
Convening Phase
- This is when the worker and the prospective members
meet for the first time.
- The members are “sizing-up” the situation.
- Behaviors manifested by the members may be restlessness,
talkativeness, tension and withdrawal and they may
express resistance and ambivalent feelings about joining
the group.
- This is the period where the group gets organized.
- Group Formation may be achieved with one or more
meetings/sessions.
- Group goals, member roles begins to develop.
Group Formation Phase
- For Sue Henry, the key dynamic at this point is “union”,
simply, members choose to unite.
- Members might be “testing” the worker in terms of her
firmness, patience, and neutrality during conflicts.
- A sense of group bond or “we feeling” begins to emerge.
- The tasks and emotional leaders can already be identified
at this point.
- All group goals, tasks, roles and leadership contribute
towards “Integration”.
Integration/Disintegration
- However, conflicts in a face-to-face relationship are
/Reintegration
bound to happen. During conflicts, members may express
anger, frustrations or hostility and withdraw from
participation.
- For Sue Henry, conflict is really a competition for
dominance over group members.
 - When conflicts are not resolved, it may lead to group
“disintegration”.
- When conflicts are resolved and they overcome
challenges, this may lead to a stronger group functioning,
hence “reintegration”, a higher level of integration.
- Also called by other authors as “Maturation”,
“Differentiation”, and “Problem-solving and stabilization”.
- Social emotional qualities of giving support and helping
appear during this phase.
- In this period, the group pursues fulfilment of goals,
purposes, objectives and tasks.
- A period of affection, of emotional integration of members
with each other, and of lowering of defences and an
Group Functioning and
increase in sharing.
Maintenance Phase
- Perlman describes this period as one of “consolidation and
harmony”.
- One of the observable aspects is the stabilization of
leader-follower patterns and the firming of the status
hierarchy.
- The period where the group works at implementing its
plans in order to achieve the defined goals.
- A sense of “groupness” is developed during this phase.
- For closed groups, happens at the same time.
- For open groups, termination may come earlier for other
members and later for some.
Pre-termination
- The group should be prepared for its ending.
Termination
Termination Phase
- Is the actual ending of group membership
Post-termination
- The period after the termination of the group, but the
individual members continue to meet as a group.
- For the worker, this may mean follow-up work or checking
for progress of the group members.

IV. HELPING PROCESS in GROUPWORK

A. Pre-group Formation Activities of Social Worker

I. Conceptualizing Group Service – the agency worker or someone outside the

agency may initiate to start a group program. Usually, a program proposal or
concept paper is prepared containing the following:
 Rationale
 Target Client Group
 Need/Problem to be addressed
 Membership Criteria
 Resource Requirements (Financial, Material and Human)
 Procedures of program
 Time Frame
- As a general rule, the concept paper/program proposal should answer 5 W’s or
the 5 investigative questions of What, Why, Who, When, and Where.
 II. Announcing The Group Service and Recruiting Members
 Use of Fliers, Posters, Letters (Should contain brief and clear details of
the program i.e. Program purpose, who may apply, where to inquire)
III. Preparing Logistics
 Preparation of personnel/worker to the group, facilities to be used
such as tables, chairs, venues, sound systems, as well as financial
budget for other needed materials.
IV. Enlisting Community Support
 Identification of community sectors whose support is essential to
program success i.e. when organizing a group of CICL, the worker
needs the support of the corrections sector (PNP, Rehabilitation
Centers, and other NGOs)

A. ASSESSMENT

i. Individual-Focused Assessment
- Also called social study or diagnosis
- Intake (Individual or Group)
- Individual Client Profile (Identifying Info, Needs/Problems,
Strengths/Resources, Additional worker observations)
ii. Group-Focused Assessment
- Group Composition – Selection of member and Size of the group
- Group Formation – Process of getting a group organized so it can start to
function and attain its goals
 Group composition and formation should be based on the following
 Common Group Concern/Problem
 Norms and Rules
 Schedule and venue of sessions
 Group Goals (Ends, Purposes, Objectives, Foci)

B. ACTION-PLANNING

i. Formulating Goals (SMART – Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, and Time-

bounded) – The worker should prepare individual goals and group goals
ii. Establishing specific Helping Plans (also called Intermediate Goals, Objectives,
Interventive Plans, Action Plans)

Group Goals has 3 perspectives:

1. Member’s perspective
2. Worker’s Perspective
3. Group System’s Perspective

2 Processes of Determination of Group Goals:

1. Exploration
2. Bargaining
iii. Formulation and Preparation of PROGRAM MEDIA
Program media are the activities (verbal or nonverbal) which the group engages
in for the purpose of achieving its goals, such as but not limited to:
 - Group Discussions
- Role Play
- Games
- Demonstration
- GD exercises (Structured Learning Activities)
- Play Activities
- Film Showing
- Field Trips
- Lectures
- Seminars
- Ice Breakers
- Songs

D. PLAN IMPLEMENTATION
- All the activities, worker intervention and group action which the group system
directs toward the achievement of individual and group goals
Aspects of Plan Implementation

1. Interventive Roles of worker (Therapists/Counselor, crisis intervenor, mobilizer,

educator, mediator, resource person, enabler, advocate)
2. Resources and Services to be used
3. Problems and Constraints (Heavy Workloads, Lack of funds, inadequate facilities
and equipment, shortage of trained staff, inadequate supervision)

Worker Stances during Helping Process (Implementation)

1. Direct Stance
2. Facilitating Stance
3. Permissive Stance
4. Flexible Stance

E. EVALUATION
1. Regular/Periodic Evaluation
2. Terminal Evaluation

Levels of Evaluation:
1. Individual Level
2. Group Level

F. TERMINATION
1. Pre-termination
2. Termination
3. Post Termination