These movements include the YMCA(1911),

sYWCA(1926), and the Boy Scouts of the

Philippines (1936)
- These socio-civic movements paved the
REVIEWER IN SWP- way for the establishment of agencies
that uses groups for personality
development through leisure-time or
GROUPS recreational activities.

Main goal of the group serving agencies in the 50s;

SOCIALIZATION
-Is the process where people selectively
acquire the values and attitudes of the
Social work’s focus of concern group they are a part.
SOCIAL FUNCTIONING
- The person-in-his life situation  The image of group work as a leisure-time
activity continued despite that in;
Goal of Social work
Enhancement of social functioning whenever EARLIER OF 1958 TO 1959
the need for such is socially or individually perceived.  PHILIPPINE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION
- For the prevention of Juvenile delinquency
General functions of Social work: in selected communities in the city of
1. Preventive - concerned with identifying and dealing Manila.
with potential area of disequilibrium 1950
2. Remedial – aim to assist people in identifying and
- Establishment of schools of social work in
resolving problems that have resulted from the
the Philippine s (PHILIPPINE SCHOOL OF
disequilibrium
3. Developmental – aims to seek out, identify, and SOCIAL WORK - PSSW)
strengthen the maximum potential in individuals,  Phil. Youth Welfare Coordinating Council
groups and communities through provision of  Jose Abad Santos Memorial School
resources.
*School of social work spurred the development of
Values foundation of Social Work social group work as a method in the Philippine.
BASIC PRINCIPLES: (APSICWP)
1. Acceptance LATE 50s
2. Participation
There were already GROUP-SERVING AGENCIES:
3. Self-determination
1. Philippine Youth Welfare Coordinating
4. Individualization
5. Confidentiality Council (PYWCC) – for preventive and
6. Worker’s self-awareness developmental goal through leadership and
7. Purposeful relationship skills training for out-of-school youth.
KNOWLEDGE FOUNDATION: 2. Foster Parents Plan Inc. (FPPI) – a family
 Knowledge of the person and the environment agency, where mothers are organized into
 Knowledge about social problems and the societies groups for the promotion of responsible
response in terms of social welfare policies, parenthood, vocational efficiency, and
programs and services. citizenship training.
 Knowledge about social work practice 3. Philippine Mental Health Association
(PMHA) – conducted an outreach program
HISTORICAL DEVELOPMENT for the prevention of juvenile delinquencies
in the selected communities of Manila.
 GAMES and RECREATIONAL ACTIVITIES are
what many people associate with social work 1950s- establishments of schools for Social work
practice with groups. (Philippine School of Social work ‘PSSW’)
 PARTICIPATION IN LEISURE TIME – means of
personal development and in acquiring positive -Jose Abad Santos Memorial School
social attitudes and values. -School of social work spurred the
development of social group work as a
BEFORE THE 60s: SOCIALIZATION GOALS method in the Phil.
 The development of social work practice work
with groups may be traced back on the THE 60s: PREVENTIVE, TREATMENT, AND
INTRODUCTION OF SOCIO-CIVIC MOVEMENT DEVELOPMENTAL GOAL
during the AMERICAN COLONIAL RULE.  Increasing number of agencies were using group
method for both preventive and therapeutic
purposes
 Ex: Livelihood Programs, day care centers,
SPECIAL CHILD STUDY CENTER, INC. (SCSCI)
- They organized parents group to help b. Socialization Purpose – intended primarily to
participant deal, accept, and understand their help members acquire the values, attitudes and
children’s condition. nor ms of the society where they are a part.
c. Treatment Purpose – use of the small group to
PHILIPPINE MENTAL HEALTH ASSOCIATION help individuals who already have a problem or
- They use psycho-drama with emotionally breakdown in social functioning.
disturbed patients in its Day Care centers.
GOVERNMENT HOUSING AND RESETTLEMENT
(with the effort of the DSW) FUNCTIONS OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK:
- Established mainly to help the tenants deal with 1. The development of personality to its greatest
common concerns and problems and to 2. Teaching of democratic values
3. Building of character
help them integrate into the
4. Improvement of inter-personal skills
surrounding community.
- The first social group workers in
ADDITIONAL FUNCTION BY AMERICAN PIONEERS:
housings/resettlement area were UP 1. Development of cultural and ethnic
graduates Social work students. contributions
2. Teaching of democratic value
 Social group work – English settlements 3. Support of active and mature participation in
where progressive educational movements community life
took place. 4. Mobilization of neighborhoods for social reform
 Concept – by English educators was to have a 5. Presentation of ethnical and middle class value
place where poor could gather and participate
in training in the form of lectures, discussion *UNICEF – international Organization who offers scholarship
to BSSW students in the Philippines.
groups, and special projects.
 Development of responsible citizenry, mutual
aid, and group action. DEFINITION AND NATURE OF GROUPS
 Value of play and social activities was derived CONCEPTS OF GROUPS
from the recreational movement that used
organized recreation as means of character GROUP
building. - at least two people, but usually more, gathered
 with common purposes or like interests in a cognitive,
affective, and social interchange in single or repeated
THE 70s: DEVELOPMENTAL GOALS encounter. (TLM)

-a simple collection of people is not a group

Department of Social Welfare (became Dept. of Social - it consists of two or more persons who are in social
Services and Development in 1976) interaction, who are guided by similar norms, values, and
- They undertake the developmental expectations, and who maintain a stable pattern of relations
programs and services for the bottom 30 over time.” (Homans , Stark, and Kendall)
percent of the century’s population.
- is composed of two or more persons interacting
 Emphasis on developmental social welfare was with each other, guided by a set of norms.
spurred by the United Nation’s Declaration. *Sociologists point out that social
 BARANGAY APPROACH – used of existing interaction or interpersonal behavior of group
political structure, the barangay, as the worker’s members are the most important criteria in the
point of entry and basis for problem concept of group
identification and prioritizing.
- Main instrument of service - group - A group is a specified number of individuals where
 DECLARATION OF MARTIAL LAW – many rural each recognizes members as distinct from non-members;
and urban poor citizens realizes that many of each has a sense of what others do and think as well as what
their problems were due to deficiencies in the purpose of the association or grouping is.
society. -the elements of a group are individuals; the
 Community group work – or working with small members of a group is a set of people
groups
- it is not true that any arbitrary collection of people
THE PRESENT SCENE constitute a group

- To sociologist what makes a group is not just the

Agencies not just use one but for several purposes; similarity and traits among individuals, but rather the
socialization, Preventive and Treatment, Developmental fact that people interact.

a. Developmental Purpose – emphasizes human -According to Lewin “A group is best defined as a

and community resource. dynamic whole based on interdependence rather
than similarity”
  Kind of perspective relationship that exists in the
mind as an individual learns the use of “we” and
From the above definitions, a GROUP therefore;
“they”
 a set of people engage in frequent interactions  Threats from out-group can increase loyalty among
 They are identified by others as a group in-group members.
 They share belief, values, and norms about areas of
common interest IN-GROUP
 They define themselves as group  The group that we feel positively toward and identify
 They come together to work on common tasks and with, and that produces a sense of loyalty or “we”
for agreed purposes feeling
 “WE” group or “OUR GROUP”
TYPES OF GROUPS: OUT-GROUP
 Are those to which we do not belong and that we
1. PRIMARY GROUPS
view in neutral or possibly hostile fashion
- Introduced by Charles H. Cooley (1957)
 “THEY” group
-small in size and characterized by personal, intimate,  Viewed as outsiders of in-group
and nonspecialized relationships between their members
- “Nursery of relations” 4. REFERENCE GROUP
-Characterized by intimate face-to-face relationships and  A group that people use as a standard in evaluating
close association and cooperation their attitudes and their behaviors.
2. SECONDARY GROUPS  They serve a normative function by setting and
-Groups in which relationships are impersonal and widely enforcing standards of conduct and belief.
separate.  Can be very powerful and pervasive elements in our
lives.
-Characterized by much less intimacy among all members
-They usually have specific goals and are formally CHARACTERISTICS OF GROUPS By Fistcher
organized 1. A group must be identifiable
By its members and by outside observer
COMPARATIVE RELATIONSHIPS IN THESE TWO TYPES 2. A group has a social unit
OF GROUPS ACCORDING TO FICHTER Each member, or a person, has a position related to
other positions
PRIMARY GROUPS SECONDARY GROUPS 3. There are individual roles in a group
PHYSICAL CONDITION 4. Reciprocal relations are essential to the group
Small number Big number there must be contact and communication among
Long duration Short duration the members of the group
5. Every group has norms of behavior
SOCIAL CHARACTERISTICS 6. Members of the group have certain common interests
 Intrinsic valuation of  Extrinsic valuation and values
the relation of the relation
7. Group activities must be directed towards some
 Inclusive knowledge  Specialized and
of other persons limited knowledge social goals or goals
 Feeling of freedom of other persons 8. A group must have relative permanence
and spontaneity  Feeling of external
constraints CHARACTERISTICS OF A GROUP by Tricker
“Social Group Work is a method through which individuals in
SAMPLE RELATIONSHIPS
groups and in agency settings are helped by a worker who
 Friend --- Friend  Clerk --- Customer
 Husband ---- Wife  Announcer --- guides their interaction in programme activities so that they
 Parent ---- Child Listener may relate themselves to others and experience growth
 Teacher ---- Pupil  Performer --- opportunities in accordance with their needs and capacities
Spectator to the end of the individual, group and community
 Officer ---
development.”
Subordinate
1. Social Group work is a method
SAMPLE GROUPS
2. Individuals helped through groups in social agency
 Play group  Nation
 Family  Church hierarchy
settings
 Village  Professional 3. The role of worker is to guide interaction process
Work team association 4. The purpose of group work is to provide experience,
 Corporation growth opportunities for development

THE SMALL GROUP AS THE DEVELOPMENT OF

3. IN-GROUPS AND OUT-GROUPS PRACTICE
 Coined by William Graham Summer, to
distinguish between groups that generate quite SMALL GROUP
different feelings -“a group small enough for members to interact
simultaneously- that is, to talk with one another or at least be
well acquainted.
 8. Small groups always tend to influence choices that
SMALL GROUP AS AN INSTRUMENT FOR SOCIAL individuals make when they are in situations where
DEVELOPMENT alternatives are presented.
 the group is more than the sum of its members 9. Small groups affect an individual’s speed, accuracy and
 The group has its own structure, its own goals, and productivity in the work situation.
its own relation to other groups 10. Small groups have a strong effect upon an individual’s
 the social climate in which a child lives is for the susceptibility to fear, frustration, and his recovery from them
child as important as the air it breathes. The group is hastened because of the security-giving function of the
to which a child lives belongs to the ground in which small group.
he stands. 11. Small groups tend to place limits on the individual’s drive
- Lewin for power and his need to be controlling.
 Group has a tremendous power to influence the
personality development of its members. VALUES AND ETHICS IN GROUP WORK PRACTICE

Small Group as defined by Berelson and Steiner The values foundation of social work consists of:
“ an aggregate of people, from 2 up to unspecified  Philosophy
but not too large number, who associate together in a face-  Values
to-face relations over an extended period of time, who  Principles
differentiate themselves in some regard from others around  Professional ethics
them, who are mutually aware of their membership in the
group.” PHILOSOPHY OR BASIC BELIEF:
That every human being has worth (halaga) and
All members must be able to engage in direct personal dignity (pagkatao).
relations at one time ULTIMATE VALUE:
 An upper limit of around 15 to 20 It is good and desirable for every human being to
fulfill his potential, to realize himself, and to balance this
1. The Autonomous Group e.g. A circle of friends built on free with equal efforts to help others do the same.
choice and voluntary association PRINCIPLES OR RULES OF ACTION:
2. The Institutionalized Group e.g. FAMILY This emanate from the belief that every human
3. The small group within a large organization e.g. a group of being has worth and dignity (the philosophy of social work)
soldiers “buddies” in the army (APSICWP)
1. ACCEPTANCE
MAJOR CONTRIBUTIONS OF SMALL GROUP TO THE
- means the worker must deal with the group on its
INDIVIDUAL AND HIS/HER BEHAVIOR
own reality.
1. Small group provides the person with the
- understanding the causes of the behavior of the
opportunity to develop his skills as a participating
individuals that compose the group.
member of the society.
- accept individual and the group even if one does
 The small group is a situation where a
not always approve to the individual’s or group’s
person can try out his strengths, perceive
action.
his weaknesses, see progress and
2. PARTICIPATION
regression, and evaluate what is effective
- requires the worker to involve the group in all the
and ineffective in social intercourse.
steps of problem-solving. (make the group
2. The way in which individuals learn, the speed of their
understand that its active involvement is expected
learning, the retention of learned material, and the way they
from the start to end)
solve problems are definitely influenced by small groups.
- worker should utilize the group’s own strength and
3. The small group influences the individual’s formation
resources.
of attitudes and tend to be decisive in the development of
3. SELF-DETERMINATION
norms of responses to situations
- worker must respect the group’s right to determine
 The small group strongly influences the
its own goal.
behavior of its members by setting and/or
- but this principle does not mean that the worker
enforcing certain standards (norms) for
should not intervene.
proper behavior by its members.
4. INDIVIDUALIZATION
4. Small group experience operates to change an
- no two groups are the same even as there are
individual’s values, level of aspiration and striving
characteristics common to all group.
 Individual goal setting is highly dependent upon
- the principle makes the worker conscious of the
group standards.
group’s situation and in responding to them
5. Small group experience operates to modify the
accordingly.
individual’s habits of living, working hard, and otherwise
5. CONFIDENTIALITY
carrying on life’s pursuits.
- the helper should handle situation that the client’s
6. Small group experience has a powerful influence upon
privacy is protected.
the individual’s perception of himself and his role in a given
- the worker must know how to limits of sharing
situation.
confidential information in the group.
7. Small group tends to provide psychological support for
6. WORKER SELF-AWARENESS
individuals and help them to express themselves.
- requires self-understanding and consciousness of
one’s responses to the group.
 - Self- awareness is crucial, it makes the worker achievement or facilitation of group productivity,
conscious on the use of self. committee decision-making and so on.
7. PURPOSEFUL RELATIONSHIP
- the social worker’s relationship with a group must SOCIAL GROUP WORK
be deliberately planned, based on the study of the  In the 1950’s Grace Coyle said:
group’s problem and situation Social group work, like casework, community
ETHICS organization, administration, and research, is now recognized
- The science that is concerned with morals, and as a basic aspect of social work practice. Its distinct
right conduct. characteristics lie in the fact that group work is used in social
PROFESSIONAL ETHICS relationships within group experiences as means to
- The system of ethical principles and rules of
individual growth and development, and that the group
conduct.
worker is concerned in developing social responsibility
- In social work, are the concrete expression of its
philosophy, values and principles
and active citizenship for the improvement of
- They guide the social worker’s professional democratic society.
relationship with the client, colleague, agency,  Gertrude Wilson and Gladys Ryland elaborated
the community etc. on this theme when they said:
In the enabling method, the members
are helped to learn new ideas, develop new
Written Code of Ethics: skills, change attitudes and deepen their
 Code of Ethics by the Philippine Associations of personalities through participation in a social
Social Workers Inc.
process wherein they make decisions and take
 Ethics of Social Work: Principles and Standard by the
the social action necessary to accomplish the
IFSW
purposes of the group.
*insert the code of Ethics
 Konopka puts it this way:
Unwritten rules: (this are “given”, they come from the social Social group work is a method of social
worker’s reason and conscience) work which helps individuals to enhance their
 Duties and obligations expected from the social social functioning through purposeful group
worker experiences and to cope more effectively with
a) Duties toward clients their personal, group, or community problems.
b) Duties toward colleagues and the  In the Encyclopedia of Social Work Vinter
profession states:
c) Duties toward the agency/organization
- Group work isa way of serving individuals
d) Duties toward the community/public
within and through small face-to-face
groups in order to bring about changes
SOCIAL GROUP WORK
among the client participant.
A. Social Group Work as a Method
 An orderly, systematic, planned way of working with - This method of practice recognizes the
people in groups. potency of social forces that are generated
within small groups and seeks to marshal
METHOD them in the interest of client change.
 A conscious procedure, a designed means of - The composition, development, and
achieving a goal. processes of the groups are deliberately
 In its outer aspects, a way of doing something guided by the practitioner toward achieving
B. Social Group Work as One Way of Carrying Out All or
his services goals for the clients.
Functions of Many Agencies
- Intervention in the experience of the
 A mode of serving individuals within and through
small face-to-face groups in order to induce desired
group is the primary means for effecting
changes among the client participants change, although practitioners engage in
many other activities with or on behalf of
C. Social Group Work as a Way of Working with People Who their clients in addition to conducting group
may Engage in Different Activities
sessions.
 Lippit says:
- The group is viewed as a small social
My use of the term “group work” is a generic rather
than specialized one. I refer to all contexts in which
system whose influence can be managed to
professional practitioners use their professional develop client abilities. To modify self-
values and skills to help a group develop and images and perspectives, to resolve
function for such diverse purposes as the social- conflicts, and to inculcate new patterns of
emotional growth of group members, the behavior.
development of task competence of group  Northern observes:
members, facilitation of the individual productivity “Social work practice uses the small group as
of group members, and the growth of the group as a both the context and means through which its
group such objectives as competence in collective
members support and modify their attitudes,
 interpersonal relationships, and abilities to cope *Group work has the tripartite purpose of individual growth,
effectively with their environment.” group growth, and community change.
 Esterson makes a real contribution when he *In group work the group itself is a major tool for individual
development
distinguishes between social group work and
The worker is viewed as a “helping person”
recreation. He writes:
*The use of the word “help” in referring to the role of group
It is generally believed that recreation, worker is deliberate.
group activity and group experience all
contribute to the satisfaction of some The worker is a “helping person” or an “enabler”
psychological needs. Recreation and group rather than a “group leader.”
*What kind of help does the worker give to the group? How
activity provide opportunity for self-expression,
does he give it?
recognition and belonging.
Similarly, the hunger for cooperation Social group work is not only a matter of what the
and competition may be satisfied through team worker does but also a matter of how he does it that way.
or group games. The recreation leader who
does not employ the group work method is the key to social group work is the worker
mainly concerned with providing recreational
*insert the Analysis of Social Group work (@ppt)
activities and programs without conscious and
direct concern for the social adjustment or
THE NEED FOR, AND IMPORTANCE OF SOCIAL
growth of the individual. Whatever adjustment
or growth occurs is spontaneous. GROUP WORK TODAY

*In contrast to recreation, group work is a method by Major and basic problems
which the group worker enables various types of groups  In asmuch as the major and basic problems of our
times continue to be those of human relationships –
to function in such a way that group interaction and
not just important but essential.
program activities contribute to the growth of the
individual, and the achievement of desirable social 1. The lack of opportunity for persons in large cities and
goals. overcrowded suburbs to interact with each other in
FACTORS INVOLVED IN SOCIAL GROUP WORK: meaningful ways.
• Agencies 2. Find means of bringing people into more intimate personal
• Groups contact
• Workers 3. Reducing the general emotional impoverishment of people
• Programs and of meeting the particular social and psychological needs
• Underlying purposes of certain individuals
4. Many kinds of groups- educational, avocational,
*Social group work in operational terms: recreational, and therapeutic have been sponsored by social
agencies, clinics, hospitals, churches, and schools
is a method in social work through which individuals
5. Discover one another and learn to live together if they are
in many groups in a variety of community agency settings are
to avoid certain obliteration
helped by a worker who guides their interaction in program
6. The problems of the modern community must be solved by
activities so that they may relate themselves to others and
group and intergroup effort
experience growth opportunities in accordance with their
7. A group worker is providing opportunities that are not
needs and capacities to the end of individual, group, and
individually important but basic to the preparation of people
community development.
who must learn how to assume responsibilities in a world that
will grow more, rather than less, complex.
In 1959 the Curriculum Study of the Council on Social Work
Education summarized generalizations on social group work
*The group worker is a key figure in the enrichment of the
method, process, and goals, on which a substantial degree of
social environment
acceptance was evident:
1. Social group work is a method of rendering service
to persons, through providing experience in groups. THE PURPOSES OF SOCIAL GROUP WORK
2. Social group work is a generic method which can Smalley puts it:
be used in different settings.  The underlying purpose of all social work effort is to
3. The method includes conscious use of work- release human power in individuals for personal
member relationships, relationships among members, and of fulfillment and social good, and to release social
group activity. power for the creation of the kinds of society, social
4. Social group work is often used in conjunction with institutions, and social policy which make self-
other social work service methods, and with other disciplines. realization most possible for all men.
5. Goal selection, decision-making, program  Two values which are primary in such a purpose are
development, acceptance of and internalization of respect for the worth and dignity of every individual
appropriate controls, creative utilization of conflicts, are and concern that he have the opportunity to realize
recognized as some of the components of social group work his potential as an individually fulfilled, socially
process. contributive person.
*Group workers are interested in furthering the social 5.) Citizen Responsibility and Participation- to inculcate
adjustment of the individual and in developing the social democratic values among group members as they are helped
consciousness of the group. They believe that personality to become responsibly involved as individuals and members
development and growth come from mutually satisfying of groups, as active participants in society.
experiences had by people.
Social Work and Social Group Work
Steiner declared: Social group work is thus one part of the social work
 The group strongly influences the behavior of its whole with a distinct way of helping individuals in groups
members by providing them with support, based upon and growing out of the knowledge,
reinforcement, security, encouragement, protection, understanding. and skill that is generic to all social work
rationale, rationalization, etc… When an individual is practice.
genuinely attached to a group, and in close and Social work is based upon certain assumptions and
continuous contact with it, his group-anchored convictions regarding people. These convictions become basic
behaviors and beliefs are extremely resistant to values which underlie every action taken by the worker.
change: and in such circumstances the group can For example: in social work the worth and dignity of
exercise firm “control” over him. every human being is central and all pervasive.
It is assumed that people can and do change in their
*seek to provide opportunities for planned group experiences behavior when they are given the right help at the right time
that are needed by all people and in the correct amount.
*to help individuals develop their capacity to participate It is known that people who need help will respond
intelligently in the groups and communities of which they are better when help is given early before needs and problems
a part. become too great.
*believe that it is important that individuals be given a
chance to belong to gain acceptance from other persons, and Basic to all of social work is the principle of study and
to feel secure in relation to others diagnosis.
*functions in another way: It provides experiences that are This means that the social worker must study the
relaxing and that give individuals a chance to create, to share, individual, the group, or the community and understand the
and to express themselves. behavior and motivations present in the situation.
The principle of individualization means that each
In 1962, the Practicum Commission of the Group Work person, group, or community is different and each situation is
Section of the National Association of Social Workers stated: different.
Social group work is that part of social work in which • The principle of participation means that the social
the primary medium of practice is the group, served for the worker and the individual, group, or community
purpose of effecting the social functioning of its members. To must become engaged, involved, or seen as working
this end the social group worker focuses simultaneously on together.
the functioning of individual members and the development • Social group work is thus one part of a
of the groups a s an entity within the social situation. methodological whole that is called social
work.
SOMERS OFFERS A FOUR-PART STATEMENT OF PURPOSE • Social group work is based upon the values
WHEN SHE WRITES: and principles of social work practice. At the
1. Assist in implementing the normal growth and continuing same time it is a separate and distinct way
development of individuals within our society. of helping individuals in groups to attain
2. Assist in supplementing lacks and deprivations in social satisfying relationships. It makes a
experience and functioning of individuals and groups. contribution to the whole of social work; yet
3. Assist in modifying, correcting, and preventing individual it stands alone as well. It cannot be said
and social breakdown and deterioration. that social casework, social group work,
4. Assist in aiding individuals and groups to fulfill their community organization work, or
motivations and capacities for contributing to their society. administration are any more or less
important in the social work whole. All are
ALLISSI OBSERVES THAT “… GROUP EXPERIENCES CAN BE
needed and all are related.
USED TO ACHIEVE THE FOLLOWING PURPOSES:
In recent discussion of the purposes of social group work
1.) Corrective- to provide restorative or remedial experiences SOCIAL WORK AND SOCIAL GROUP WORK
in instances where there has been social or personal What does the community get from social group work?
dysfunction or breakdown of individuals or within social • Social work programs are always determined by
situations. social need, by community understanding and
2.) Preventive- to prevent personal and social breakdown acceptance of the need and by community support
where there is danger or deterioration. and sanction
3.) Normal Growth and Development- to facilitate the • Enriches community life when individuals learn how
normal growth and development processes of individual to take responsibility for their own behavior and how
members particularly during certain stressful periods in the to become participating members of the society
life cycle. • Persons who have had satisfying group relationships
4.) Personal Enhancement- to achieve a greater measure of become socially mature and learn how to respond to
self-fulfillment and personal enhancement through the demands of cooperative working relationships so
meaningful and stimulating interpersonal relations. paramount in modern-day living.
SOCIAL GROUP WORK BASED ON THE FACT OF 1. The function of the social group worker is a helping
GROUP LIFE or enabling function: This means that his goal is to
help the members of the group and the group as a
The need for group experience is basic and
whole to move toward greater independence and
universal.
capacity for self-help.
2. In determining his way of helping, the group worker
Thompson and Kahn put it this way:
uses the scientific method: fact-finding (observation),
• We know that we cannot carry on life in
analyzing, diagnosis in relation to the individual, the
isolation from our fellows, and that it is the
group, and the social environment.
quality of the relationships we make with
3. The group work method includes the worker forming
other people that so much of our happiness
purposeful relationships to group members and the
and success depends on.
group.
No matter what philosophy of human needs one may tend to 4. One of the main tools in achieving such a
develop and follow, it is a central concept of social group relationship is the conscious use of self.
work that all people need a variety of group experiences.
5. There should be acceptance of people without
 Social group workers know that individuals can be accepting all their behavior.
helped to grow and change in personality and
attitudes through experiences with other people in 6. Starting where the group is: The capacity to let
the setting of community agencies. groups develop from their own point of departure, of
 Like all other social work, social group work has capacity, without immediately imposing outside
roots in the democratic value system. demands.
 The only way that individuals can develop habits of 7. The constructive use of limitations:
cooperation is through the conscious practice of the
democratic process. 8. Individualization: It is one of the specifics of the
group work method that the individual is not lost in
The method called social group work is operating to its fullest the whole, but that he is helped to feel as a unique
extent when it makes possible the release of individual person who can contribute to the whole.
capacities and the growth of healthy personalities.
9. Us of interacting process.
• It has been well stated that social group work is
10. The understanding and the conscious use of non-
primarily a means to an end, and that end is the
verbal as well as verbal material.
development of persons.

COMMUNITY AGENCY SETTINGS

• “Social group work is practiced in a variety of
community agencies.
“Group services are found in neighborhood centers, hospitals:
agencies and institutions working with children, adolescents
or the aging: in public welfare programs, and in other
community service agencies.”
• Both voluntary and governmental agencies make use
of social group work method and techniques to carry
out their functions.
• Many of the agencies are national and international
in scope

THE SOCIAL GROUP WORK WHOLE

• To sum it up, it can be said that social group
work calls for unified working together of
individuals in groups in community agencies
committed to defined objectives and helped
toward attainment of these objectives by a
worker who works in a certain way.
• The kind of agency, the kind of group, the kind
of worker, and especially the relatedness of the
three make up the group work whole.

*insert the figure

Konopka has outlined the essential parts of social group

method as follows:S