Socially Just Practice in Groups: A Social Work Perspective

About the Book

This engaging book presents a broad array of case examples that will be helpful to group workers at all levels of social work education. The book integrates social justice perspectives throughout and comprehensively covers all of the aspects of group practice in a social work setting. This text is founded on principles of social justice, including a more equal distribution of power and resources among groups in society as well as the elimination of oppression of some individuals and groups. These principles are emphasized, expanded and reflected upon throughout the book. While group work practice explicitly focuses on creating change towards social justice goals or on learning about differences and barriers to justice, in this book, this focus is integrated with an understanding of common elements of small groups, how these elements are necessary and useful for achieving the members as well as the group's goals, as well as ways in which such elements may contribute to furthering justice or injustice.

Table of Contents:
Preface Acknowledgements About the Authors SECTION I. HISTORICAL AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO GROUP WORK AND SOCIAL JUSTICE 1. What Is a Socially Just Approach to Group Work? Defining Social Justice Social Justice Practice Principles Purpose and Goals Member Relevance and Social Identities Norms and Socially Just Participation Conflict Group Leadership Group Development and Process Practice Dimensions Summary Discussion Questions 2 History of Group Work The Emergence of Group Work: 1861 to 1927 Clarification of the Method: 1928 to 1946 The Diffusion of Practice: 1947 to 1963 The Move to the Concept of a Generic Method: 1964 to 1979 The Revitalization of Group Work: 1979 to 2000 Recommitment to Social Justice, Empirical Practice, and New Approaches: 2003 to Present Critique of Existing Practice Theories Summary Discussion Questions 3 Knowledge for Practice Structures Processes Cohesiveness Group Culture Discussion Questions 4 Models of Group Work and Relationship to Social Justice Social Goals Cognitive-Behavioral Group Work Task Centered Self-Directed Feminist Narrative Summary Discussion Questions 5 Group Purposes Purpose and Social Justice A Typology of Purposes A Typology of Group Purposes Social Justice Issues Related to Purposes Summary Discussion Questions 6 Values and Ethics Solidarity Tolerance Inclusion Transformative Trust Cultural Humility Empowerment Shared Leadership Additional Ethical Issues in Group Work Practice Summary Discussion Questions 7 Roles, Tasks, and Critical Consciousness Roles, Norms, and Statuses Group Tasks and Functions Agreements (AKA Ground Rules) Power Conflict Summary Discussion Questions 8 Leadership Leadership and Purpose Social Justice Leadership Processes Social Justice and Leadership Skills Social Justice Visioning Knowledge and Skills Critical Analysis Safety Monitoring During Conflict Praxis Leadership and Power Leadership and Following Leadership and Co-facilitation Discussion Questions SECTION II. DOING GROUP WORK FOR SOCIAL JUSTICE 9 Group Processes and Development Stages Usually Referred to in Group Work Literature Problems in Application of the Concepts of Phases and Stages Events That Affect Group Development Social Justice and Group Development The Role of the Practitioner in Group Development Further Strategies for Enhancement of Group Development Resources That Enhance Development Strengthening Awareness of Social Justice/Injustice Variations in Group Developmental Processes Related to Group Types and Purposes Summary Discussion Questions 10 Assessment What Is Assessment? Role of Assessment in a Social Justice Model Problems With Psychiatric Nomenclature Compatibility With Strengths-Based Perspective Sources of Qualitative Information for Assessment Sources of Quantitative Data in Assessment Measures of Group Processes Summary Discussion Questions 11 Preparation for the Group Meeting Group Purpose Environmental Issues in Planning for a Group Role of the Agency in the Pregroup Phase Compositional Issues Pregroup Meetings With Members/Preparing Members for Groups Preparing the Setting Tuning In Type of Group Summary Discussion Questions 12 Group Beginnings: Formation Implications for Social Justice Handling Offensive Behaviors and Taboo Subjects Group Tasks in Initial Phase Dealing With Other Miscellaneous Transition Nuances Summary Discussion Questions 13 Approaches to Achieving Different Purposes A Typology of Group Purposes Social Justice Issues Related to Purposes Group Programs and Processes That Help Members Attain the Purposes Skill Attainment Resistance to Social Control Rehabilitation Summary Discussion Questions 14 Activities Use of an Analytic Framework Use of Spontaneous Events Activities Involving Music Activities Involving Art Activities Involving Games Activities Involving Drama Activities for Various Types of Issues Summary Discussion Questions 15 Task Groups Social Justice in Task Groups Similarities and Differences Between Individual Change and Task Groups Pregroup Tasks Group Formation Tasks Goal Pursuit Tasks Summary Discussion Questions 16 Environmental Change Rationale for Environmental Change Selection of Environmental Targets Choosing the Organizational Level Strategies for Environmental Change Environmental Change Activities in Which Members as Individuals May Engage Environmental Change Activities for Either a Member or the Whole Group Environmental Change Activities for the Group Summary Discussion Questions 17 Termination and Endings Meaning of Endings Social Justice Issues in Endings Worker Tasks Evaluation Understand and Cope With Feelings Maintain Changes Utilize Skills in Variety of Circumstances Utilize New Services Reduce Cohesion Ceremonies Special Termination Issues Summary Discussion Questions 18 Evaluation Measurements/Instruments Analysis of Data Dissemination of Data Social Justice and Evaluation Evaluation of Individual Change of Members Evaluation of Changes in Group Conditions Summary Discussion Questions Index

About the Author :
Robert Ortega has worked as a social worker with children in psychiatric settings and now heads a program to prevent and treat child abuse. Immediately after he received his doctorate he was invited to join the faculty of the School of Social Work at the University of Michigan. He has taught courses at master′s and doctoral levels in group work, child abuse, and multiculturalism. He is of Mexican descent although born and raised in the United States. He has written many articles and book chapters on group work, cultural humility, and multiculturalism. He is often invited throughout the country to speak on these issues. He was a member of the committee that visits schools of social work with respect to accreditation. He was the chair of the committee of faculty to advise the administrative officers of the University of Michigan. Charles Garvin holds his master′s and doctoral degrees from the School of Social Service Administration of the University of Chicago. He was a practitioner in social work and group work for a dozen years after his master′s degree before he studied for his PhD. He graduated from a program of the Chicago Institute of Psychoanalysis that trained child therapists. He has been on the faculty of the University of Michigan School of Social work 1965-2002 and is now Professor Emeritus of Social Work, He is the author or co-author of many books such as Contemporary Group Work, Interpersonal Practice in Social Work, Social Work in Contemporary Society, Group Work Research, and Social Work and Social Justice. He was the first chair of the now called International Association of Social Work with Groups after it became a membership organization. He is a past chair of the Group for the Advancement of Doctoral Education in Social Work. He has written over 50 articles and book chapters on social work, research, and group work, He is the co-editor of two editions of the Handbook of Social Work with Groups.  

Review :

"This text reflects a unique take on group work, presenting social justice as a key endeavor of work with all types of groups. It provides foundational information about group types, development, and practice within a framework, which emphasizes the need for attention to social justice at each level. It is easy to read and practically oriented."

"Long overdue, this text brings social justice into the forefront as an organizing principle of group work practice."

"This is a text I’ve been looking for. It incorporates social justice into group work and in this era we need to emphasize the many forms privilege and oppression can take."