Riding the Mutual Aid Bus and Other Adventures in Group Work: A Days in the Lives of Social Workers Collection

Groups come in all kinds. Therapy groups. Support groups. Task groups. Psychoeducational groups. Online groups. Play groups. Experiential groups. Art groups. Drumming groups. Co-facilitated groups. Child groups. Adult groups. Family groups. The list goes on. Regardless of what setting you are in, if you are a social worker, you will work with groups at some time in your career.You may have a picture in your mind of what a social work group looks like. It probably has people sitting in a circle, talking about their feelings. There certainly are many groups described in this book that fit that image of a traditional group. However, we also introduce you to groups that take place on a bus or a train, in a public restroom, or on a zipline 40 feet in the air! Each story takes us into the life of a particular social worker and shares practice wisdom about a time when that social worker worked with a group.By reading each one, you will have a greater perspective on social work with groups. The diversity of the chapters, fields of practice, types of group, and populations will give you a greater idea of the power of group work. It can be quite an adventure!Developed in collaboration with the International Association for Social Work With Groups, this book includes the full text of the Standards for Social Work Practice With Groups.“This book presents a lovely compilation of group work vignettes—slices of practice life—that reflect a range of populations, issues, and settings in which group work takes place. The exercises at the end of each vignette offer many types of opportunities to help students work through some major practice issues, either as individual assignments or in small classroom groups. The informal approach to presentation makes the case examples very user-friendly and, accompanied by theoretical material, offers a creative way of bringing theory to life.”Dominique Moyse Steinberg, DSW, Adjunct Faculty, Smith College SSW, CEO, CustomElderCare®"From children in residential treatment and adolescents in an outdoor adventure program to men charged with domestic violence and individuals living with AIDS, this book is chock full of examples of how groups benefit their members. A variety of practitioners from a range of practice settings write about their group work experiences in an approachable, appealing style. The core principles and benefits of group work practice are clearly illustrated in the multitude of case examples. This book will serve as an excellent accompaniment to a standard text on group work. Students will no doubt find the case material interesting and relatable. The editors’ and authors’ enthusiasm for the modality is infectious and should serve to motivate readers to make group work an integral part of their practice."Dr. Carolyn Knight, Professor, School of Social Work, University of Maryland Baltimore County, Past Vice-President, Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups"These captivating stories will inspire and inform social workers about the endless possibilities and power of practice with groups. Social workers will find strong connections with stories that are set across a wide range of organizational contexts with highly diverse populations, group models and strategies. The accessible and poignant chapters will resonate with practitioners and students as the authors share their challenges in working with groups – as well as their successes. Ultimately, the stories provide examples of skillful practice and accompanying struggles that promote progress and change through group membership."Dr. Carol S. Cohen, Associate Professor, Adelphi University School of Social Work, Garden City, New York & Co-Chair, Commission on Group Work in Social Work Education, International Association for Social Work with Groups