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January, 2019 | SAGE Publications, Inc

Socially Just Practice in Groups

A Social Work Perspective


Robert M. Ortega - University of Michigan, USA
Charles David Garvin - University of Michigan, USA
320 pages | January, 2019 | SAGE Publications, Inc
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ISBN: 9781544356044
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Socially Just Practice in Groups: A Social Work Perspective comprehensively covers all aspects of group practice in social work settings, integrating a unique social justice framework throughout. Drawing from their experience as group work practitioners, authors Robert Ortega and Charles D. Garvin walk readers through the basics of group practice, including getting started, doing group work, establishing the purpose, roles and tasks of the group, stages and phases of practice, and specific skills in assessment, monitoring, and evaluation. A social justice framework provides a fresh perspective during an era of widespread social change and provides social workers tools for effective group interventions. Chapters contain detailed case examples to illustrate concepts presented, as well as exercises to help students practice skills.

Preface
Acknowledgements
About the Authors
SECTION I. HISTORICAL AND CONCEPTUAL APPROACHES TO GROUP WORK AND SOCIAL JUSTICE

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

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

Structures
Processes
Cohesiveness
Group Culture
Discussion Questions

Social Goals
Cognitive-Behavioral Group Work
Task Centered
Self-Directed
Feminist
Narrative
Summary
Discussion Questions

Purpose and Social Justice
A Typology of Purposes
A Typology of Group Purposes
Social Justice Issues Related to Purposes
Summary
Discussion Questions

Solidarity
Tolerance
Inclusion
Transformative Trust
Cultural Humility
Empowerment
Shared Leadership
Additional Ethical Issues in Group Work Practice
Summary
Discussion Questions

Roles, Norms, and Statuses
Group Tasks and Functions
Agreements (AKA Ground Rules)
Power
Conflict
Summary
Discussion Questions

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

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

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

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

Implications for Social Justice
Handling Offensive Behaviors and Taboo Subjects
Group Tasks in Initial Phase
Dealing With Other Miscellaneous Transition Nuances
Summary
Discussion Questions

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

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

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

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

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

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

Instructor Resource Site

study.sagepub.com/ortega

Free online resources for instructors accompany this text on a password-protected Instructor Resource Site.

  • Editable, chapter-specific PowerPoint® slides offer complete flexibility for creating a multimedia presentation.
  • Class activities reinforce active learning through individual and group projects.
  • Quizzes containing multiple choice and true/false questions effectively assess students’ progress and understanding.

KEY FEATURES:

  • A unique social justice framework is used to examine all aspects of group practice and highlights this important value of the profession.
  • Detailed case examples and exercises illustrate concepts and help students develop their skills. 
  • An emphasis on research supports an evidence-based approach to practice.
  • Chapter-ending summaries and discussion questions help students review content covered and reinforce learning through activities.