week 4 disucssion 1

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Arts Humanities

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Apr 3, 2024

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Post a response to the following: Compare task groups versus educational, support, or skills groups. Describe a type of treatment group you would facilitate as a social worker. Explain what professional role you may take when facilitating this group. Describe what is meant by group norms, and explain how you would help shape these norms based on your role in the group. Explain what is meant by group roles. Identify at least one group role, and explain why a group member may take that role. Describe a group member role that might be most challenging to you as a group leader, and explain why. A group is an assembly of individuals who meet to pursue common interests and work toward organizational, personal, social, or communal objectives (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018). Different types of social work groups exist, such as task groups, educational groups, support or skills groups. As their name may imply, task groups have been designed to complete a particular task, address particular issues, and produce a specific result (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). Some examples of task groups in social work are task force groups, boards of directors, and multidisciplinary teams. Unlike task groups, educational, support, or skills groups fall under the umbrella group known as treatment groups, making them different from task groups, a major group just like treatment groups. Therefore, educational, support, or skills groups are subgroups in the treatment group. Treatment groups focus mainly on the emotional and social needs of their members. Some other groups found in the treatment group are self-help, socialization, therapy, and growth groups. Educational groups are designated to teach group members about issues or topics (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018). It focuses on educating them on various topics based on their needs and circumstances, for instance, teaching parents about positive parenting techniques. Support groups are made up of people who meet to support one another emotionally, encourage the development of new coping skills, and facilitate the strengths-based sharing of difficulties, worries, and challenges (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018). Here in Calgary, an example of a support group is La Leche League Canada. This group provides the flexibility of online, by phone, in-person, or informal meetings where members receive information about the benefits of breastfeeding compared to formula. They also receive support and encouragement throughout the journey. Self-help is the treatment group I would facilitate as a social worker. These groups are typically led by members who share the problems that other members of the group have experienced (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018). Examples of such groups are Alcoholics Anonymous, Parents Anonymous, and Overeaters Anonymous. Some benefits of self-help groups, like other support groups, include but are not limited to gaining a sense of empowerment, control, or hope, building a network, having a safe place to vent, reducing distress and anxiety, and obtaining practical
information on cases and feedback about treatment plans (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). The specific group under self-help I would work with is Alcoholics Anonymous. I would be a Mediator for this Alcoholics Anonymous group, though I may play other roles depending on the needs of the group. Kirst-Ashman et al. (2018) state, “Mediators help group members resolve conflicts or other dissension.” It is often common for groups to have conflicts and for others to suppress the opinions of others. Also, there might be competition as to whose condition or experience is worse than another (Mayo Clinic, n.d.). Hence, there is a need for a mediator who will be there to make sure the win-lose situations are avoided, and disagreements and viewpoints are handled objectively. In this scenario, I would also be the one to help them weigh all the options and figure out what kind of recovery plan they need. “The worker may help group members negotiate with the environment and other systems. This negotiation is especially important when the client finds resource systems intimidating and impersonal” (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018, p. 114). In situations like this, I would play the role of a broker to bridge the gap between the group members and the systems by helping them connect with these systems, such as centers for alcohol treatment and counseling and other community agencies, so they get the resources they need. Kirst-Ashman and Hull (2018) state, “Norms are unwritten expectations about how individuals will act in certain situations.” All groups have norms that either support or impede the achievement of their objectives (Kirst-Ashman et al., 2018). Honesty, open-mindedness, owning up to mistakes, and good conduct are a few examples of norms. I would help to create these norms by emphasizing to the clients the value of always showing respect and remaining nonjudgmental toward others. I would also ensure I act according to the norms to encourage the members. Group roles are generally different roles clients play in group settings. Each group has its roles, which may include the helper, the motivator, the scapegoat, and so on. Collectively, these roles form the group. While we look for the good aspects of social work, some people could also look for the bad. The Nonfunctional Roles are one illustration of this. An attacker could be one of those roles. These roles generally exhibit an aggressive attitude, and occasionally, they even seem to prefer being in an antagonistic setting. When someone feels helpless, they may behave aggressively to avoid expressing their actual feelings. Someone on probation or similar could be made to attend group sessions if they exhibit such behavior. The “Blocker,” in my opinion, would be the most difficult. “Blockers are usually the ones to say “Yes, but…” to all the ideas or solutions proposed in the group. No matter what the proposal, they will always have a reason why it will not succeed” (Kirst-Ashman & Hull, 2018, p.125).
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