An Introduction to Group Work Practice 8th Edition Ronald W. Toseland, Robert F. Rivas Chapter 6 Planning the Group Developed by: Ronald W. Toseland, State University of New York at Albany Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Planning Model • Establishing the group’s purpose • Assessing the potential sponsorship and membership • Recruiting members • Composing the group An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Planning Model • • • • Orienting members to the group Contracting Preparing the group’s environment Reviewing the literature and colleagues experiences An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Planning Model • Selecting monitoring and evaluation tools • Preparing a written group proposal • Planning virtual groups - Telephone - Video - Internet An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Establishing the Group’s Purpose • • • • Group worker generated Agency or staff generated Member generated Community generated An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Assessing Potential Sponsorship • The mission, goals, objectives and resources of the agency • Fit between agency policies and goals of the proposed group An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Assessing Potential Sponsorship • Support within the agency • Nature of unmet and ongoing needs • Costs and benefits An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Gathering Support for a New Group • Does it fit the mission and goals of the agency? • Would resolution of the problem facing the group be valued by the agency and the community? • Does the administration of the agency support the proposed group? • Is the need being met elsewhere? An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Gathering Support for a New Group • Would co-sponsorship with another agency be possible? • Resolve differences in perspectives and identify hidden agendas • Obtain consensus from staff about goals and methods to achieve them An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Assessing the Potential Membership • The nature of the problem or need facing the group • Potential members’ recognition and shared perceptions about the purpose of the group • Cultural and other differences that could influence perceptions of the group • Perceptions of the sponsoring organization An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Assessing the Potential Membership • Effects of ambivalence, resistance, or involuntary nature of the group • Specialized knowledge needed to work with members • Demographic differences and commonalities of potential members An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Assessing the Potential Membership • Benefits to potential members participating • Barriers, obstacles, and drawbacks to member participation • Resources needed from the organization and community - Ensure members’ interest and participation An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Methods for Recruiting Members • Directly through interviews and telephone contacts • Contacting key people and community leaders in the network of potential members • Announcements through the mail, internet • Posting announcements in community organizations and other sites An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Methods for Recruiting Members • Using websites to advertise the group • Speaking at public meetings • Appearing on radio and television shows • Issuing press releases, publishing announcements in organizational newsletters, feature newspaper stories An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Composing the Group • A homogeneity of members’ purpose and personality characteristics • A heterogeneity of members coping skills, life experiences and expertise • An overall structure that includes a range of the members’ qualities, skills and expertise An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Other Composition Issues • Group structure • Diversity and demographic characteristics • Size • Open and closed membership • Closed and opened ended time frames An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Orienting Members • Explaining the purpose of the group • Familiarizing members with group procedures • Screening members for appropriateness • Contracting for group procedures and member goals An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Preparing the Environment • Physical setting – room size, furnishings, technology, atmosphere (lighting, etc.) • Making special arrangements • Securing financial support An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Other Preparations • Prepare a written proposal • Reviewing the literature and any previous group experiences • Selecting or preparing monitoring or evaluation measures An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Planning Virtual Groups • Telephone groups • Video groups • Websites – chat rooms, bulletin boards, e-mail, listservs, streaming media An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Advantages of Virtual Groups • Convenience and accessibility • Reduced time needed to get to meetings • Reduced stigma and greater privacy • Reaching those without transportation and in rural areas An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Advantages of Virtual Groups • Ability to reach homebound people • Greater willingness to share taboo issues An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved Disadvantages of Virtual Groups • • • • Practice standards Reimbursement Technical issues/problems Possible lack of privacy and intrusions An Introduction to Group Work Practice, 8e Toseland, Rivas Copyright © 2017, 2012, 2009 by Pearson Education, Inc. All Rights Reserved
