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Social Group Work Ethics and Standards Curriculum
Cheryl D. Lee, Ph.D., MSW
CSULB School of Social Work
May 8, 2014
Introduction
This Social Group Work Ethics Curriculum can be used in graduate and undergraduate social
group work classes. The curriculum is approximately a three-hour module with a pre and post
test assessment that takes approximately 30 minutes to administer (MacGowan, 2012). The
lesson plan for the social group work ethics and standards curriculum is presented in this
section. The lesson plan is be used in conjunction with the power point presentation,
bibliography and additional resources that are part of this project.
Lesson Plan
Assigned Readings: Prior to this lesson, the student will read the complete Code of Ethics of the
National Association of Social Workers (NASW, 2008) and the International Association of Social
Work with Groups’ (IASWG) Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups (IASWG, 2006).
1. Objectives of the Social Group Work Ethics and Standards Class.
The objectives are:
a. Students will be able to describe the differences among ethics/values and standards and
identify the ethics and standards for social group work.
b. Students will be able to explain the importance of applying ethics and standards to
social group work.
c. Students will be able to identify ethical issues in social group work, critically examine
ethical conflicts, and discuss decisions regarding resolution.
d. Students will significantly improve their scores from pre to post test on an
ethics/standards measure.
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2. Define what is meant by Ethics and Standards. Divide the class into small groups to
discuss the importance of adhering to ethics and standards when implementing
social work groups.
Some of the reasons for adherence to ethics and standards are:
a. Social workers routinely work with at risk populations who need to feel they are in a
trusted and respectful environment (IASWG Standards, 2006; NASW, 2008)).
b. Ethical violations can be reported to the Board of Behavioral Health Examiners and a
social work license can be revoked or the social work can receive other sanctions
(NASW, 2008).
c. The standards have been created by professionals with a great deal of experience
and expertise in social group work, and there is evidence that adhering to the
standards produces good results (Abels, 2012; Torpor, Grosso, Burt, & Falcon, 2013).
d. Ethics and standards are in place to protect people in our communities (IASWG,
2006; NASW, 2008).
e. According to the National Association of Social Work (NASW) “Professional Ethics
are at the Core of Social Work” (NASW Code of Ethics, 2008, p. 2).
f. More can be accomplished in a group when members have a voice and can assist
each other with mutual aid (Gitterman & Shulman, 2005; Steinberg, 2004).
).
3. Core values found in the NASW Code of Ethics (See power point slides for
complete coverage.)
a. Service
b. Social Justice
c. Dignity and Worth of the Person
d. Importance of Human Relationships
e. Integrity
f. Competence
4. Core values and standards found in the Standards of the International Association
of Social Work with Groups (IASWG, 2006) including its historical context.
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5. Coverage of the core knowledge found in the IASWG Standards. This knowledge
includes:
a. Knowledge of individuals within their social environment. Individuals’
development, diversity and environment/context influence transactions in
the group.
b. Knowledge of group behavior and the different stages of group development
c. Knowledge and actions required of the group worker at each stage of the
group’s development from planning the group to ending the group.
6. Specific standards regarding the Pre-group Phase (See Powerpoint Slide 19).
7. Specific standards regarding the Beginning Phase (See Powerpoint Slide 20).
8. Specific standards regarding the Middle Phase (See Powerpoint Slides 21 through
24).
9. Specific standards regarding the Ending Phase (See Powerpoint Slide 25).
10. Activity One – This is a small group exercise to reinforce learning in the curriculum.
Students meet in small groups and discuss the ethics and standards creating a
comprehensive list. After they meet in the small groups, they share their findings
with the class as a whole.
11. Activity Two - This is a small group exercise to reinforce and synthesize learning in
the curriculum. Students meet in small groups and discuss the ethical or standard
conflicts in three different social group work vignettes. After they meet in the small
groups, the students share their findings with the class as a whole. The entire class
discusses the application of ethics and standards to these cases which serves as a
review of the social group work curriculum.
12. Summary and solicitation of questions and omments
13. Post-test administration