Module 4: Group Work

Question 1

Effective Group Facilitators

Answer 1

Enjoy meeting new people
Listening to their stories
Assisting group members to interact with each other 
Well organized
Sensitive
Resourceful

Question 2

Benefits of Group Work

Answer 2

1. Group work is able to serve many clients
2. Addresses the inherent power imbalance in the client - worker relationship
3. Members share their wisdom in a collective effort
4. Powerful and empowering experience

Question 3

Structured Groups

Answer 3

Have central theme
Time limited
Offered to a specific population
Facilitated by a person trained in group work techniques
Most structured groups have closed membership after the first week

Question 4

Common Structured Group Categories

Answer 4

1. Educational/Psycho-educational groups
2. Skills Training Group
3. Personal Growth Groups

Question 5

Educational/Psycho Education Groups

Answer 5

Sharing and imparting information, Experience and knowledge of group members is valued and acknowledged, Facilitator’s role involves teaching
Ex: Understanding the cycle of violence, learning about child development

Question 6

Skills Training Group

Answer 6

Group members acquire new skills to cope better with daily living
Offered to individuals who need help with day-to-day functioning
Ex: Anger management, Parenting, Independent living

Question 7

3. Personal Growth Groups

Answer 7

Emphasis is on personal growth to assist members with coping

Ex: Self esteem, Self awareness, Self confidence, Life transitions

Question 8

Facilitator’s Role

Answer 8

Channel the group’s energy into productive and meaningful activities
Promote the growth of members
Empower group members to achieve their goals

Question 9

Program Development Guidelines

Answer 9

1. Needs Assessment (surveys, personal interviews, meetings, obsevations)
2. Agency Commitment: Provide a formal report based on needs assessment
3. Leadership: Skill set-listening, reflecting, summarizing, clarifying
4. Recruitment (referrals from your own agency staff, referrals from other agencies, Posters flyers..etc)
5. Member Assessment: Assessing potential group members in terms of approppriateness

Question 10

Program Development Guidelines… Continued

Answer 10

6. Goals: Three types-group, individual, group process goals. They offer direction and focus to group.
7. Program Design: Addresses group, individual and process goals. Be aware that flexibility is needed in design
8. Evaluation: Achieved goals. Interventions effectiveness. Do you want qualitative and quantitative data?
9. Implementation of Intervention: Members must want to actively participate in group, willing to open, sensitive to each other’s feelings, take initiative, respect each other, accept that there will be conflict
10. Closing and Closure: Advise group members when group will end, complete final evaluations, usually includes some type of meaningful activity to reinforce positive outcomes
11. Reporting: Determine if the outcomes of your interventions are consistent with group goals. Report should be completed to describe the organization, implementation and evaluation of the group