Class Descriptions

Advanced Evidence-Informed Interpersonal Practice with Groups

SW605

Credits:	3
Prerequisites:	SW506 & SW601 (concurrent enrollment in SW601 permitted if necessary)

Pathway Associations

Community Change
Global
Interpersonal Practice	Requirement (Host)
Mgmt & Leadership
Policy & Political
Program Evaluation
Older Adults
Children & Families

Course Description

This advanced practice course builds on content from previous foundational courses and focuses on the processes of group interventions with diverse client populations, across various client concerns and in a variety of practice settings such as healthcare, mental health, and other community-based settings. The focus of this course is on the development and utilization of group skills and interventions.

Particular attention will be given to the recruitment and composition of group members, leadership structure of groups, phases of group development, and group processes such as decision-making, tension reduction, conflict resolution, goal setting, contracting, and evaluation. Students will learn how to assess and intervene with group problems such as scapegoating, member resistance, low morale, over-active participation, etc. They will learn to employ a variety of intra-group strategies and techniques such as programs, structured activities, exercises, etc.

Interventions consistent with the achievement of social justice through group work practice will be emphasized. The course will also consider how gender, ethnicity, race, social class, sexual orientation, and different abilities will impact various aspects of group functioning such as purpose, composition, leadership, selection of intervention strategies, and group development.

Objectives

Upon completion of this course, students will be able to:
1. Develop and operationalize a working knowledge of the various types of groups (i.e. support, therapy, tasks, focus, prevention, rehabilitation, etc), the stages of the evolution/development and life cycle of groups and the impact of these factors on group dynamics and group functioning. (EPAS 6,7)
2. Develop and use knowledge of the types and stages of groups to identify group processes to determine and demonstrate appropriate, effective interventions. (EPAS 6, 7, 8)
3. Recognize multiple factors including, but not limited to, composition, screening, format, contraindications, interventions and process elements when considering the development and/or use of groups as a client/population intervention.  (EPAS 2, 6, 7, 8)
4. Demonstrate knowledge of group roles, dynamics, norms and communication styles and patterns and identity/utilize appropriate interventions to promote effective group functioning and desired group outcomes. (EPAS 2, 4, 6, 7, 8, 9)
5. Analyze the impact of and apply various types of leadership styles in facilitating group processes . (EPAS 1, 7, 8)
6. Identify common problems that emerge in groups and utilize group conflict resolution interventions to address, utilize and resolve these problems. (EPAS 6, 7, 8)
7. Demonstrate ability to effectively and ethically consider, plan and carry out a range of evidence-based/evidence-informed structured activities and interventions across diverse populations, cultural backgrounds, and sociopolitical contexts to address client concerns/needs in a variety of practice settings. (EPAS 1, 2, 4, 6, 7, 8)
8. Demonstrate ability to form worker-group member alliances and collaborations, communicate empathically, and help enhance client-centered motivation for change, cultivate hope, and address ambivalence and internal and external barriers to change. (EPAS 6,8)
9. Demonstrate sensitivity to interpersonal dynamics, voluntary or involuntary participation and social/cultural/contextual factors of both the group facilitator(s) and diverse group members which can both strengthen and potentially threaten therapeutic alliance and group functioning (EPAS 1,2,7)
10. Describe and effectively respond to the impact of key diversity dimensions for both the facilitator(s) and members of a group such as ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, and sexual orientation on the dynamics of group structure and group process. (EPAS 2,8)
11. Assess the effectiveness of various types of groups and various interventions utilizing specific evaluation measures that can be integrated into monitoring and evaluating group work. (EPAS 7,9)

Design

This advanced practice course will focus on utilization of a flipped classroom approach in which students complete pre-work (readings, viewing videos, etc.) with in-class time used for limited didactic lecture and a primary focus on students actively developing and practicing group intervention skills and techniques.

Active engagement in a variety of group interventions, role plays, observation and critical analysis of various interventions, matching group interventions to various populations and client needs and mutual constructive feedback is critical to the skill development focus of this course.

Intensive Focus on Privilege, Oppression, Diversity and Social Justice (PODS)

This course integrates PODS content and skills with a special emphasis on the identification of theories, practice and/or policies that promote social justice, illuminate injustices and are consistent with scientific and professional knowledge. Through the use of a variety of instructional methods, this course will support students developing a vision of social justice, learn to recognize and reduce mechanisms that support oppression and injustice, work toward social justice processes, apply intersectionality and intercultural frameworks and strengthen critical consciousness, self-knowledge and self-awareness to facilitate PODS learning.

Group work is grounded in Social Work's historical involvement with various reform movements at the end of the 19th and beginning of the 20th century. This course will examine the contemporary relevance of social justice practice in group work practice and diverse ways this may be integrated into social work practice in a variety of settings.

Key diversity dimensions have an impact on membership and composition, which in turn, influence various aspects of group dynamics. Attention will be given to considerations regarding diversity dimensions such as ability, age, class, color, culture, ethnicity, family structure, gender (including gender identity and gender expression), marital status, national origin, race, religion or spirituality, and sexual orientation on the dynamics of group structure and group process.