Assessing Use of the Standards for Social Work Practice with Groups by School Social Workers: A National Study

Social Work With Groups’ Practice Ethics and Standards

“…These findings are congruent with other studies which used the IC-SWG (Macgowan, 2012;Macgowan & Vakharia, 2012;Shera et al, 2013). As in other studies, the group work class mattered as far as improving respondents' perceived performance (Macgowan, 2012;Macgowan & Vakharia, 2012, Shera et al, 2013Sweifach & LaPorte, 2013). This is an important finding, as many BSW and MSW programs do not have a methods class solely focused on group work methodology, and other programs offer group work as an elective that students may or may not take prior to graduation (Simon & Kilbane, 2014).…”

“…In another study of school social workers (n ¼ 508), 90% of whom advised they primarily facilitate groups in their jobs and 75% reported no knowledge of the group work standards (Sweifach & LaPorte, 2013). These researchers did find that school social workers who had a group work class were more confident in their facilitation of school-based groups than the 20% of respondents who had not taken a group work class in their MSW educational programs (Sweifach & LaPorte, 2013). Furthermore, academics and practitioners who facilitate groups and who are even members of IASWG are unfamiliar or have minimal knowledge of the IASWG Standards (C. S. Cohen & Olshever, 2013).…”

“…Groups for social work consumers are on the rise (C. S. Cohen & Olshever, 2013; Sweihach & LaPorte, 2009, 2013). They include groups of the following populations: cancer survivors; parents; substance users; people with mental or physical disabilities; those experiencing grief and loss; victims of interpersonal violence; veterans; youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; immigrants; children; and older adults, and so on.…”

“…They include groups of the following populations: cancer survivors; parents; substance users; people with mental or physical disabilities; those experiencing grief and loss; victims of interpersonal violence; veterans; youth who are lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer; immigrants; children; and older adults, and so on. (Furman, Bender, & Rowan, 2014; Sweihach & LaPorte, 2013). In addition, almost all social workers are involved in task groups or committees (Pelech et al, In press; Toseland & Rivas, 2012).…”

“…Sweifach and LaPorte (2009) concluded that “students are graduating without basic skills for facilitating groups” (p. 311). In another study of school social workers ( n = 508), 90% of whom advised they primarily facilitate groups in their jobs and 75% reported no knowledge of the group work standards (Sweifach & LaPorte, 2013). These researchers did find that school social workers who had a group work class were more confident in their facilitation of school-based groups than the 20% of respondents who had not taken a group work class in their MSW educational programs (Sweifach & LaPorte, 2013).…”