Comparison and Contrast of the three group work models by Papell and Rothman
Social work is one of the most difficult jobs in the world. The social worker plays an important role in helping the people deal with their social problems and provide causes and solutions that will greatly impact their human life. The social workers deal and work with individual people, groups, families, communities and organisation, moreover, they are committed in bringing social justice and human rights to these people. Social work that deals in groups became popular in the early 1990s. Working with groups is an exciting, unique and dynamic form of helping people deal with the challenges and create changes in their lives. Social workers prefer using groups because it is an effective tool in helping people of all ages and walks of life in improving the way they function in the society and cope up with their issues and problems easily. The social workers that deal with groups are involved in all areas of social work practice such as mental health, geriatrics, child welfare, substance abuse and many more. According to (1992) the social group work utilises the group approach in order to accomplish the objectives that are common to activities in the social work such as prevent the members from further developing ways that are dysfunction in order to cope up with the problems, improve the engagement of the members to artistic, intellectual and spiritual endeavours and develop the members that developed inability to function personally and socially.
Social work groups are divided into three groups. According to (2001) in 1966 Papell and Rothman identified groups by stating clearly three models which are the social goals, reciprocal and remedial.
Social goals- according to (1988) the social goals approach looks at social work as a cause because of its importance to the struggles of people to achieve human rights. The social goals model is an influential model and continues to be one in the contemporary perception of human beings. Moreover, pointed out that the strength of the model was influenced by the activist nature of the 60s. However, (1981) stated that the model became less associated with group work and became more related to organisation of the community.
Working with groups in the social work setting give s opportunities for the participating individuals to identify and set their own goals through attaining their objectives and pursue social change. According to (1997) in the social goals approach in group work, it identifies that people in the group have different range and scope of experiences, expectations and values. In utilising the model in working with groups, the social worker must design activities in order to enhance the mechanism and participation of the individual. In addition, the social goals model doe not only accommodate the variation of the members of the group but it also improves the personal understanding, tolerance and decision-making of an individual.
Benjamin et al also discussed that the approach is often observed and utilised in groups that have clearly expressed political goals and agendas, as well as, individual working in changing the society.
The features of the social goals model according to are the following:
Self-determination or agency- it is very encouraging in group work practice if the members involved believe and view that the activities will bring them more benefits.
Participation- groups in the social goals model involves activities that will make the participants feel a sense of belonging. And if the participant felt that they fit with the group it encourages further learning and commitment to change.
Communication- in the activities of the social goals model the participants must actively participate and exercise their democratic decision making which needs an honest, open and sensitive communication between the participants and the social worker assisting them.
Acceptance and tolerance of differences- the notion that the members of the group has importance regardless of the age, status in life and gender will be helpful in assisting the members in practices during group activities. The members must have a good work practice in order to determine the attributes and capabilities of each member.
Reciprocity- the opportunities for individuals to make contributions and reap the benefits from being a member of the group is an important aspect of working in groups.
Equality- recognising the notion that the members could learn from one another fosters efficiency in the group work. Moreover, it is also a sign that the members of the group are perceived as equals. Social goals model recognises the value of contribution of the members of the group.
Reciprocal model- Dorfman discussed that in the reciprocal model the social workers focuses on improving the process while the individuals and groups involved engage in activities that will be beneficial to them. The social workers in this model are called the mediators because they are involved in ways group members seeks to utilise the group, the expectations that the group puts on the members to make sure that they will survive the process, the pressures that the groups give on agencies and the requirements of the agencies that are transmitted to the groups and its members.
Moreover, the reciprocal model draws on the ideas and knowledge from the social systems and field theory because it focuses on the interaction of individuals, accommodates the ideas regarding social psychology, specifically the symbolic interactionism and role theory ( 1984). In addition, in the reciprocal model the social workers in the group assumes the role of the mediator as he or she attempts to address and give solutions to the systematic stress of the individual or the members of the group.
Benjamin et al discussed that the reciprocal model is an intermediate position that connects social goals model and the remedial model. It is transitional due to the fact that at one end of the spectrum the reciprocal model could fix and assist problems such as alcoholism and drug dependency while the other end of the spectrum it could be utilise in the context of social change such as unions in organisations.
The reciprocal model establishes tensions in the role of the social group worker; on the other hand, the remedial model has a therapist or facilitator to assist the individual. The social worker and the self-help groups in the reciprocal model rely on individuals that have the same problems and issues. The group does not necessarily needs a facilitator unlike the remedial model. In the case of social groups working with the youth are social group workers let peers share their experiences as a way of promoting peer-education programs.
Just like in the social goals model wherein it focuses on the community and the organisation, the reciprocal model could also be utilised within the organisation. It has been utilised to develop personnel training and assist in solving the issues within the organisation. The organisational group work in the context of reciprocal model utilises groups and its processes to achieve the goals and objectives of the people within the organisation. In reciprocal model the organisation utilises small groups to assist the individuals in the same department or working environment in order to deliver efficient services and work outputs. Utilising reciprocal approach in the group work of an organisation could improve the overall efficiency of the people who are working to attain a common objective which is to improve the work practices and improve the quality of their work.
Remedial model- the remedial model occurred when the social group work was moved in the clinical setting and give emphasis on treatment objectives for individuals. Benjamin et al discussed that in the remedial model the group work is designed to fix or give remedy regarding the experiences of individuals such as poverty and distress. The main goal of the model is to assist the individuals in the group in learning things that will fix the problem. It is often found in counselling, social and therapeutic work. Examples include social workers working in the youth such as juveniles, drug rehabilitation, special education and mental health. The remedial model is treatment and modification of the behaviour of an individual that is mainly concerned in changing the problems whether it is psychological, cultural or social through activities that will enhance the development and educate the people.
In the remedial perspective, social group workers utilise the social control group work, wherein the form of group work starts with the anticipation that there are appropriate ways to behave and think. The social control group work uses different techniques to assist individuals that are considered deviant learn and understand the proper ways to behave and act. In new methods of the social control group the social workers takes a group of individuals that are considered deviant in the society and are behaving in ways that are deemed as inappropriate. The groups use various methods in order to re-socialise and re-educate these types of individuals so that they will be encouraged to change their attitude that is socially acceptable.
Benjamin et al discussed the specific ways and locations in which the social worker deals with groups in the three models and these are:
Remedial orientation- social control group work, and therapeutic work group.
Reciprocal orientation- self-help and co dependence groups and organisational group work.
Social goals orientation- community development group work, libratory group work and social action and movement work group.
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