Social Action in Group Work

Abe Vinik, Morris Levin

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2012
• Print ISBN: 9781560242116
• eBook ISBN: 9781136582776
• Topic: Medicine
• Subtopic: Health Care Delivery

One of the most effective ways of dealing with social problems is getting rid of the cause of the problem, not just finding a remedy for the result. Social Action in Group Work provides a useful overview of the history, philosophy, theory, and practice of social group work and action in the promotion of societal change. It shows practitioners how to use their skills effectively to achieve social change. This helpful book incorporates ideas developed in social movements, identifies their contributions to social group work practice, and illustrates effective practice in case experience with specific examples. It provides a much-needed understanding of the need for and process of social action, along with new ideas for theory building, teaching, and practice in group work. Numerous case examples from a variety of different settings become models that will be extremely useful for social work students, educators, professionals, and those who work directly with groups.This invigorating book is divided into three sections, each with a unique focus, and tied together by overlapping concepts, theories, and models. The first section, Ideas of Social Action, examines the history of social action in group work and proposes an integrated global framework for social work organization, education and practice. Advocacy and Empowerment, the middle section, is replete with case examples. The third section, Principles and Practice, explores the application of social group work in a variety of situations, including inter-ethnic conflict and a group of homeless men and women. Together, the sections make a strong stand for a more sensitive, empowerment oriented practice and for more advocacy by the worker and group. Everyone involved or interested in the process of social change through social action with groups will find Social Action in Group Work a wealth of practical information.

Advocacy and Empowerment

The Critical Role of Social Action in Empowerment Oriented Groups

Enid Opal Cox

SUMMARY. This paper discusses the contribution of social action to empowerment oriented groups. It defines an empowerment oriented practice model and the role of group work practice in such a model is reviewed. The key role social action plays in empowerment oriented groups is discussed and illustrated.

Recent discussion about empowerment has reached into almost all areas of the human services. During the 1980’s a number of social welfare conferences used the word empowerment in their themes. Political figures representing conservative, liberal, and progressive-radical perspectives used the term to win support. Empowerment is equated with intra-psychic change, self-care competency, group self-help, and social action. Many authors focus their observations on one of these arenas for change. The concept of empowerment appears in social work literature as part of an overall philosophical perspective, as the goal of social work practice, as a guide for practice strategies, as a purpose for worker interventions. A small number of practitioners have used empowerment as the core of an overall model for social work practice. Simon (1990) states:

Subdivisions of the profession whose leaders have been much more vocal historically in underlining the distinctiveness of their respective practice approaches than in emphasizing attributes held in common with other parts of the field—casework, casemanagement, group work, community organization, and social welfare policy— have all explicitly incorporated the concept of empowerment into the very heart of their current work and value orientation and have come to view the empowerment of clients and constituents at both the individual and collective level as a central project of the overall profession, (p. 31)

The widespread use of this term without specific definition requires that at least the basic characteristics of the empowerment model of practice be identified.

The concept of empowerment practice guiding this discussion is generally supported by Pinderhughes (1983), Cox (1988), Solomon (1976), Guiterrez (1990), Kieffer (1984), Brinker-Jenkins and Joseph (1980), and Cox and Parsons (1990). While not all of these authors attempt to develop a comprehensive model of practice which may be referred to as an empowerment oriented practice model, all contribute to its construction.

The definitions of empowerment oriented practice suggested by these authors vary somewhat. For example, Cox (1988) defines empowerment oriented interventions as those methodological approaches which mobilize consumers of service and their families and communities toward (a) self-care, (b) collective self-help, and (c) authentic involvement in the creation of a better environment including politically based social action. Guiterrez (1990) states that “empowering practice differs from many other forms of social work practice in that it proposed that the goal of effective practice is not coping or adaptation but to increase the actual power of the client or community so that action can be taken to change and prevent the problems they are facing.”

Brinker-Jenkins and Joseph (1980) in their observations with respect to women’s issues say “liberation … requires mobilization at the base. Masses of women must redefine the small spaces of their lives, taking charge of and transforming their relationships with each other and their immediate environments … we can then begin to build movements” (p. 36). Pinderhughes (1983) suggests that the goal of empowerment is to achieve the perception of having some power over the forces that control one’s self as essential to one’s mental health. Power or lack of power becomes the critical issue in people’s lives (p. 331). Solomon (1976) speaks of empowerment as a process whereby persons who belong to a stigmatized social category can be assisted to develop and increase skills in the exercise of interpersonal influence and the performance of valued social roles (p. 6). All of these perceptions of empowerment in relation to practice include the need to address both the personal and political dimensions of human problems.

Other common characteristics of these authors regarding empowerment oriented practice include the critical role of consciousness raising in the empowerment process and the need to establish an egalitarian relationship between client and worker. Consciousness raising in this context implies the involvement of clients in understanding the personal and political aspects of their problems and/or oppression. Personal aspects of their problems include both the personal pain experiences involved in their status and the internalized beliefs and behaviors they may have incorporated in their daily lives which tend to reinforce their status. Social psychology findings that describe ways in which we define ourselves and our capacities by the actions and perceptions of those who surround us are useful in our understanding of negative self evaluation.

Personal action/change, interpersonal change and social action are required as part of the on-going process of consciousness raising. Critical analysis requires action and on-going analysis of outcomes of that action to understand the environment more fully. For example, much is learned about the nature of an authority system when its rules are challenged. Not only are the rules often made explicit, but the strength of the enforcement mechanism is tested and the motives and beliefs of individuals involved in the organization/structure become more evident. It is important to note that consciousness raising in the empowerment oriented model of practice becomes synonymous with assessment in traditional problem solving models of practice.

The Critical Role of Groups in Empowerment Oriented Practice

Within the larger context of an empowerment framework for practice numerous group work models have added insight into both the purpose and functioning of empowerment oriented group work. Schwartz (1980) stressed the importance of group workers assuming a holistic approach, including private troubles and public issues, with respect to perceived problems.

Lee and Swenson (1986) describe the important role of mutual aid in groups which encourage members toward self empowerment. The self-help and social support movements lent support to the theme of mutual help as a powerful tool in maintenance of mental and physical health as well as in individual struggle for self empowerment. However, traditional approaches to group work practice often focus on single function groups. For example, groups are categorized as educational, growth, socialization, task, or social action groups (Toseland and Rivas, 1984). Empowerment oriented groups do not fit easily into these descriptive categories. The basic assumption in empowerment oriented practice, that the consciousness raising process is central to self empowerment, leads to identification of the group process as the most potentially productive medium.

Galper (1980), in his explication of radical practice intervention notes: “Radical analysis understands that oppressed people internalize their oppression and that this needs to be examined if people are to become free enough to deal with oppressive forces … Some radical therapists have suggested that a group process is more valuable than one-to-one relationships because it encourages sharing which is crucial when people confront their sense of isolation and their responsibility for causing their own problems” (pp. 145-146). On the other hand, other empowerment theorists see a key role for group process in allowing isolated individuals to find their problems are held in common with others. One frequent and important outcome of finding “common problems” is the lessening of guilt among oppressed individuals. Blaming one’s self for failures which are beyond one’s control can have a disempowering effect on every aspect of one’s life.

Solomon (1976) describes the possible outcome of negative valuations experienced in relationship to more powerful groups through racism, discrimination and other forms of oppressive behavior:

– Because these families accept society’s label of inferiority, they are prevented from developing such optimal personal resources as a positive self-concept or certain cognitive skills— in other instances powerlessness may be expressed in an inability to develop interpersonal or technical skills because of low self-esteem or underdeveloped cognitive skills, which in turn, are a direct consequence of interaction in an oppressive society. The final step in this vicious cycle would be a reduction of the black individual’s effectiveness in performing valued social roles because of his or her lack of interpersonal and technical skills. Finally, the inability to perform valued social roles confirms and reinforces feelings of inferiority and of negative values, and the vicious circle begins again, (pp. 576-577)

Empowerment oriented workers find that participation in groups is often essential to the consciousness raising process which enables individuals to challenge and change this state of existence. Exposing the fine line between self blame and learned negative or self defeating behaviors is a task which the empowerment oriented worker often finds overwhelming. The creation of an egalitarian/partnership (working relationship), which is required for exploration of problems and behavior is difficult and time consuming. Group participation for individuals experiencing similar problems can produce critical insights more quickly than one-to-one interactions, especially with a worker who may be perceived to be an authority or even the “enemy.”

Guiterrez (1990) suggests that the group context can be used for the following tasks: accepting the client’s definition of the problem, identifying and building upon existing strengths, engaging (the client) in a power analysis of the client’s situation, teaching specific skills, and mobilizing resources or advocacy (pp. 9-10). All of the key strategies for empowerment are enhanced when developed and implemented through the small group process because individual members can supplement each others’ strengths in the accomplishment of empowerment oriented activities. The group provides a milieu for demonstration to individual members that they or others who share their same life status are able to achieve the tasks essentially without outside help. For example, when the entire group is engaged in finding resources, the group learns not only about their availability but the process of finding and accessing them.

Small groups of individuals of like status provide a medium in which members can sort out the personal from the political aspects of their problems. Empowerment groups are helpful to individuals coping with and changing the internalized aspects of oppression/powerlessness in the following ways: (1) The group as a whole, through sharing experiences, can better describe the full impact of specific problems on the members’ lives and the lives of their families and friends; (2) Members who have survived or overcome aspects of powerlessness can inspire and motivate others; (3) Members who have identified beliefs and/or behaviors of their own which reinforce their own oppression (i.e., belief that they cannot learn valued skills) are incapable of achieving higher status roles, or cannot have an impact on a social service agency, can confront their peers and in so doing facilitate the consciousness raising process; (4) Groups can provide a forum in which individuals can gain increased knowledge of the political dimension of their situation, and a better understanding of the origins of the personal dimensions of their problems.

Other functions of empowerment oriented group work are: (5) Trends and patterns in the environment can more quickly be determined as the group explores that environment; (6) Group members provide mutual support with respect to clarifying and understanding the problems they face (reaffirming one’s right and ability to critically examine and name the problem); (7) The group provides a medium of mutual social-emotional support for members in their struggle to cope with and bring about change in both the personal and political aspect of the problem; (8) The group serves as a site for training in skills and acquiring knowledge needed for increasing competence in all aspects of empowerment i.e., personal change or social action activities; (9) The group can take action(s) intended to bring about environmental change (i.e., sending a letter to an apartment manager/owner, a rent strike, signing a petition regarding quality of care in a health maintenance organization); (10) The group can assist group members in coping with and/or challenging the outcomes or results of the change provoking action; and (11) The group serves as a source for analysis of the meaning of the reactions resulting from its change effort (i.e., How does the reaction of the target system help the group to define more clearly the target system and the problem? What is the extent and acceptability level of the results? What strategies should be next, and what outcomes may be expected? How should group members prepare for alternative possible outcomes?, etc.).

The Social Action Component of Empowerment Groups

Workers with groups of oppressed persons may share, in common with traditional social work practice, a tendency to focus on personal or political dimensions of the problem that confronts the group. Consequently, the group process outside the context of empowerment philosophy and practice does not assure an increased sense of empowerment among participants especially in regard to the larger environment. The role of social workers in empowerment groups is to promote the construction of groups that are multi-functional in nature. The functions of these groups include mutual support, education/skills building, self-help, and social action. Much of the process of empowerment oriented groups is similar to that of traditional mutual support groups, or tasks groups.

In discussion of the group process and the impact of social action on this process, the writer will use examples from two groups. One was a group of elderly residents in a low income Single Room Occupancy Hotel (SRO), the other a group of women who were receiving public assistance from a county Department of Social Services.

The groups were both organized with an overall goal of engaging participants in an on-going self empowerment process. There was a strong emphasis on the development of the competence and knowledge levels of all members and the on-going recruitment of new members or spread of the groups’ resources (new knowledge or findings about available material resources) to individuals living in the hotel or of similar circumstance in the community. The groups’ empowerment orientation concentrated on the development of egalitarian relationships between the worker and the group members and among group members. Leadership was for the most part shared and assumed with respect to specific tasks dependent upon individual member’s knowledge and skills. In the welfare rights group the members rotated tasks. Emphasis was placed on teaching knowledge and skills to each other rather than harboring expertise.

Example 1. The Welfare Self-Help Women’s Group

The worker knew a number of the group’s twelve core members in her role as their caseworker. The group members lived in geographical proximity and could communicate with each other on a regular basis. The worker initially helped individual clients find resources and...

Table of contents

• Cover Page
• Half Title Page
• Title Page
• Copyright Page
• Contents
• About the Editors
• Preface
• Acknowledgements
• Introduction
• Social Action, the Group and Society
• Social Change and Citizen: Action A Philosophical Exploration for Modern Social Group Work
• Social Action, Empowerment and Social Work—An Integrative Theoretical Framework for Social Work and Social Work with Groups
• Advocacy and Social Action: Key Elements in the Structural Approach to Direct Practice in Social Work
• Barriers to Effective Social Action by Groups
• The Critical Role of Social Action in Empowerment Oriented Groups
• Reflections on Social Action Practice in France
• Some Aspects of Empowerment: A Case Study of Work with Disadvantaged Youth
• Empowerment through Social Action Group Work: The ‘Self-Directed' Approach
• The Role of Structure in Effective Agency Advocacy
• Mobilizing Women's Strengths for Social Change: The Group Connection
• The Use of the Group and Group Work Techniques in Resolving Interethnic Conflict
• Action and Reflection in Work with a Group of Homeless People
• The Relevance of Stages of Group Development Theory to Community Organization Practice
• Effective Social Action by Community Groups, by Alvin Zander
• Group Work: A Humanistic Approach, by Urania Glassman and Len Kates
• Index