Developing a new treatment group often takes formal and extensive planning, including a written proposal to the sponsoring agency. This proposal should answer the basic questions of Why? Who? How? Why does the agency and surrounding community need the group? Who will the group be serving, and who will lead it? And how will the group be formed and run?
TO PREPARE
Review the Learning Resources on planning groups.
Navigate through the Addiction and Sexual Assault media pieces in which you engage with a client. Select one client on which to focus the development of a new treatment group.
Consider the unique circumstances and needs of the client in the media—and others in similar situations in your community who may benefit from a treatment group.
Review the literature on the client issue you chose (addiction or sexual assault trauma) to develop your statement of need for the group.
Heather was referred to a social worker by her doctor because she has been abusing Oxycodone following an accident at work. She is experiencing pain and has been requesting ongoing prescription refills, but every doctor she sees has denied her request.
This is medication dependency
For this Assignment, you engage with a client who is experiencing addiction or sexual assault trauma. You then begin to draft a proposal for a treatment group in order to support that client and similar clients.
Submit a 2-page paper covering the following sections of your Treatment Group Proposal:
Purpose: Statement of purpose, specify and justify type of treatment group, qualifications of the group leader
Membership: Specific population for the group, cultural mix and demographic characteristics, whether involuntary group members will be included.
Statement of Need: Why is there a need for a group to serve this target population in your area?
Recruitment: Method to recruit potential members as well as screening and selection procedures.
References
Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2017). An introduction to group work practice (8th ed.). Pearson.
Chapter 6, “Planning the Group” (pp. 160–195)
Ezhumalai, S., Muralidhar, D., Dhanasekarapandian R., & Nikketha, B. S. (2018). Group interventions.Links to an external site. Indian Journal of Psychiatry, 60, S514–S521. https://doi.org/10.4103/psychiatry.IndianJPsychiatry_42_18
