The Role of Group-Work in Social Work Intervention for Change - Literature review Example

Group Work Proposal Name Institution Date Identify and discuss a practice context where you believe group-work is an appropriate social work intervention for change Domestic violence in Australia is increasing, and measures to reduce this ill behavior need an implementation to ensure safety for the victims. The Australian Bureau of Statistics (2005) denotes that domestic violence in Australian is common and also widespread. Domestic violence is also known as intimate partner violence. It is fighting that occurs between the parties to a close relationship within a residence setting (Morgan & Chadwick 2009, p.1). Different types of violence occur within the society including physical, sexual, psychological, emotional and social. Many of the victims of domestic violence suffer in pain and humiliation without reporting to the police (Mouzos & Makkai 2011, p.98). Research shows that a woman has a high likeliness of getting killed in her home by her male partner than in anywhere else (Alexanger 2010, p.152). However, hiding the violence behind closed doors is not bringing any solution. García-Moreno, Jansen, Ellsberg, Heise & Watts (2011, p.6) denotes that it is now time to take action since it is an issue that can no longer be left unaddressed for millions of victims suffering in silence. Women are the most vulnerable group to domestic violence from their male partners (Parliament of Australia 2011, p.5). In Australia, many of the women those in marriage and those anticipating to wed require a solution for domestic violence that threatens their lives. Finding out ways in which one can keep herself safe and organizations that can help the woman is a major step towards reducing domestic violence in Australia. The vulnerable groups to domestic violence are socially and economically disadvantaged. Mouzos and Makkai (2011, p.57) denotes that women experiencing domestic violence from their partners is due to the level of education, employment status and family income. Women living with a violent partner have low levels of education, unemployed and dependence on allowances as a source of household income. Gender roles and relations also influence women vulnerability to domestic violence. The lack of services to help these women has also increased their vulnerability. This group requires an intervention for helping them deal or overcome with the risks of domestic violence. Different studies reveal the importance of helping women overcome domestic violence from their abusing partners. Michau, Horn, Bank, Dutt & Zimmerman (2015, p.1672) were investigating the prevention of violence against women and girls. The authors revealed that domestic violence against women need to be dealt with so as to transform the gender inequalities experienced in today’s society. Efficiency in preventing or curbing domestic violence requires the implementation of inspirational programming that serves to promote personal as well as collective thought. Having a vision and commitment to gender equality will help n achieving domestic violence-free lives for women a reality. In his study in improving campus-based prevention of violence against women, Banyard (2014, p.339) denoted that innovations are available and tools for preventing violence against women are applicable. There is the need for implementing programs for educating women vulnerable to violence and drive change in the society. The government and social agencies have a responsibility of partnering to implement prevention programs for reducing violence against women. According to Htun & Weldon (2012, p.548), progressive policy changes plays a significant role in combating violence against women and gives them the autonomy of living without fear. Violence against women is a violation of their human rights, and this raises the importance of social policy. Adopting comprehensive policies will help in dealing with the problem. Social movements play a primary role in participating in the creation of these systems. Feminism mobilization by these groups helps in bringing about feminist ideas that governments should adopt in their national norms (Weldon & Htun 2013, p.231). It is a way that contributes to a social policy change that recognizes the rights of women in the society. García-Moreno, Zimmerman, Morris-Gehring, Heise, Amin, Abrahams et al., (2015, p.1685) demonstrates that a call to action in addressing violence against women is crucial as a major that will reduce the prevalence of violence against the vulnerable group. Such recognition creates opportunities for eliminating the menace by addressing the social, economic as well as political structures that subordinate women as a way of responding to the abuse. Groups play a significant role in creating an atmosphere for supporting and comradeship. Forsyth (2006, p.24) says that groups give women significant gains, by enhancing their consciousness, atmosphere of respect, support and acceptance. According to O’hara (2011, p.227), groups are valuable in the facilitation of social relationships as well as the creation of support networks for the members of a community who are at risk. Young women in Australia between the ages of 17-40 years are a group vulnerable to domestic violence. Therefore, young women at risk of domestic violence abuse by their male partners are a demographic group that can benefit from group mobilization and education. The proposal is specifically for Australian young women below the age of 40 years and experiencing domestic violence from their male partners. Outline the type of group, 1 purpose statement and 3 aims outcome statements that are appropriate for this situation. The kind of group is an informal group. An informal group is one formed in a public setting for a particular purpose (Forsyth 2006, p.3). It is a ‘mobilization and education’ type of group. The purpose of the group is to mobilize the behavior of young women at risk of domestic violence and educate them on ways of ensuring that they can keep themselves safe. It will be a large group consisting of fifteen participants. Purpose Statement To mobilize and educate young women between the age of 17 to 40 years, towards ensuring their safety from domestic violence Aims i. To empower young women to become agents of change agents against domestic violence in the Australian society ii. To educate young women about ways of keeping themselves safe from domestic violence iii. To inform young women of the actions, they should take in the event of domestic violence from their male partners. Outline and discuss the proposed leadership structure of the group The group leadership structure will consist of three leaders. The leaders will share the function of structuring and plan the group roles and activities. Morgeson, DeRue & Karam (2010, p.9) denotes that an informal group has its leaders sharing the responsibilities of leadership. They work together with the team members in coordinating the group action and working together so as to achieve the group purpose. There will be three group sessions in completing the tasks. The leaders will plan and implement the activities of the three group meetings. The leaders have the responsibility of knowing how best the performance targets are achievable. The leaders will also plan methods of accomplishing the work of the group, those responsible for specific tasks and the time of performing the tasks. Since the group is a mobilization and education group, the leaders will take the responsibility of acting as group activist and educators. There will be the allocation of time, schedules and workflows to panel discussions, interactions and sharing. The group members will follow the leaders and share in the tasks allocated. According to Kleingeld, Van Mierlo, & Arends (2011, p. 1290), a group works together interdependently as per the set goals by the leaders. Supportive leadership will be beneficial to the group leaders in achieving the targeted purposes of the team. The group is a mobilization and education group concerned with informing the young women about keeping themselves safe from domestic violence. There is a high likeliness of the group members having insider information that they are willing to share with others. Members may want to share their experience with domestic violence and way in which they would suggest of help to them in avoiding such abuse. The situation will require an autonomous type of leadership. The leaders will opt to adopt the democratic kind of leadership that allows every member of the group to participate and contribute to group learning. Bliss & Fallon (2003, p.259) says that the form of headship in a group determined the group performance as well as member satisfaction. Democratic leadership is suitable for the group because members of the group feel in control of their destiny and motivated to participate (Bhatti, Maitlo, Shaikh, Hashmi & Shaikh 2012, p.193). The leaders of the group have the power to lead and direct the members. The participants of the team look upon the leaders for guidance and empowerment. Therefore, the leaders of the group will set the rules, and group norms as well as activities to take place in every group session. Outline the process that you would take to identify, recruit and engage with the people who may participate in this group. The process of identifying, recruiting and engaging with the people who may take part in the group include the physical location of the participants, communication to inform the community of the issue and the purpose of the project, selection of participants, screening and holding a meeting to familiarize the participants with each other. Identification The participants in the group will be young women from Tasmania aged between 17 to 40 years and living with their partners. The young women should be experiencing or have experienced domestic violence in their life. It will be a homogenous group consisting of one gender. Homogenous groups encourage support among members, and this promotes group cohesion. The reason is that the group members have similarities (Early 2013, p.90). Recruitment The recruitment of group participants will involve three steps. First, an announcement will be made by advertising using the media including the television, radio, and the newspapers. The initiative will be for introducing the idea to the public as well as giving contacts for getting back for the women willing to participate. The second step will involve door to door distribution of fliers that will inform the public of the intentions of the group and its aims. The initiative will provide in-depth information about the task and those interested apply to the provided contacts. The Flyers will give particular information on the people eligible for application as well as the venue and transport. The information will enable the people to assess themselves for eligibility (Battistin & Rettore 2002, p.1). The third step will involve screening the applicants from the information they provide in the applications. It will be a three-stage process of evaluating the first, second, and the third session participants. The group leaders will carry out the task of screening to ascertain the suitability of every participant. Engagement The commitment of group participants will be carried out by convening a meeting with the group leaders will advise the participants of the tasks and the sessions to take place. The meeting will act as an information center for giving the participants details about the group functions, norms, rules and expectations of the group as per the group aims. O’Hara (2011, p.229) denotes that providing these details about the group is crucial for members to determine their acceptance of decline of the specified norms and expectations. Provide a description of the ‘ideal’ physical setting and any resources needed to run the group. The Setting The perfect physical environment required for the group activity is a hall situated in a community center. Community centers have facilities like halls and other meeting rooms that community members can hire and use them for different purposes. The room will provide the group with enough space and necessary facilities for use including seating space, washrooms and discussion tables for the group members. Resources The resources required to run the group include handouts with material for education and a computer with stored information. The group will also need a projector to help members read information from the computer, vehicles for transport, parking area, food costs and allowance costs for the leaders as educators. Outline the criteria and process of evaluation that would be used to assess the effectiveness of the group program Criterion of Evaluation To determine the efficiency of the group program, particular measures will be necessary for evaluating the group outcomes and the intended purposes of the exercise. The evaluation of group participants will be carried out before and after the group sessions. The objectives of the assessment will be to see if the members gained the necessary education needed to keep them safe from domestic violence. The basis of the evaluation criteria will be on whether the activities achieved the purpose and aims of the group. It will also be carried out to ascertain whether the information given to the participants was valuable. Evaluations will also involve determining whether the group program enhanced the members understanding of the intended outcomes. It will provide details of whether the method of delivery was effectual. Methods of Evaluation Zastrow (2001, p.532) describes two methods of evaluating the effectiveness of a group program including process evaluation and outcome evaluation. Process evaluation involves the use of monitoring methods to assess the progress of the group during each session. Outcome evaluation involves measuring the results versus the expected results and whether there is a deviation from the initial aims of the group work. In the process evaluation, evaluation of group members will take place three times, before the sessions, during, and after the sessions. During the sessions, the leaders will record the progress of group members. Outcome evaluation will involve comparing participants responses of their knowledge gained from the courses and determine whether their responses tally with the intended group outcomes. Instruments for Evaluation Every group participant will be given a questionnaire to fill during the meeting before the start of the group sessions. The evaluation at this point will for ascertaining their level of understanding on the issue of domestic violence and measures that they can take to maintain their safety. The educators will also give the participants evaluation handouts to complete several evaluation questions. 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