SETTING UP GROUPS IN AN AGENCY OR A COMMUNITY.

SETTING UP GROUPS IN AN AGENCY OR A COMMUNITY Savita Abrahams, M.A., LPC-I Texas A&M University-Commerce START

INSTRUCTIONS

This is designed to be a step-by-step process of how to set up a group in an agency or a community. It begins with an overall flowchart depicting the complete process.

Please note that the hyperlinks function only in the slide show mode. As you move through it, the current step is highlighted.

Where you see a hyperlink, simply click on it. You will be taken directly to that site. To move to another page, simply click the hyperlink for that step.

ONLY USE BUTTONS AND HYPERLINKS TO NAVIGATE THE FLOWCHART. The presentation works best this way. DO NOT USE PAGE UP/DOWN, ARROW KEYS, OR ANY OTHER KEYBOARD COMMANDS.

The presentation concludes with a reference page for further information.

For questions, contact Savita Abrahams at savita_abrahams@mac.com.

SETTING UP GROUPS IN AN AGENCY OR A COMMUNITY TYPES OF GROUPS NEEDED GROUP LOGISTICS CO-LEADER LEADER START ESTABLISH GROUP NORMS START GROUP SCREENING PROCESS PROMOTE GROUP STOP END NO IS A GROUP NEEDED? YES GROUP FACILITATION Click on the step (hyperlink) you are interested in viewing NEEDS ASSESSMENTS

NEEDS ASSESSMENT

Doing a needs assessment

Determine

Types of groups needed

Examples

women’s group

grief/loss group

Where clients will come from

Sources may include

your agency

other area agencies

schools

local community

NEEDS ASSESSMENTS TYPES OF GROUPS NEEDED GROUP LOGISTICS CO-LEADER LEADER START ESTABLISH GROUP NORMS START GROUP SCREENING PROCESS PROMOTE GROUP STOP END NO IS A GROUP NEEDED? YES GROUP FACILITATION

What is a needs assessment?

Purpose is to determine gaps between what currently exists and what is desired by the potential client population

Can be viewed as a planning activity

Step 1: Define the problem the group will be designed to address

Example: There are not any groups for women to discuss relationship and intimacy issues.

Step 2: Choose a method to assess the need

Examples are surveys, meetings, or requests from area agencies or schools

Step 3: Define the group’s purpose

Set goals and define the desired outcomes for both the agency and the clinician

For example, a goal for the women’s group may be to provide participants with healthy ways of coping with relationship issues

Step 4: Determine appropriate activities which ensure goal or outcome achievement

For the women’s group, this could include exercises, such as role-plays, designed to empower the group members

RETURN TO FLOWCHART

IS A GROUP NEEDED?

Using the information gathered through the needs assessment, make a decision whether a group is needed.

DETERMINE TYPES OF GROUPS NEEDED

After deciding that a group is needed, determine the types of groups which are needed.

Types of groups

counseling (improving self-esteem)

therapy (eating disorder)

group guidance (psycho-educational parenting class)

organizational (team building)

If more than one group is needed, prioritize which group needs to be established first.

GROUP FACILITATION

After selecting a type of group, determine if the group will be led by a leader or co-leaders.

In making this decision, consider whether:

The leader has the necessary and relevant skills training to facilitate the type of group selected

The leader may not be able to attend all group meetings due to prior commitments or unforeseen absences

Burnout may be a significant issue for the leader

Adding a co-leader can help alleviate these issues.

LEADER

The leader should have the necessary and relevant skills training to lead the type of group selected.

Advantage

Not having a co-leader reduces the amount of coordination required for various components of the group; thereby, possibly being less time consuming.

Disadvantages

The absence of the group leader adversely impacts whether group sessions take place.

By not having someone to share the responsibility of group facilitation with, a leader may become more susceptible to burnout.

CO-LEADER

Once the decision is made to have a co-leader, a co-leader needs to be selected.

Advantages

Together, the co-leaders have the necessary skill base to run the group.

The complementary styles of the co-leaders can be beneficial in leading the group and in enhancing the group dynamics.

Disadvantages

Power struggles can occur between the co-leaders resulting in less than optimal group facilitation.

The co-leaders need to collaborate and agree on how the group will be run. This is usually more time consuming and requires a strong working relationship between the co-leaders .

LOGISTICS OF THE GROUP

Make these decisions

Open/closed group

Finite/infinite number of sessions

Group members who may still have ongoing needs after the group ends

Fees (insurance/self-pay)

Group meeting location and time

PROMOTING THE GROUP

To recruit potential group members, the group needs to be advertised or announced.

How will this be done?

Newspaper ads or flyers

Clinicians outside of the agency

Clinicians within the agency

Schools

Group members need to be informed by the leader of the following:

Type of group

Cost per session

Where the group will be held

When it will start

For how long

Who will lead the group

SCREENING PROCESS

To have an effective group, it is an essential and ethical obligation of the leader to screen potential group members.

The screening process is best done if it includes a face-to-face interview.

Areas to explore with potential group members are:

History and success of past counseling experience

Willing to be open and grow

Want to learn new behaviors

Willing to participate in the group process

Reasons to include or exclude potential group members

Include

Seek change in themselves and their behavior

Willing to try out new ways of being

Have necessary skills to communicate

Able to tolerate some discomfort

Exclude

Unwilling to participate in the group

Unwilling to look at themselves and their behavior

Disruptive behaviors that would impede the group

Consider whether the group modality and the particular group being offered is the appropriate intervention for member change.

It is best to match members to the type of group. Potential group members should also assess whether the group is appropriate to their needs.

In forming a group, potential group members and their issues can be evaluated for

Frequency: how often is the member aware of the issue

Duration: how long has the issue been occurring in the member’s life

Intensity: how severe is the issue in the member’s life

It is best to have members at various points along the continuum so they may be able to form a team and benefit from each other’s views, skills and experience levels.

RETURN TO FLOWCHART

STARTING THE GROUP