Highlights from the 2016 IASWG Symposium in New York City. 11 students presented, 6 alumni participated, and 4 full- and part-time faculty participated.

1. The 38th Annual
International Association of Social
Work with Groups Symposium
New York, NY | June 15 - 18, 2016

2. Group Work across the Globe:
Building Transformative
Connections
SYMPOSIUM THEME

3. New York University, Silver School of Social
Work
New York, NY
LOCATION

4. 15 countries & 20 U.S. States
were represented
Countries represented include:
Australia, Azerbaijan, Barbados, Canada, China,
Germany, India, Ireland, Israel, Lithuania, Namibia,
Netherlands, New Zealand, Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines, South Africa, Spain, United Kingdom,
USA
PARTICIPANTS

5. Focus: Group Work
Education, Practice, &
Research
Activities: Plenaries,
Invitationals, Papers,
Workshops, Posters &
Social Gatherings,
Outings in New York
(agencies, tourist
attractions, exploring…)
ABOUT THE 38TH ANNUAL
SYMPOSIUM

6. IASWG BACKGROUND
• Founded in 1979, IASWG is the premier international association for social workers and
allied professionals engaged in group work.
• The purpose of this non-profit, member-driven organization is to promote excellence in
group work practice, education, field instruction, research and publications.

7. students presented papers or posters, or led a workshop
full-time and part-time faculty participated
student presenters at IASWG Symposia since 2005
alumni participated

8. LOYOLA’S PRESENCE AT IASWG SYMPOSIA SINCE 2005
Total Presenters: 169 – Total Non-Presenter Attendees: 35
3
6
10
5
16
12
19 19 19
22
20
11
5
4
4
8
7
2 1 1
1
2
3
0
5
10
15
20
25
30
2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
Presenters Participants
Minneapolis, Jersey City,
NJ
Cologne,
Germany
NJ
Chicago,
Illinois
NJ
Montreal,
Canada
NJ
Long Beach,
CA
NJ
Garden City,
NY
NJ
Boston,
MA
NJ
Calgary,
Canada
NJ
Chapel Hill,
NC
NJ
New York,
NY
NJ
San Diego, CA

9. • All students presenting at the symposium received support from the Social of Social
Work.
• Students were able to volunteer to offset symposium cost.
• Volunteering enabled students to immediately become involved with the symposium
and IASWG community.
FUNDING & VOLUNTEERING

10. Students, faculty, and alumni…
• Presented & attended
workshops, papers, & poster
presentation
• Networked with peers and
fellow IASWG attendees
• Explored New York!
AT THE SYMPOSIUM

11. LOYOLA FACULTY PARTICIPANTS
• Brian Kelly, Paper
• “Group Work in Health Care Settings: Prioritizing Strengths-Based Approaches”
• Teresa Kilbane & Benji Marton, Paper
• “Hi, My Name is _____________ and I am a grateful member of Al-Anon Family Groups”
• Ann Bergart, Workshop
• “Doubling in Group Work”
• Joyce Webster, IASWG Secretary

12. STUDENT & ALUMNI
POSTERS & WORKSHOPS
• Rebecca Strauss, Workshop
• “Mindfulness Practices in Groups with
Individuals with Serious Mental Illness”
• Elizabeth Stoltenberg, Workshop
• “Utilizing Arts-Based Techniques to Meet
Children's Developmental Needs”
• Padraic Stanley, Papers & Plenary Panelist
• “Integrating an Evidence-Based Group Model for
Diabetes Self-Management into Primary Care
Practice”
• “Effective Group Work Practice with
Undocumented Immigrants”
• Panelist on the Sumner Gill Memorial Plenary –
“Welcoming Newcomers: Social Group Work
with Immigrants, Migrants and Refugees”

13. STUDENT
POSTERS
• Benji Marton
• “Exploring the Disenfranchised Grief and Stress Faced
By Animal Care Workers: Utilizing Group Work to
Facilitate Healing”
• Philip Redmond
• “Support Group to Help Fight Stigma Associated with
HIV/AIDS”
• Nicholas Vandermolen
• “Video Game Assisted Therapy”

14. STUDENT POSTERS
• Olivia Lebow & Lauren Kostoglanis
• “Family Grief Support Group for Those
in Hospice Care”
• Tharsica Vignesh & Mariya Shmuylo
• “Groups in Healthcare: Comparing
Multidisciplinary and Interdisciplinary
Teams”
• Katie Siegel, Nathan Andre Roter & Juan
Ibarra Flores
• “An Agency Adapts: A Case Study in
Continuing Services During Illinois’
Budget Impasse”

15. STUDENT
POSTERS• Laura Nessler
• “Erasing the Distance and Beginning a Dialogue:
Using Documentary Theatre as a Catalyst for
Group Cohesion and Education”
• Ari Levin
• “Group Work in Senior Living Environments:
Are the Elderly being Neglected?”

16. FUN IN NYC!

17. NETWORKING & SOCIALIZING!

18. …OUR FEARLESS LEADER!

19. REFLECTIONS ON THE
SYMPOSIUM
“It was lovely to meet with other professionals and students who were
passionate in their field. It may seem scary to present at/attend a
conference, but I HIGHLY recommend it. Everyone is extremely
friendly and open to meeting others!”
- Tharsica Vignesh
“IASWG is more than just a chance at professional development -- it is
an opportunity to understand the unique facets of global social work, to
form relationships with people from varying cultural backgrounds and
values unlike your own, and, most importantly, to dance with them!
- Benji Marton

20. REFLECTIONS ON THE SYMPOSIUM
“Loyola’s contribution to the IASWG Symposium is
internationally recognized. Our students and alums are
outstanding ambassadors for Loyola’s commitment to
education and professionalism. It is a true joy to be part of
this process.”
Shirley Simon
Associate Professor, School of Social Work

21. HOW TO GET INVOLVED WITH IASWG
Get involved in the Illinois chapter
Contact iaswgillinois@gmail.com
or visit iaswgil.weebly.com
Attend or Present at the 39th Annual
IASWG Symposium
June 7th – 10th, 2017 back in NYC
Visit www.iaswg.org
Look for upcoming workshops on identifying
and developing a presentation for the
IASWG Symposium. SSWSO’s Committee
on Academic and Professional Development
will be announcing dates soon!

22. CONTACT:
JOYCE WEBSTER, ADJUNCT PROFESSOR, CHAIR OF THE ILLINOIS IASWG
CHAPTER IASWGILLINOIS@GMAIL.COM
SHIRLEY SIMON, ASSOCIATE PROFESSOR
SSIMON@LUC.EDU
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