IASWG and CSWE: Discussing Group Work Education

IASWG (International Association for Social Work with Groups) educators will discuss: 1) MSW and BSW group work education; 2) IASWG resources, including financial SPARC grants for MSW and BSW educators; and 3) how an IASWG/CSWE partnership benefits group work education.

The International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG) is an international organization of group work educators, practitioners and scholars, dedicated to advocacy for professional group work practice and education. Our session will focus on strategies and challenges to further expand in-person and virtual group work learning in the social work curriculum.

IASWG (formerly AASWG) appreciates the Partnership Presentation opportunity to report and promote our social work education-related activities. The IASWG Mission Statement explains that in addition to advocating for group work education and practice, IASWG promotes the value and importance of diversity to enrich and strengthen our work and its relevance in the broad social environment. We affirm that we aspire to provide equitable opportunities for participation for all members, and that all aspects of the organization will be characterized by respect for, inclusion, and representation of people across all aspects of social identity. Committed to social justice, IASWG gives particular attention to people systemically disadvantaged by the power differential inherent in oppressive social structures. As group workers we believe that our common ground unites us and our differences enrich us. The opportunities for collaborative learning on-line, at local Chapter events and International Symposia make this Association an invaluable resource to the global group work community.

Group work content is a necessary component of BSW and MSW education, focusing on using traditional group work models. These traditional models of group work were seen in settlement houses, and they follow a social justice model encouraging mutual aid sharing among group members. In this Partnership Presentation session, we will gather with fellow CSWE group work educators, practitioners, researchers, and authors, as well as supporters of group work, to examine the current state of group work education on both the BSW and MSW levels. How can we enhance effective social group work education and practice? Online education is trending, so how do we best meet the need to teaching group work content virtually to both BSW and MSW students? If MSW and BSW students are future group work practitioners, and perhaps future group work educators, how can we evaluate whether they are being adequately prepared with the knowledge, skills, and values they need?

The presenters will lead a discussion with the attendees on several topics: 1) identifying teaching strategies in-person and online through which IASWG can increase the effective delivery of social group work curriculum content in MSW and BSW programs; 2) the current state of the use of IASWG resources by MSW and BSW educators such as IASWG SPARC grants; and 3) identifying ways in which IASWG as an organization can join with CSWE to further enhance the educational work of group work educators, practitioners, researchers, and authors in this challenging time for group work education and practice. This session should help attendees to identify important group work issues, and take actions to address them