Instructor: Tara Healy, Ph.D.

GROUP FORMATION PAPER

Due: W Oct.4/ M Oct. 16Class 5

This paper should be 5-6 pages long. Your paper should be typed, double spaced, and follow APA guidelines for margins, type, headings etc. Group formation requires a great deal of thought and preparation. The purpose of this assignment is to encourage you to think about the steps involved in transforming a good idea into a group. In order to do this successfully you will need to demonstrate an understanding of the organizational dynamics of your agency and the community that it services. Please address the following issues and answer the following questions in your paper. Place your name on a blank page at the Back of your paper.

Discuss the following points in your paper.

Purpose of the group:

What is the felt need that the group will address? Why is it important to offer such a group in this community? What is the population experiencing that indicates a need for the group? How will the group address the felt need you have identified. (Examples of populations: lesbian and gay youth, adolescents who have dropped out of school, nursing home residents, caregivers of persons experiencing physical or mental distress, persons diagnosed with major mental illness)

Support of sponsoring agency or organization:

Who are the key players who have to be "on board" if you are to get this group "off the ground" and keep it going? What are the needs of the key players? How do they view the agency mission and their role in the agency? How does the group address the felt need of all key players? How does the group address a felt need of the agency or sponsoring organization? How will you engage the support you will need in throughout your agency? How will you convince the key players that your idea is worth implementing? 

Obstacles anticipated:

What obstacles can you expect to find?(1)Within your own agency; (2) From the population to be served; (3)From the community in general. How will you address these obstacles?

(NOTE: Do not state that there are no obstacles. It is very rare that there are no problems confronted in beginning a group!)

Details:

1) Where will the group be held: What is your rationale for choosing this space.

Describe how the space and the purpose of the group match? Are the accessibility problems with the space? Is the space available for the time and duration desired? Are there financial considerations to be addressed?

3) Group membership: What type of group bests serves the purpose of the group? 

Closed membership orOpen membership

Getting Members:

How will the population be attracted to the group?

Will there be posters? A public service announcement? Will there be a word of mouth network?

Will there be specific outreach? Will there be a screening interview?

Give a reason for every choice.

Address any special issues that warrant consideration.

For example: Will participating in this group be at all stigmatizing? How will this be addressed? Are there time or transportation barriers for the targeted population?

First group meeting:

Provide a VERBATIM description of your presentation to the group indicating the group’s purpose. This part should be a script of the exact words you will use as you begin your first session. Be sure to provide a description of the preliminary contract with the group: clear statement about what group members can expect from you and what you expect from them, e.g. confidentiality; expectation of work in the group; attendance etc.Also, note any clear rules required by you or your agency, e.g. no violence, all will leave building by a certain time, cleaning the space, rearranging furniture.