The Deconstruction of Disconnection: A Group Work Model for Social Work Education and Development in a Small Island State
The development of a university social work programme emphasizing group work curriculum is the topic of this paper. Historically, social work educators and practitioners in Barbados have emphasized casework and micro-system interventions. Their professional identity is based on agency affiliation rather than social work. After many years social workers have not yet developed a viable professional association due to this separateness and limited approaches to social work. Workers still struggle to create a culture of connection, and any sustained group involvement and action has been short-lived.
The authors forward the belief that social work does not fully apply its theories within its own structure. This group work model, beginning with student education in the core group theory and practice course, will provide students with the knowledge and practice base to create the level of social cohesion, support and interconnection which are imperative to the development of professional sustainability. This course facilitates interdependence between students and uses group practice opportunities focusing on professional development. Participation in the student social work association is encouraged and after graduation a campus-based counseling practice group is available to new practitioners to further their learning. Future proposals focus on incorporating group work into core curriculum as a means of providing students with the maximum level of interaction.
The proposed programme is aimed at further capacity building initiatives to include the incorporation of group-oriented faculty collaboration to decrease the separateness and individualism characteristic of academic cultures. Further development in the area of shared research efforts between faculty and students will contribute to this approach. Institutional strengthening measures with governmental and non-governmental agencies, especially field instruction sites, will be initiated.
Although this group work model has been developed at the bachelor’s level, it is applicable to higher levels of social work education. Equally, the problems of small island states such as Barbados are not uncommon to social work practice within small communities.