THE STA.

LUCIA MOTHER’S GROUP

Introduction

This social work group was formed because of the hospital’s desire to provide
opportunities for its poor client families to undertake activities that will result in
improved health and family life.

Agency Profile

The hospital’s decision to venture into this new outreach program was stimulated
by the development thrust of social welfare in the 70’s. The group program was initiated
the following the hospital Social Service Department’s inventory of its service and
finding, among other things, that “casework treatment” which had not been very
effective.

Group Client Profile

The same client families were on the social work staffs caseloads for many years
and the hospital was burdened by the continuing staggering cost of maintaining its
Outpatient Department which provides mostly free medical services to the poor families
residing in the district.

 Group Problem Statement

Starting on the belief that poverty was not a pathology but a condition that could
be changed and that the poor were victims of societal conditions and should be helped
to overcome their poverty, the staff decided to work with its client groups in ways that
would actually deal with their commonly felt concerns and problems, and in ways that
would maximize use their own resources.

 Group Composition and Characteristics

The health problems were mainly due to poverty and its accompanying
conditions: insufficient income because of unemployment or underemployment,
illiteracy, malnutrition, unsanitary environment, lack of resources, and apathy and a
sense of hopelessness in relation to their situation.
Analysis

 What Interventions have been made/done?

The first social worker assigned to this group work program asked her co-workers
to refer clients whom they believe could benefit from a group experience based on a
simple set of criteria: mothers on their active caseloads, preferably for more than five
years, 25-40 years old, unemployed, and willing to participate in weekly group sessions
for two hours. The worker received 76 referrals.

The worker met all the mothers on their Food Ration Day, a monthly event during
which the hospital would distribute powdered milk, flour, bulgar wheat, etc. provided by
its donor agencies. During the first meeting that served as a group intake session, 52 out
of the 76 mothers referred expressed interest in participating in the group program. The
worker explained that she would have two groups of 15 each, so that 22 would have to
wait for their turn after a few months since they could not all be accepted at the same
time. The group agreed to hold their meetings in the Social Hall adjoining the hospital
chapel.

 Identify Gender Issues

The members realized that while they had varied individual needs which they said
could be met by the group. (e.g., boredom with one’s life and the desire to do
something different once a week; the need to meet other people and make friends; the
need to ventilate one’s problems to others who cared or had the same problems), they
actually had many common concerns and problems.

 Criticize the Interventions

Based on the sessions that they made, we should say that they are organized and
plan it well because, as stated during the activity sessions, the worker facilitated
interaction among the members; also, between the members and the volunteers. In
addition, when not everyone was involved in a particular activity, the worker made
herself available for brief counseling with individual members or small groupings of the
member on varied aspects of family life. To sum up, they are not wasting their time and
putting themselves to be busier.
  Other than your Theory/approach, do you think other approaches are
applicable? Explain what approach and why that approach?

The Task-Centered Approach is one of those approach which is applicable for this
case. It is used in work with small groups, including families. The problems dealt with in
the task oriented one-to-one mode of helping are also dealt with in task-centered
group work. According to Epstein, the Task-Centered Approach can be adapted to
better fit particular setting, particular client groups, problems, and the comfort and
convenience of the practitioner. Task is defined as what the client is to do to alleviate
the problem which makes the task both an immediate goal and at the same time the
means of achieving the goal of alleviating the problem.

The Interactionist Approach is also applicable were William Schwartz believes that
the job assignment of social work in society for which it is held accountable is to
mediate the process through which the individual and society reach out to each other
through a mutual need for self-fulfillment. Social work has for its focus of concern the
person-situation interaction which calls upon practitioners to direct their efforts not only
to the person, or to the situation, but to the relationship between the two. On the part
of the worker, the skills are “fashioned by two interrelated responsibilities: helping each
individual client negotiate the system immediately crucial to the problems; and helping
the system reach out to incorporate the client, deliver its service, and thus carry out its
function in the community.”

 Roles of the group worker in the case

The worker told the members that she would attend the sessions and would
guide and help them whenever necessary. The worker emphasized the concept of “self-
help.” Whenever the members turned to her for advice or for answers to questions she
thought they could handle themselves, the worker stirred the group members into
coming up with their own answers.

PROGRAM MEDIA (The Sta. Lucia Mother’s Group)

Goal: At the end of the sessions the clients will able to:

1. Have the knowledge to overcome poverty.

2. Improve their social functioning and living standard.
 PERSON EXPECTED
PHASE OBJECTIVES ACTIVITIES
INVOVLED OUTCOME
A. BEGINNING PHASE: Awareness of Self
st
1 Session:  To help them  Open - forum  Client& Social  Individually
Discussion and improve their Worker share their
Sharing life conditions. concerns and
 To address  Meet regularly problem.
their  Avoid
concerns. monopolizing
discussions.
B. MIDDLE PHASE: Relational Issues
ND
2 Session:  To convince  Proposal Letter  Client, Social  Mothers learn
Proposal and the owners of (the owner and Worker how to make
Implementation ten hardware ten hardware markets/shopp
stores. store) ing bag.
 The clients
discovered
new skills.
 Clients apply
the skill they
have learned.
3rd Session:  To prevent  Orientation  Client, Social  Become focused
Counselling contamination ( health and Worker, on personal
by a sick sanitation Doctor and hygiene,
person in the practices) Nurse cleanliness in
household.  Family the home and
 To explain to planning its surroundings,
the mothers, and practices.
based on their
expressed  Rumors they
interest, how have heard were
tubal ligation clarified.
and
vasectomy are  Their fears and
performed. doubts were
 To feel more explained.
comfortable
in talking
about things
like
menstruation,
menopause,
 and other
sexuality-
related
concerns.
C. ENDING PHASE: Assessment and Evaluation

 To appreciate
 Merienda –
th
4 Session: the efforts of  Client  Mother’s will
Prograin
Termination the Mother’s &Social feel valued in
(Giving
and Evaluation in doing Worker their efforts.
Certificates)
activities.

Conclusion

In line with the hospital's desire to provide opportunities for its poor client
families to undertake activities that will result in improved health and family life, social
workers serve as a guide and facilitators to the group of mothers who have a similar
problem, the poverty. Also, the workers conduct counseling during the free time of the
mothers together with the hospital's doctor to provide knowledge about the things they
need to know and make them feel safe to share about what they felt. On the other hand,
the workers may have direct help to the group that won't be enough to comfort them;
that's why the other members offer support and hold each other, which they all agreed
to help deal with the issues and situations. Therefore, it is not all about the help that a
group could get to workers, but also to enhance the well-being, it is necessary to let the
group dynamics do much of the work.

References

Thelma Lee-Mendoza – Social Work with Group Book

Thelma Lee- Mendoza – Social Welfare and Social Work

Learning Insights
 This ability is affected by the cognitive belief structure which one has formed
through one's experiences, and the perceptions held by the society and the individual,
of the structures and circumstances of the environment one is in and the position one is
born into. Disagreement on the extent of one's agency often causes conflict between
parties, e.g. parents and children. In this way actors have routine actions in response to
typical situations that help them sustain identities, interactions and institutions over
time. The projective element encompasses the process of imagining possible future
trajectories of action connected to the actor's hopes, fears, and desires for the future.

DIESTRO, ARLY D.

BSSW III

Starting on the belief that poverty was not a pathology but a condition that could
be changed and that the poor were victims of societal conditions and should be helped
to overcome their poverty, social worker of Sta. Lucia Group change their strategy in
handling their clients to overcome their problem. Because of the worker as well as the
members of the group determination to improve their living and become a functional
individual, they plan a program that can help them alleviate in poverty. Social workers
presence and guidance become the foundation in reaching their goal and apply the
right treatment to make the best outcome for their programs. Also, this group problem
determine social workers how they truly care and dedicated to their work to improve the
way of living of their clients. In addition, this group problem won't be that successful
also without the unity of every members. The desired to alleviate them in poverty and
become functional again in society give them strength and the courage to overcome
their personal problems. Somehow, in the near end of the session made a conflict to
every members but the worker manage it well and discuss to them the things that
possibly cannot be implemented. In the end, the cooperation and understanding of
every members of the group with the guidance of the worker dominants the most
despite of the problem occur.

ABAJAR, MARY JOY E.

BSSW III
 Analyzing the case analysis in social work groupwork (The Sta. Lucia Mother's
Group) gave me the opportunity on how I going to analyze and study well this kind of
case. Through this I was able to appreciate the roles of social workers in social work
settings. Also, I was able to recognize how significant of being a social worker in the
individual, group and community. Case analysis is a tedious activity for social workers
because I could say that all of the social work activities are difficult. They requires a heart
or came from the heart all of their hardworking. I therefore conclude that this is not
whatever you thinking of for the reason that as future licensed social worker many
individual, group and community relies to our programs and services. We should take it
seriously and focus on our job profession for the improvement of all.

LONDRES, LORRAINE A.

BSSW III

Rather than seeing people as problems, it sees them as people, all of whom face
difficult developmental stages, life situations, challenges, stresses, and crises with which
they must cope, as stated, there are a lot of people who are facing difficulties in life, and
not just one person, but a bunch of them or groups can have similar situations. Like for
example in our case, The Sta. Lucia Mother's Group. These group clients were in the
same situation, poverty. Through the worker's help, it serves as a guide while the
mothers were in their helping process stage. It gives them proper guidance while doing
the task given and there is no time have wasted because with their spare time the
workers conduct counseling, but the group dynamics do much of the work.
Furthermore, the mothers offer support to one another to finish the task given in every
session so that the goal they wanted will be achieved, and also, they knew that they are
facing similar situations that is why the group works as one. Groups can be a powerful
treatment venue by themselves or can be used in conjunction with individual therapy.

WONG, ANNE PRINCESS F.

BSSW III