Case Study Analysis Example: Treatment & Task Groups

Introduction

I have selected treatment and task group case study for my analysis. In this case, there are two groups involved. In group one, the worker assembles with adults who are first-time parents. This parental meeting can be said to be a treatment group since it is organized to address its members' individual needs. The congregate is bonded by its mutual role and the collective needs of its members (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). In the second group, the worker meets with society representatives from different social agencies and school districts to research daycare resources and then present suggestions to a government organization. This second case is a task-oriented group since its purpose is peripheral to its members' individual wants.

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The first step in developing a group is to identify the purpose for which it is formed. In the first group, the worker creates a group with first-time parents to discuss the challenges they face. This group's purpose can be problem-solving since it aims to help group members tackle problems associated with first-time parenthood. The second group was formed to research daycare resources and present suggestions for change implementation by a responsible government organization. The purpose of the second group can be to develop social values within society. That is because the information sourced by the worker from group members will aid in the implementation of changes to better and improve daycare resources.

Assessment of Potential Membership and Patronage of the Group

The second step of group planning and development entails assessing potential patronage and membership of the group. In evaluating possible sponsorship of both groups one and two in the case study, several factors must be considered (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). Such elements include goals, resources objectives, and mission of the group and the group's level of potential support. Members of the group seem to have a common goal of helping each other handle predicaments associated with first parenthood. Having a common goal can make it easy to secure sponsorship within the members of group one. On the contrary, the second group happens to be a task-oriented one, and its purpose does not represent the individual needs of its members. It can be therefore difficult to get sponsorship within members of the second group. On the positive side, the worker of the second group already has secured government sponsorship. The worker happens to get sponsorship from the government.

Recruiting Members

Conscription procedures should make sure enough number of prospective members join the group. In recruiting members, the worker selects sources from which the prospect members can be recognized and denoted to the group (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). The worker organizing group one meeting can look for newly wedded couples as they are the ones that are most likely experiencing first parenthood. Moreover, potential members of group one can be girls who are first parents at their teenage stage, as they are the ones who need advice the most. Recruitment of members for group one is quite more straightforward since most of the society representatives are already in existence. The second group worker also receives support from the government, which makes it even easier for the worker to recruit society representatives in the group. For both groups one and two, the workers can recruit members by conducting them directly through phone calls and interviews. Additionally, they can send declarations to potential members through direct mail.

Forming the Group

After the recruitment exercise, workers must select the appropriate individuals who are willing to support the group's purpose and goals. Assortment of members can be achieved through the use of a group selection questioner. Both workers in the first and second groups need to apply the necessary principles concerning group formation, such as uniformity of member's interests and particular personal attributes. It can be somehow comfortable to form group one since most potential members of the group have their shared agenda. Since group two is task-oriented, group selection questioner can be used to identify those who fully support the group purpose and those who partially support it.

Orienting Selected Group Members

After the recruitment exercise and formation of the group, the workers for both groups one and two need to screen members for suitability and familiarize them with the group. The workers should start by elaborating to members the purpose of forming the groups. After that, the workers should then familiarize members with the working procedures of the group. Leaders in both task and treatment groups must regularly develop routine measures for meetings during either the beginning of the planning phase.

Contracting

The Contracting process usually happens during the planning phase. A contract can be either written or verbal, and it usually involves the vibrant interface of the worker and the group members during the preliminary period of the group (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). The contract can be either for the achievement of individual goals or the benefit of the group. Group one is treatment-oriented, and hence the agreement between its group worker and members is for the benefit of the group members. Group two is task-oriented, and its worker only aims at using group members for the achievement of individual goals.

Preparing the Environment

For both task and treatment groups, three primary elements should be considered when developing the environment. These factors include preparations to contain members with unique wants, financial support, and physical setting. Some of the checklists for environmental development is acquiring room with adequate space, furnishing, and population-distinctive needs (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). Additionally, proper seating should be provided by the worker to ensure a more comfortable meeting environment. Whether a task or agreement group, workers are responsible for determining how the group expense will be met. Most task groups usually have financial support from the organizations sponsoring the group purpose. While the worker for the first group might have to look for sponsors, group two happens to have government financial support. That is because the government is the one behind the research to be conducted by the group worker.

Review of the Literature

During the planning of a treatment group, it is necessary to conduct a literature review. A fundamental unit of evidence-oriented group obligation is to search and find the literature concerning the group being planned. Materials that can be used to conduct the literature review include book chapters and articles, which can issue practical information concerning factors that can lead to the group's success or failure (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). Additionally, articles can provide evidence for particular approaches to solving planning issues concerning treatment groups. Other studies, such as meta-analytic research, which happens to summarize the empirically grounded techniques to corresponding groups, can be utilized. Ultimately, the worker can look for evidence-oriented and field-tested curricula and manuals that can be in existence on how to handle an analogous group.

Selection of Evaluation and Monitoring Tools

One of the easiest and appropriate methods of monitoring a group is by jotting down notes on the core features of what transpired during meetings. Moreover, members can monitor their development towards task or treatment goals and submit feedback during a personal session with the worker (Wilson, & Brubaker, 2018). In treatment organizations such as group one, the worker can monitor the progress of members towards their objectives at either the commencing or end of every meeting. In task-focused groups, the worker can track progress by reviewing what the group is yet to achieve and what has been accomplished at every group convention.

Formulation of a Written Group Proposal

Whether a task or treatment group, workers need to prepare a written proposal for the group's effective planning. Such a scheme can be helpful during the application of sponsorship or the sourcing of funds from numerous organizations. A written plan can also help win potential members by informing them regarding the group (Wilson, & Brubaker, 2018). Workers for both groups one and two should prepare a written proposal to help them in proper preparation for upcoming meetings. For many task and agreement groups, a summary of approximately two pages, having an outline, is enough.

Planning and Organizing Distance Group

In distance groups, members rarely meet face-to-face but instead communicate through the internment or phone conversations. With immense technological improvements in the modern world, the internet and phone groups are gaining popularity (Toseland, & Rivas, 2012). Distance and transportation barriers can also prevent face-to-face meetings from taking place (Wilson, & Brubaker, 2018). Moreover, people with rare illnesses may find it had to get face-to-face provision group made of individuals with similar diseases. Such barriers hindering face-to-face meetings can be experienced both in treatment and task groups. Due to the existence of such obstacles, workers should organize for distance grouping to give a chance to all members interested in taking part in group meetings regardless of their location or health condition.

Conclusion

The selected case study has two groups for which group one represents a treatment case, and group two is a task-based one. In group one, the worker assembles with adults who are first-time parents. The purpose of this group can be said to be problem-solving since it aims at helping group members tackle challenges associated with first-time parenthood. In group two, the worker meets with society representatives from different social agencies and school districts to research daycare resources and then present suggestions to a government organization. Apart from explaining the roles, aim, purpose, member's needs, and requirements of each group's task, the planning model for both task and treatment groups have also been elaborated.

References

Toseland, R. W., & Rivas, R. F. (2012). An introduction to group work practice. Allyn & Bacon.

Wilson, F. R., & Brubaker, M. D. (2018). Planning for group work. In Group Work (pp. 163-186). Routledge.