Task or work groups are those applying the principles of group dynamics to solve problems, develop innovative ideas,

formulate plans, and achieve goals. For example, an agency task group might focus on developing treatment strategies
to meet the needs of Eastern European immigrants seeking agency resources

Six main types of task groups

 teams
 treatment conferences
 administrative groups
 delegate councils
 committees
 social action groups

1. Teams

- team is a group of two or more people gathered together to work collaboratively and interdependently to
pursue a designated purpose.

- differ from other types of work groups in two major ways

a. teams depend on each other and clearly acknowledge that fact, whereas other work groups often consist of
members working more independently of each other.
b. teams emphasize achievement of team goals, whereas other work groups tend to focus on achievement of
individual tasks and goals within the group context.

Teams may be formed either internally within an agency environment and six types emerge

 A team may consist solely of social work practitioners from the same agency.
 Team is also one composed solely of social workers, but they come from a variety of agencies within the
community
 Team involves professionals from a variety of disciplines within the same agency.
 Team also includes a variety of professionals, but they come from different agencies.
 Team involves social work practitioners working together with indigenous helpers or paraprofessionals within
the parameters of the same agency.
 team also involves social work practitioners working with indigenous workers or paraprofessionals, but who
come from outside the agency’s parameters.

2. Treatment Conferences

- are groups who meet to establish, monitor, and coordinate service plans on the behalf of a client system

Treatment conferences often differ from teams in at least three way

a. group members might not have established a working relationship as a unit,

b. treatment conferences might be held infrequently, such as at six-month or one-year intervals,
preventing the bonding necessary to establish a team.
c. treatment conferences might involve a different configuration of participants at each meeting since long
periods of time pass, clients’ needs change, and staff come and go

Treatment Groups Versus Treatment Conferences

Treatment conferences may be composed of staff and clients with the goal of externally monitoring the
treatment process. Treatment groups provide treatment internally and directly to clients.
3. Administrative Groups

A social service organization’s administration is expected to ‘‘set goals; acquire funds and physical facilities; hire
people with the necessary skills; design mechanisms for assigning, monitoring, and coordinating work; determine
whether the organization is accomplishing what it has set out to do; and introduce changes when needed’’

1. Boards of Directors- is another type of administrative group. It is a group of people authorized

to formulate the organization’s mission, objectives, and policies and to oversee the
organization’s ongoing activities. A board of directors also has ultimate control over the agency’s
higher administration, including its executive director or chief executive officer
2. Advisory Boards- Another type of administrative group is an organization’s advisory board.
Group members are recruited because of their expertise and interest in the agency’s services.
Unlike a board of directors, it has no formal power. However, it provides agency personnel with
expert information and recommendations for improving organizational performance

4. Delegate Councils

- delegate council is a group of representatives from a series of agencies or units within a single agency.
Representatives may be elected by their constituencies or appointed by agency decision-makers. Typical goals include
enhancing cooperation and communication among professionals in different units or agencies, reviewing issues relevant
to service provision, enhancing management approaches, and pursuing social action goals.

5. Committees

A committee is a group of persons ‘‘delegated to consider, investigate, take action on, or report on some
matter’’ (Mish, 1995, p. 231). Committees are common entities in organizations. They consist of volunteers, appointees,
or elected representatives who meet to address any significant issue concerning the organization’s functioning.

6. Social Action Groups

Social action groups are formed to engage in some planned change effort to modify or improve aspects of their
macro social or physical environment. They may consist of professionals, clients, community residents, or some
combination of these groups.

Social action groups in communities often involve one of three dimensions—‘‘geographic, issue, or identity’’

First,a group from a geographical area (for example, a neighborhood, a town, a county, a state, or even a whole
region) might band together and address issues of concern to them all.

Second dimension often fueling community social action groups concerns specific social issues, regardless of
particular geographic residence. Such issues might include ‘‘clean elections, tax reform, women’s rights, environmental
justice, or elderly issues’

The third focus involving community social action groups is ‘‘identity, for instance, ethnicity, religion, sexual
orientation, or physical or mental disability

SOCIAL ACTION GROUPS AND EMPOWERMENT

Social action often means pushing a macro system to change, moving against the mainstream, or making
demands on scarce resources. To do this requires substantial effort.

Increasing Understanding

First, communicating with other group members about their perceptions of problems and issues can greatly
expand group members’ understanding of these issues. The depth of understanding and insight increases as group
members share personal insights about how relatives and friends view these issues.
Inspiring Others

A second way that social action groups can empower group members is how ‘‘members who have survived or
overcome aspects of powerlessness can inspire and motivate others’’. This can include serving as a role model, providing
emotional support, and sharing relevant skills and knowledge.

Consciousness Raising

A third way social action groups can empower members is through consciousness raising, Social workers can
encourage group members to relate their personal problems and issues to what’s happening around them in the macro
social environment. For example, Chapter 2 established that group members, like many people in American culture, may
feel that poverty is the result of personal failure rather than an institutionalized socioeconomic condition of unfairness
and lack of equal opportunity.

Providing Mutual Support

Provision of mutual aid or support among action group members is a fourth means of group empowerment. The
group context ‘‘provides a medium of mutual social-emotional support for members in their struggle to cope with and
bring about change in both the personal and political aspect of the problem’’ When the group experiences extreme
resistance on the part of that organization’s administration to its recommendations, group members can turn to each
other for support, encouragement, and the generation of new ideas.

Using Cooperation

A fifth means of empowerment within social action groups is ongoing communication and cooperation
concerning the macro change. It’s often easier to work with others toward a designated goal than to pursue it in
isolation. The planned change effort is usually uneven, having ups and downs in terms of making progress. New
impediments can emerge in the political environment. Action group members can work together to adjust to changes in
the environment, alter plans accordingly, and continue monitoring progress toward goals.