Non-Profit Organization Please share this Newsletter with your colleagues and circulate among organization staff. U.S. Postage Paid Akron, OH Permit Number 222 Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Inc. An International Professional Organization c/o The University of Akron Akron, OH 44325-8050 U.S.A. ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS NEWSLETTER Current News and Cumulative Reference. ISSN 1084-6816 Advocacy and Action in Support of Group Work Practice, Education, Research, and Publication. Enhancing the Quality of Group Life throughout the World. Published at the University of Akron School of Social Work by the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups, Inc., An International Professional Organization. Vol. 20, #1, Issue #53 May 2004 PRESIDENT'S PEN CONNECTING WOMEN FOR AFGHAN A Partial View: What Grace Coyle Knew IN DETROIT WOMEN And When She Knew It By Catherine P. Papell by Paul Abels, President What will happen when I “Connect On the face of it France and Chicago in Detroit”? What is going on at the 26th This is the story of an eighty-plus wouldn't seem to have too much in com- Annual Symposium on Social Work with year old retired social work educator's mon. Yet, while they don't speak the same Groups? effort to find some way to help in the des- language, they have had similar problems, Thursday, October 21, will include perate days immediately following the and, in one situation, problems that many several Institutes and three unique Outsti- 9/11 disaster, to use her professional could consider near criminal. In France tutes, (Please see the article entitled skills to assist with the suffering of our approximately 15,000 people died in a “Select Outstitutes Now” on page 16). people. Too frail to go the city and too old heat wave this past August (2003). In Registration will go on all day, as to give blood, she arranged to get herself Chicago 700 people died in a heat wave will displays. Thursday night local and invited to the local junior high school. in 1995. In both cases most of those who state officials, the AASWG Board of Di- However, the principal, teachers, and died were aged persons living alone or rectors, and the Planning Committee will counselors had prepared carefully, and left alone. welcome attendees with a short “Group she was not truly needed. The opportunity Blame was directed at many sources. Work History” and a presentation by the to do something about her own despair Some blamed the politicians, some Mosaic Theatre, a group of Detroit youth occurred two days later. blamed the electric companies, and some who present provocative themes in song The New York City Police were blamed the victims themselves. In France and dance. It will be a chance to visit old guarding the small Afghan Mosque three some even blamed the air conditioners or friends and meet new ones. the lack of them (Tagliabue, August 22, On Friday morning at the Sumner (Continued on page 7) 2003. p.1). Careful analysis, however, Gill Memorial Plenary session Joan Pen- reveals more sinister causes: simply isola- nell will start us off by looking at IN THIS ISSUE tion, the lack of concern for the aged, and “Cultural Safety, Family Violence, and Books and Other Publications.................. 3, 16, 18 their lack of resources and connections Group Work.” She will talk about the Calls for Papers .................................................. 18 Chapters, Affiliates and Organizing Units......... 12 (social capital). group developing a sense of cultural Conferences and Symposia ................ 1, 16, 18, 24 In France the heat wave occurred in safety linked with physical and emotional Contributions Received.................................... 3, 5 August, a time of mass migration by the safety. The day will continue with papers Features, Queries, etc. .............................. 1, 10, 17 French to vacation spots throughout the from newcomers and long time members In Memoriam.................................................. 6, 10 Organization and Membership News......... 1, 3, 22 (Continued on page 2) (Continued on page 16) Page 2, Volume 20, #1, Issue #53, May 2004, SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS NEWSLETTER (Continued from page 1) sion, its efforts can be toward promoting SOCIAL WORK WITH GROUPS world, which meant not only isolation but justice, reducing poverty, increasing so- NEWSLETTER also fewer health services available. In cial institutions responsiveness to peo- ISSN 1084-6816 Chicago most of the aged who died were ple’s needs, enhancing democratic values, Vol. 20, # 13, May 2004, Issue #53 African-Americans, many living in a long and liberating individual development. Published three issues per year at The University of Akron neglected and disintegrating ward. Sur- Creating, developing and using social School of Social Work prisingly, it was directly adjacent to a capital is natural for group work and high- by the thriving Latino ward where the death rate lights the need for group work to extend Association for the Advancement of Social Work was significantly lower. Some of the rea- mutual aid in a way that can stimulate with Groups, Inc., An International Professional Organization sons for this may surprise and anger you civic responsibility. Certainly had those Enhancing the Quality of Group Life and are discussed fully in Eric Klinen- who suffered during the heat waves of throughout the World. berg's book Heat Wave: A Social Autopsy 1995 and 2003 had connections who were $15 per year (USA, Canada and Mexico) of Disaster in Chicago. The University of concerned about them and had acted to $18 per year elsewhere $5 ($6) per issue Chicago Press. 2002. increase their social capital, the conse- Subscription included in membership dues. My own surprise and anger was due quences might have been less severe. Editor - John H. Ramey, Akron, Ohio to the accepted but informal policies by AASWG is a source of connections Design and Layout some social workers in the welfare de- for us and, hopefully, can expand the way Susan E. Bisgyer, Kingwood, West Virginia Send editorial and business correspondence, other partment that limited their service to the we can use each other. In order to do this, information, and inquiries to people who needed them most during the all of us need to share ways we believe John H. Ramey, Editor heat wave. These were the connections we can enhance these connections, per- Social Work with Groups Newsletter the aged counted on and, in some cases, haps even to make initial ones with each 463 Moreley Avenue Akron, OH 44320-2022 U.S.A. their only social connections. Which leads other. In order to do this I hope that you Toll free from anywhere in U.S.A. and Canada: us, admittedly by a very circuitous route, will contact me or others on the Board to 1-800-807-0793; Akron area and outside USA and to Grace Coyle. While looking her up on let us know how we can better work to- Canada 330-836-0793 the web prior to doing a lecture on “The gether. Those of you who will be attend- fax 330-836-2136, [email protected] Regarding memberships and for changes of address Family as a Group”, which I knew she ing the Symposium in Detroit are invited contact Stacy Barrentine, AASWG Membership had written on many years ago, I found to bring up your ideas at the open mem- Service, P.O. Box 151643, Alexandria, VA 22315- the following statement. By Smith, (2004) bership meeting and/or in person with me. 9998, 703-971-6715, fax 703-922-9570 member- the author's article on Grace Coyle: Thanks to Grace Coyle for working [email protected]. Send changes of address for Haworth's Social Work with Groups Journal “There was a movement away from to bring group work into the social work directly to the publisher. what might be called an informal educa- profession, for her settlement work, for For questions about credit charges or checks, tion frame of reference and a location her social action, for her theoretical per- please contact Stacy Barrentine at the AASWG more strongly within social work and as a spective, for her teaching, and for her Membership Service directly rather than the credit result took in many of the concerns of prescience about social capital. card company. Credit charges are cleared through Stacy Barrentine Event and Convention Services. casework, for example with regards to Klienberg, E. (2002). Heat Wave: A AASWG, Inc., Raymie W. Wayne, General Secre- improvements in individual functioning Social Autopsy of Disaster in Chicago. tary, 36 Rocklyn Drive, West Simsbury, CT rather than what we have come to know Chicago: University of Chicago Press. 06092-2628, 866-90-AASWG (22794), phone/fax as (social capital).” Putnam, R. D. (2000). Bowling 561-515-7089, [email protected]. AASWG Home Page: http://www.aaswg.edu. While I am not sure that she would Alone: The Collapse and Revival of Discussion Group: Send e-mail message to have seen her work in those terms, Coyle American Community. New York: Simon [email protected]. In body of message certainly recognized the importance of and Schuster type subscribe groupwork-aaswg your first connections and their impact on the health Smith, M. K. (2004). “Grace Coyle name your last name. Tim Kelly, administrator: [email protected]. and welfare of persons. Putnam in his and Group Work”, The Encyclopedia of The University of Akron is an Equal Education and book Bowling Alone cites numerous stud- Informal Education. www.infed.org/ Employment Institution. ies showing the relationship of connec- thinkers/coyle.htm. Copyright 2004 by AASWG, Inc. SWwG News- tions with extended life, health, economic Tagliabue, J. (2003). “Lack of Air- letter articles may be copied for personal, aca- demic, and professional use, but proper notice of well-being employment, and life satisfac- Conditioning Cited in France’s Death copyright and credit to the SWwG Newsletter must tion.