Member to Member Connections

It is a network of small learning communities constructed by AASWG in response to member requests. The network as a whole is held together by a common interest in group work knowledge. Each learning community within the network consists of AASWG members, across our international membership, who are driven by a desire and need to share their enthusiasm, problems, knowledge, experiences, insights, templates, tools, and best practices in a particular area of group work practice or teaching. Once they join a community they come together to share and learn from one another in a virtual environment.

How is Member-To-Member Connections different from the AASWG listserv?

The listserv is a time-limited exchange of views on a given issue, while Member-To-Member Connections is a structure for ongoing, collaborative learning within virtual groups organized around a common interest or issue. These groups provide AASWG members with a vehicle for establishing peer support, benefiting from many perspectives, improving the quality of decisions, taking collective action, and creating new knowledge.

How do I participate?

You must be a member to participate in one of the learning communities. If you are a member, please contact Ann Bergart, at abergart@speakeasy.net. In your own words describe the area of group work practice or teaching about which you want to initiate an exchange with other AASWG members. For example, “I would like to connect with other members who are leading groups aimed at overcoming racism among adolescents.” You will be contacted as soon as other members request an exchange around a similar issue.

If you are not a member and want to participate in this membership benefit, why not join today!

Current Member-to-Member Groups

The groups which are up and running are:

Working with support groups for caregivers
Group work with difficult group members
Evaluation of group work practice
Working with focus groups
Groups with immigrants and refugees
International group work connections
Groups in macro practice
Groups with older people
Working with substance abuse in groups
Teaching group process to graduate students

These five groups will be launched as soon as one additional person signs up:

Group work with adolescents
Group work with battered women
Group work with families
Life review and future planning in groups
Group work with people who have mental illness