The power-to-the-people, as evidenced by the increase in self-help groups, is a force that the social work profession must reckon with. This article discusses the nature of the challenge and its implications for professional practice. (Author)

Addresses common critiques of Alcoholics Anonymous by offering a way of understanding it as a "normative narrative community" where identity transformation takes place through the use of metaphor and storytelling. Suggests alternative meanings of key metaphors, describes areas of program strength and potential barriers for social…

Discusses a model for social work intervention with a self-help group in a hospital setting, designed to reach out and support new parents of premature infants in a neonatal intensive care nursery. Social workers serve as family advocates, instructors, consultants, and facilitators for volunteer veteran parents groups. (ABB)

Determined the extent to which social workers participate in self-help groups and examined their role in planning, developing, and supporting the groups continued existence. Results indicated that social workers perform important functions in supporting the growth and continued existence of self-help groups. (RC)

As self-help groups have grown in number, mental health professionals have found themselves increasingly involved in such groups. This study examined how mental health professionals viewed the appropriateness of a variety of roles sometimes assumed by mental health professionals when they work with self-help groups. Social workers, psychologists,…

Discusses problem of low rates of immunization for African American children and identifies ways social workers can play a role in ensuring more immunizations. Improving access to existing public programs, facilitating community organization efforts, assisting communities through self-help and mutual-aid initiatives, and supporting national…

Discusses the potential of self-help/mutual-aid groups as a way to reduce the demand for professional substance-abuse treatment and proposes a model that combines the two approaches for cost-effective and therapeutically effective networks of services. (SLD)

This practicum was designed to evaluate the needs of clinicians in identifying substance abuse issues in severely emotionally disturbed children and adolescents, and its dynamics in their family histories. This writer designed and administered pre and post questionnaires to both professional and paraprofessional staff members to evaluate attitude…

A study was undertaken to identify the information needs of persons working with the aging in the Albany-Schenectady-Troy area of New York State, with the goal of establishing some type of information center. Over 2,000 questionnaires were sent to groups working with the aging. Over half of the 34 respondents noted a need for information on state…

Treatment programs promote individual solutions to substance abuse through changing dysfunctional behavior and relying on spiritual beliefs and practices. Root problems are understood to be diseases within the person. However, the social conditions implicated in causing the addiction remain unaddressed. Questions whether social workers can bring…

Describes environmental modification, social work's response to the practical needs of clients, which emphasizes "doing for" clients and thus may encourage their dependence on the practitioner. Suggests that helping clients to develop their own skills to modify their environment can promote independence while meeting clients' tangible needs.…

PROJECT ENABLE (EDUCATION AND NEIGHBORHOOD ACTION FOR BETTER LIVING ENVIRONMENT) WAS A ONE-YEAR PROJECT FUNDED BY THE OFFICE OF ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY IN SEPTEMBER 1965 IN WHICH VOLUNTARY SERVICE AGENCIES IN 59 CITIES MOUNTED PROGRAMS TO HELP POOR PARENTS IMPROVE CHILD REARING PRACTICES, USE EXISTING COMMUNITY RESOURSES, AND IDENTIFY THEIR MOST…

NINETY-EIGHT ANNOTATED REFERENCES (FROM 1933 TO 1967) ON SELF HELP AND REHABILITATION FOR THE MENTALLY AND PHYSICALLY HANDICAPPED ARE INCLUDED IN THE BIBLIOGRAPHY. ALL RELATE EITHER TO THE SELF HELP FORM OF ORGANIZATION IN THE STRUCTURING OF HEALTH AND WELFARE SERVICES OR TO THE SOCIAL AND PSYCHOLOGICAL ASPECTS OF REHABILITATION. THE REFERENCES…