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Thank you for attending our Virtual International Symposium!Many outstanding connections, memories, and views from the NYC SymposiumRecreational soccer match at the South Africa Symposium's Closing Field Day EventThe IASWG Board at the 2019 New York City SymposiumCamp d'expérimentation sur le travail social de groupeShowcase and Celebration of Loyola University Chicago Student Presentations=Džiaugiamės kolegės Carol Cohen iš Niujorko, Tarptautinės socialinio darbo su grupėmis asociacijos (IASWG) tarybos narės vizitu Lietuvoje.=IASWG Members at the CSWE Annual Program Meeting in Kansas City, MO, US

Welcome to IASWG

The International Association for Social Work with Groups (IASWG), Inc. is the premier international association for social workers and allied helping professionals engaged in group work. The purpose of this non-profit, member-driven organization is to promote excellence in group work practice, education, field instruction, research and publication. The goals of this Association are realized through a program of action and advocacy at both the local and international levels. Members include group workers from Australia, Bahamas, Barbados, Belarus, Belgium, Benin, Canada, Czech Republic, China, Croatia, England, Finland, France, Germany, Ghana, India, Ireland, Israel, Japan, Kenya, Lebanon, Lithuania, Malaysia, Namibia, Netherlands, New Zealand, Norway, Pakistan, Puerto Rico, Singapore, Scotland, South Africa, Spain, Swaziland, Trinidad-Tobago, United Kingdom, United States, and Virgin Islands. IASWG is a global organization, and we are pleased to invite you to view our IASWG Standards of Group Work Practice in several languages: French, Spanish and English.

A Message from the IASWG Executive Committee

As IASWG reflects on current and ongoing racial injustices and systematic oppression in the world, we are reminded of the tenets of our mission:

“As group workers we believe that our common ground unites us and our differences enrich us. Committed to social justice, IASWG gives particular attention to people systemically disadvantaged by the power differential inherent in oppressive social structures.” 

In keeping with these values, IASWG supports Black Lives Matter, condemns anti-black racism, and echoes demands for change within unjust and oppressive systems around the globe.

In 2016, IASWG released The Time for Group Work, a message that is particularly relevant today as we face untold assaults on human rights, health, and racial justice:

“There has never been a more urgent time to bring communities together towards a mutual understanding and a respect, not just for humanity, but for the planet as a whole. Social group work can create security where there is uncertainty, a feeling of belonging where there is alienation, and a vehicle for positive communal action where there is a sense of helplessness. It has been used to unite and give voice to people in the aftermath of conditions that seemed beyond repair. Through social group work, nations, communities, and individuals can repair.”

IT IS TIME FOR GROUP WORK.

ES EL MOMENTO DEL TRABAJO GRUPAL

El clima está cambiando. En muchas partes del mundo está disminuyendo el respeto por las personas que son diferentes. Las comunidades se están fracturando. El diálogo se reemplaza demasiado a menudo por bombas, odio y tratamientos denigrantes. El populismo del odio acribilla al entendimiento respetuoso. No es difícil ver por qué tanta gente se siente alienada, poco respetada y sin ningún poder: la desigualdad creciente, la inestabilidad laboral y el sentimiento de que no se tiene ninguna influencia en las decisiones importantes ayudan a que esto suceda.Necesitamos encontrar formas para volvernos inclusivos, para celebrar las diferencias y generar un sentido de unidad potente. No ha habido un momento en la historia donde sea tan urgente unir a las comunidades hacia el sentimiento mutuo y el respeto, no solo a la humanidad, sino al planeta en su conjunto.El trabajo grupal puede crear seguridad donde hay incertidumbre y sentimiento de pertenencia donde hay alienación. Se ha utilizado para unir y dar voz a personas en situaciones que parecían irreparables. Como trabajadoras sociales debemos ponernos firmes y luchar por crear espacios de diálogo respetuoso, expandir nuestras formas de ver el mundo y la comunidad.Llegó la hora del trabajo social grupal.

 

THE TIME FOR GROUP WORK

The climate is changing. In many parts of the world, respect for people who are different from ourselves has diminished and communities feel fractured. Dialogue is too often replaced by bombings and vitriol; hate-filled populism blasts reasoned, respectful understanding. It is not difficult to see why many people feel alienated; they themselves are disrespected and disempowered by increasing inequality, job insecurity and a sense that the important decisions are no longer within their influence.

We need to find ways to become inclusive, to celebrate our differences and to generate a powerful sense of togetherness. There has never been a more urgent time to bring communities together towards a mutual understanding and a respect, not just for humanity, but for the planet as a whole. Social groupwork can create security where there is uncertainty, a feeling of belonging where there is alienation, and a vehicle for positive communal action where there is a sense of helplessness. It has been used to unite and give voice to people in the aftermath of conditions that seemed beyond repair. Through social groupwork, nations, communities and individuals can repair.This is the hopeful message that IASWG and its members offer to the world. IASWG stands against oppression and disenfranchisement. As social groupworkers, we stand for and advocate for creating spaces for respectful dialogue to expand our worldviews and perspectives in community with each other. Contact us. Let us know how you are using group work to repair the world. Ask us how we can help you in this process. It’s time for group work.

 

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The Benefits of Membership

The purpose of this non-profit, member-driven organization is to promote excellence in group work practice, education, field instruction, research and publication. The thousands of members that have joined with us over the years have both benefited by and enriched our association. We hope you join us too.

  • Make connections with fellow group work practitioners, professors, authors, and scholars locally and internationally
  • Share your ideas and successes in group work so that others can learn from you and vice versa
  • Access online resources for teaching group work classes, for addressing group work practice dilemmas, and for students preparing for professional presentations or professional work
  • Attend international symposia and local conferences at a reduced rate
Join Today

Current Organizational Members:

These organizations currently support the mission of IASWG and group work. We thank them for their support.