2026 IASWG International Symposium PresentationsWednesday June 03, 2026The Sumner Gill Memorial Plenary - 9:00AM to 10:30AMBomba puertorriqueña como resistencia viva: Memoria ancestral y prevención comunitaria desde el trabajo con grupos Esta presentación explora la Bomba puertorriqueña como estrategia de prevención, acompañamiento y sanación colectiva en el trabajo social con grupos y comunidades. Desde perspectivas decoloniales, antirracistas y afrocaribeñas, se dialoga sobre cómo el ritmo, el cuerpo y la memoria ancestral pueden fortalecer respuestas comunitarias frente a las violencias. A partir de la experiencia situada en la Universidad de Puerto Rico, se reimagina el trabajo con grupos en el contexto comunitario mediante prácticas culturales de resistencia, solidaridad y responsabilidad colectiva arraigadas en la tradición afrodescendiente puertorriqueña. Session 1 // 60 Minute - 10:50AM to 11:50AM ET1 Teaching with (and about) PhotoVoice to promote reflection and critical dialogue (TRAINING TRACK) This workshop explores the possibilities of integrating PhotoVoice into social work teaching, highlighting its value as a transformative pedagogical approach strengthening both academic understanding and community-building within the classroom. Drawing on our collective teaching experiences of incorporating PhotoVoice in different educational settings in Portugal, Spain, and the USA, we examine how a combination of visual imagery and critical dialogues exposes students to diverse perspectives and promotes reflection, collaborative learning, and the co-construction of knowledge. 2 The IASWG Standards in Practice, Education and Research: Exploring their Innovative Implementation and Continued Development (TRAINING TRACK) The IASWG’s Commission on Group Work in Social Work Education is sponsoring this workshop to share and explore new and established strategies incorporating the Standards to study group work, practice with diverse types of groups and settings, and education and training to build competence in social work practice with groups. 3 Power, Privilege, and Possibility: Anti-Racist Group Work Pedagogy (MUTUAL AID TRACK) Group work is increasingly vital in a social context marked by polarization, systemic injustice, and growing waves of negativity and hate that fracture individuals, groups, and communities. Intentional group work offers a powerful counterforce by fostering mutual understanding, respect, belonging, and collective action grounded in hope and joy. This interactive, experiential workshop highlights the transformative potential of group work pedagogy within social work education and practice, with particular attention to anti-racist teaching and learning. 4 House meetings: Building interfaith, multiracial relational power for collective action in broad-based community organizing (MUTUAL AID TRACK) This 60-minute experiential workshop offers participants a taste of broad-based community organizing through a simulated house meeting coupled with contextual knowledge to demonstrate how interfaith, multiracial organizations build relational power and achieve social change. Unlike listening sessions that extract information for administrator or public official benefit, participants will experience how small group story sharing around a specific prompt illuminates shared issues and potential leaders to create sustainable campaigns rooted in shared values across diverse groups. 5 Smuggling Mainstream Social Group Work into a Court Mandated Group Program This blended presentation and discussion explores the application of mainstream model group work with court mandated, sex offending male adolescents. The group model was contracted by the Juvenile County Court system to replace a highly structured, educationally based intervention model. The transitional process and integration of technology through a "flipped-group" approach allowed mandated psycho-education to co-exist with mutual aid intervention. Discussion will focus on challenges and potential resolutions. 6 Race to Resilience Initiative: Transformational Resilience Coordinating Networks In this presentation, we invite social workers to create greater awareness and provide support around the urgency of forming resilience and mutual aid networks in neighborhoods and communities worldwide in response to the climate-ecosystem-biodiversity (CEB) polycrisis. Through collective dialogue and shared learning, participants will explore the vital role of group social work in developing community-led CEB resilience action that fosters mutual understanding, belonging, and hope in the face of compounding crises. Session 2 // 30 Minute - 12:00PM to 12:30PM ET1 From Locker Room to Lifeline: Collegiate Athletic Teams as Powerful Sites of Group Support and Belonging (RESEARCH TRACK) Collegiate athletic teams are powerful, naturally occurring groups where belonging, identity, and performance intersect. This presentation applies group work theory, mutual aid, and trauma-informed practice to examine how teams can function as lifelines that cultivate psychological safety, peer support, and resilience. Through interactive case analysis and applied mapping exercises, participants will explore strategies to intentionally strengthen support and hope within athletic teams and other institutional group settings. 2 From Fear to Advocacy: Cultivating Hope in Parent Support Groups for Gender-Diverse Youth Parents of gender-diverse youth often enter therapy with fear, isolation, and uncertainty. This presentation outlines a structured parent support group model grounded in group, attachment, and family systems theory that transforms anxiety into informed, values-based action. Integrating psychoeducation, emotional processing, and peer connection, the group reduces shame, fosters universality, and cultivates advocacy. Attendees will gain a practical framework for guiding parents from fear toward hope, resilience, and supportive engagement. 3 Exploring Clinical Identity Through Culturally Grounded Focus Group Methodology (RESEARCH TRACK) This presentation examines the use of culturally grounded focus group methodology to explore the professional identities and lived experiences of Black male clinical social workers. Informed by intersectionality and occupational segregation frameworks, the session highlights the significance of group dialogue as both a research tool and a culturally responsive practice. Attendees will consider how focus groups can amplify marginalized voices and support reflective, identity-centered engagement within clinical and research contexts. 4 Huella Estudiantil, manos del manana. Estudiantes de Loaiza Seminario de Vida Estudiantil del Programa de Trabajo Social de la Escuela Superior Loaiza Cordero del Rosario de Yauco. Huella estudiantil, manos del manana, historias vivencias sobre el fortalecimiento socioemocional de estudiantes de escuela superior de la escuela Loaiza Cordero del Rosario como miembros activos en la organización estudiantil ´Loaiza Seminario de Vida Estudiantil¨ del Programa de Trabajo Social Escolar y el poder grupal contribuyendo en el bienestar común como agentes de ayuda y esperanza. 5 Intersectionality, Power, and Reproductive Justice: Reframing Group Work in the Face of Maternal Health Inequities This interactive workshop explores how intersectional and anti-racist group work can transform healing-focused groups into advocacy-informed spaces addressing maternal health inequities and perinatal loss. Participants will examine how power, privilege, and facilitator positionality shape group dynamics, and engage in experiential exercises to practice inclusive, justice-oriented facilitation. Attendees will leave with strategies to design ethically grounded interventions that amplify marginalized voices, foster belonging, and mobilize communities toward reproductive justice and systemic change. 6 The power of Festival and its place alongside groupwork This presentation will consider the potential of Festival and its links with groupwork and community development. The presenter builds on his experiences of Festival over the last 12 years in his own neighbourhood in Sheffield, UK, and also with street groupworkers in Kolkata, India. There will be plenty of time for questions and discussion. 7 When Safe Spaces Disappear: Grief, Resilience, and Hope This session examines the mental health impact of losing affirming care and safe spaces for LGBTQ+ clients. Grounded in minority stress theory and LGBTQ-affirming practice, clinicians will explore how these losses affect hope, engagement, and treatment outcomes. Participants will gain practical, hope-centered interventions designed to strengthen resilience, support identity affirmation, and sustain client well-being in the face of systemic and social challenges. Session 3 // 60 Minute - 1:45PM to 2:45PM ET1 Use of poetry to Promote Empowerment in Group Work Practice This workshop invites you to explore how poetry can be used as an empowerment tool in group work. Creative expression provides a safe space to pause, listen to oneself, share stories, and discover new strengths. 2 Migration, Memory, and the Body: Collective Grief and Embodied Healing in Caribbean Black Diaspora Group Work Based on my experience leading grief groups for Haitian men and women who came to the United States, this workshop explores how to use culturally-based, embodied group therapy with Caribbean Black diaspora populations. Integrating attachment theory, intersectionality, and an ecological lens, the session explores how migration-related grief manifests in the body and how group processes can help people feel like they belong, be resilient, and promote post-traumatic growth in culturally responsive group settings. 3 How We Show Up This interactive session explores how relational presence and communication influence youth engagement and service outcomes. Integrating theory, lived experience, and applied practice, presenters who aged out of foster care guide participants through reflection, discussion, and role-play activities. Attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen connection and intentionally adjust how they show up in supportive interactions. 4 WHY COME TO GROUP WORK CAMP?? (MUTUAL AID TRACK) This workshop demonstrates the importance of experiential learning ("do, then think") in training social group workers, as found at IASWG's Group Work Camp. Participants will first engage in activities, then be helped to conceptualize what was learned. The origin and impact of Group Work Camps in the U.S., Canada, and Europe will be addressed, along with the potential of this model to build greater community among social group workers as well as people we serve. 5 Cultivating the Manhood Tree: Lessons Learned with and from MSW Students This presentation shares practice insights from implementing The Manhood Tree curriculum with MSW students at the University of Saint Joseph. Through a 10‑week mutual‑aid and psychoeducational group, participants engaged in discussion, narrative reflection, and relational exploration of manhood, identity, and professional readiness. Facilitated by faculty, present and former student participants, the group offered support, modeled facilitation skills, and introduced an evidence‑informed, responsive framework that enhances emotional awareness, wellness, and relational competence in emerging social workers. 6 Emotions and Politics: Support Groups and Community as Holding Environment for Immigrants Stressed by the Political Climate Amid rising anti-immigrant rhetoric and political instability, immigrants experience anxiety, depression, trauma, and threats to their sense of self and belonging. This 60-minute session introduces Emotions and Politics, a psychoeducational, process-oriented and experiential support group model grounded in Winnicott’s holding environment and Self Psychology (mirroring, twinship, idealizing). Through theoretical grounding, live experiential facilitation, and case examples, participants will explore how community functions as a restorative holding space that fosters regulation, dignity, belonging, and collective resilience. 7 Seniors Finding Connection to Combat Loneliness and Social Isolation (MUTUAL AID TRACK) This presentation offers a portrait of a group of elderly participants who have formed a supportive and cohesive collective that helps members find connection and mutual aid as they navigate the joys and struggles of adapting to later life. Included in this report of typical group process are conversations about advancing physical and cognitive impairments, constructing meaningful narratives regarding what their lives have meant, and acceptance of losses and death. 8 The Power of Creative Writing and Trans Narratives: Envisioning a Future Rooted in Gender Euphoria In a world that is ever-changing, one fact remains: trans and nonbinary (TNB) people have always been here and always will be. Integrating focus group methodology with creative writing, this study examined how two groups of TNB people (N=22) envisioned a future where trans joy and gender euphoria are central narratives in research, media, and society. Implications for social work research, education, and practice will be discussed. Session 4 // 30 Minute - 3:00PM to 3:30PM ET1 Latinx Cultural Oppression: Latinx Student Struggles in the University Classroom Group The presenter, a teacher of Latinx college students in U.S. classroom groups, will identify issues emerging for Latinx university students in their classroom group; they consistently face significant obstacles due to cultural oppression, especially related to identity, status, language, representation, and stigma. Issues will be identified, and suggestions to resolve them suggested. This session should interest students and faculty concerned about classroom group Latinx college students. 2 Clinician-informed insights for Group Work with Orthodox LGBQ+ individuals (RESEARCH TRACK) This presentation presents findings from a qualitative study interviewing clinicians who work with religious (orthodox Jewish) LGBQ+ individuals. The primary goal of the presentation is to equip participants with knowledge about how groups might be used to work with individuals from conservative faith traditions in ways that accompany them on their journey through the swirl of sexual and religious tension. 3 Finding Belonging Between Worlds: Group Work as an Intervention for Third Culture Kids and Adults (TRAINING TRACK) This presentation examines how group work interventions may help address the psychosocial challenges faced by Third Culture Kids (TCKs) and Third Culture Adults (TCAs), including difficulties with belonging, maintaining long-term relationships, social integration, and navigating repatriation. Participants will explore practical, group-based strategies grounded in cultural theory and group work principles, learning how to foster connection, resilience, and belonging, and leaving equipped to apply these interventions in both clinical and community settings. 4 The Impact of Group Support on Contemplating Parenthood This presentation examines a six-week psychotherapy group for individuals contemplating parenthood. Using the group as a case study, we explore clinical design, facilitation process, and emergent themes related to ambivalence, identity, grief, and social expectation. We will share lessons learned about group dynamics and ethical considerations. Participants will engage in a structured think-pair-share activity to reflect on implications for their own group work practice. 5 Interprofessional SBIRT Training Through Practitioner–Student Collaborative Learning Groups This presentation examines an innovative interprofessional training model that paired community-based practitioners with MSW students in semester-long SBIRT education. Using small, group-based simulated practice, the program fostered collaborative learning across career stages and disciplines. We share findings from practitioner interviews on benefits, challenges, and implementation barriers, and engage participants in discussion about adapting practitioner–student collaborative learning group models to strengthen interprofessional education and practice. 6 Group Work with Young Adults on the Autism Spectrum: Integrating Nature and The Fiber Arts The literature supports the use of nature-based activities in group work. This workshop builds on this premise, specifically for young adults with an autism spectrum disorder. There will be a demonstration of an integrative group model combining nature-based activities with textile arts followed by a discussion of the benefit to this population. Participants will be invited to discuss the potential benefits and challenges of this model for young adults on the autism spectrum. 7 La formación dialógica para el trabajo social con grupos: experiencias desde Puerto RIco. Presentaremos experiencias del proceso de enseñanza/aprendizaje que busca promover formas innovadoras de sentipensar el trabajo social con grupos desde la realidad de Puerto Rico, integrando actividades experienciales, el arte, colaboraciones con rganizaciones no gubernamentales, el autocuidado, el cuidado colectivo, partiendo de modelos informados por el trauma, en un contexto marcado por el colonialismo. Session 5 // 30 Minutes - 3:30PM to 4:00PM ET1 The Power of Interprofessional Teams in Serving LGBTQ+ Older Adults This presentation will examine the power, role, and responsibility of interprofessional teams, impactful interprofessional practice models, and review key competencies from the Interprofessional Education Collaborative (IPEC; e.g., roles, responsibilities, ethics, values) when attending to the health, mental health, and overall well-being needs of the aging LGBTQ+ community. 2 Empowering Change: Teaching Group Work for Community Organizing and Development for Future Social Workers. This session examines intentional, competency-based approaches to teaching group work within (BSW) programs, with an emphasis on macro practice education. Grounded in t(CSWE) Educational Policy and Accreditation Standards (EPAS), the session demonstrates how group work pedagogy supports student mastery of ethical practice, diversity and difference, human rights and social justice, and practice at the mezzo and macro levels. Participants will explore experiential learning strategies, classroom activities, and case examples. 3 El trabajo social grupal como apoyo a pacientes con diagnóstico de cáncer y sus cuidadores. Presentación del tema: 4 Espacios alternativos contra la violencia de género a través de la creación colectiva con juventud en Puerto Rico La presentación describe el proceso de creación de la revista interescolar "Espejos". Se presenta el proyecto colaborativo para el trabajo con jóvenes de distintas escuelas explorando temas como prevención de violencia de género, antirracismo, feminismo decolonial, masculinidades sanas, justicia social y ecofeminismo. Se comparte el proceso de subvencionar y diseñar el proyecto, al igual que los temas. Luego, una respuesta creativa de parte de participantes y la versión digital de la revista. 5 Organizando pa’ resistir: El trabajo con grupos desde las comunidades riopedrenses (MUTUAL AID TRACK) Organizando pa’ resistir presenta el trabajo grupal comunitario en Río Piedras desde un análisis sociohistórico que reconoce la resistencia como práctica política y cultural. En el contexto de la Ley 75-1995 y la planificación especial, y CAUCE como puente comunitario, se articulan educación popular, cuidado colectivo y defensa territorial desde perspectivas decoloniales e interseccionales. La sesión comparte experiencias, desafíos y estrategias del trabajo con grupos como herramientas para fortalecer pertenencia, agencia colectiva y transformación social. 6 Group Work Dichos, Movement, Sociodrama and Post-Traumatic Growth in Puerto Rico and Nicaragua This presentation examines dichos (proverbs or sayings), movement, and sociodrama integrated in groupwork in Puerto Rico and Nicaragua to address colonial trauma, the psychosocial impact of natural disasters, systemic violence, and pathways towards post-traumatic growth. Drawing on previous group facilitation experience in both regions, the sessions combine didactic content and experiential movements to demonstrate culturally grounded adaptations. These cultural adaptations in group work involve modifications that align with the participants’ cultural values and social action. 7 Social Work with Groups to Address Falls Prevention: Addressing a Critical Equity Issue in Aging This presentation reframes falls prevention as essential social work with groups practice and a critical health equity issue in aging. Drawing on original research examining disparities in fall severity and program dissemination, the session connects social drivers of health and structural inequities to mobility outcomes. Participants will explore how evidence-based falls prevention groups improve balance and reduce risk, and why social workers are vital leaders in equitable dissemination, implementation, and community alignment. Welcoming Ceremony and Cocktail Hour with Poster Presentations - 4:00PM to 5:30PM ET1 Volunteer Consciousness at Food Pantries: Problematizing Charity and Cultivating Mutual Aid The practice of redistributing food waste to charitable food donation limits other solutions to food insecurity. This poster presentation will discuss the significance of social work’s opportunity to engage with food pantry volunteers and staff about food insecurity and the problematic role of the charitable food network. Ideas for developing the critical consciousness of volunteers to challenge the systemic injustice of food insecurity offer a pathway to authentic mutual aid and support within communities. 2 Guide for a Social Support Group for Refugee Mothers to Maintain Their Children's Health Refugee and migrant mothers face numerous challenges in maintaining their children's health, especially in the difficult circumstances they live in. This study aims to design a scientific guide for a social and psychological support group to support refugee and migrant mothers in maintaining their children's health. This is particularly important given the limited use of group work and its importance in improving health outcomes. A guide for a social and psychological support group was designed. 3 Evaluation of the Impact of an Anti-Racism Social Work Teach-In This project evaluates the impact of the Fall 2025 racial justice teach-in at Shippensburg University in the Social Work Department. The event was centered around the sustained dialogue process, aiming to increase students’ skills in having difficult conversations. A posttest survey was conducted to determine what students got out of the teach-in. Survey results indicate that while students felt more comfortable in discussing diversity-related topics, they felt less confident in conversations on politics and religion. 4 Grasping for Legitimacy: Perceptions of Hyperprofessionalism in Social Work Groups of social work practitioners hold varied beliefs about what professionalism should look like. While social work started with noble goals, some groups of social workers hold that the profession has lost sight of its way. Our study’s findings indicated a lack of group consensus on the functions of professionalism in social work. Implications for the profession and call for enhanced group work to guide a new vision for social work professionalism will be discussed. 5 Letting Group Work Breathe: Why Nature-Based Group Work Supports Adolescent Well-Being This poster explores how physical environments, particularly nature-based settings, influence nervous system regulation and mental health outcomes. Nature-based group interventions may help counteract the decline in distress tolerance linked to excessive screen use among adolescents. The research presented highlights practical strategies for environmental changes that could enhance adolescent wellbeing. 6 Scrolling Through Adolescence: Social Media's Impact on Adolescent Well-Being This poster examines how social media shapes adolescent well-being through a social work lens, emphasizing belonging, identity, and collective experience. Grounded in ecological systems theories, it explores both risks and benefits of social media—particularly for marginalized youth. The presentation highlights how online activity and screentime influences in-person dynamics and offers strategies to foster connection, empowerment, and mutual aid through the use of digital literacy education in school and community settings. 7 Implications for School-Based Group Work with Forcibly Displaced Adolescents in the Acculturation Process For forcibly displaced adolescents, acculturation is a complex process involving multiple stressors. School-based group work is well suited for supporting students in this context. Two groups formed at a midwestern high school in the US in 2025: one composed of newcomers and another of students with longer residence in the host country. This presentation explores how acculturation may relate to group purpose, content, and development and discusses implications for practice. 8 Group Work Opportunities for Social Work Undergraduate Students: Benefits of Extracurricular Organizations The poster reflects qualitative research conducted by a team of undergraduate social work students representing a mid-sized southern and rurally situated university. The research explores how student involvement in group-based on campus extracurricular organizations influence students' overall connection to the social work profession. 9 Prevención Primaria de la Violencia Sexual a través del Teatro: “Alba y el Consentimiento” El proyecto “Alba y el Consentimiento”, dirigido a niñez y personal escolar tiene la intención de educar sobre la prevención primaria de la violencia sexual al pensarse como personas dignas de vivir en paz. El eje central gira en torno al concepto "consentimiento" y su importancia en la cotidianidad dentro y fuera del entorno escolar. El proyecto incluye una presentación teatral, música, juegos y material de apoyo como plantillas de trabajo y un cuento ilustrado. 10 Stronger Together: The Role of Team Environment in Athlete Mental Health College athletes navigate academic, athletic, and public performance pressures. This study examines teams as natural group environments that can foster mutual aid, protective factors, and help-seeking confidence. Grounded in Lang’s group work framework and Stevens’ research on athletic identity, a 2025 survey of 45 collegiate team-sport athletes explored perceived team support and mental health. Findings aim to inform group-based interventions that strengthen cohesion, vulnerability, and smoother transitions out of sport. 11 En solidaridad con las poblaciones inmigrantes: Diseño de materiales de juego para grupos terapéuticos desde un enfoque feminista decolonial Este afiche tiene como objetivo la divulgación y visibilización del proceso de desarrollo de materiales de juego para grupos terapéuticos que faciliten conversaciones solidarias y culturalmente competentes sobre la población inmigrante caribeña desde un enfoque feminista decolonial. Esta iniciativa nace en la Universidad de Puerto Rico, Recinto de Río Piedras, a partir de la labor integrada entre los equipos de las organizaciones de SIEMPREVIVAS Metro y Comuna Caribe. 12 Transplanting Hope: The Task Group that Saves Lives This presentation will explore the life changing impacts of a task group at a university medical center. Group structure, clear purpose, and social events differentiate this group and yield highly effective collaboration that saves lives and benefits society. 13 Intervención grupal con mujeres migrantes latinoamericanas desde una perspectiva de género e interseccional: redes de apoyo, sororidad, autocuidado e integración sociocomunitaria Esta presentación describe una intervención de trabajo social grupal con mujeres migrantes latinoamericanas en Tenerife (España), desarrollada desde una perspectiva de género e interseccional. La iniciativa promueve el apoyo mutuo, la sororidad, el autocuidado y el fortalecimiento de redes de apoyo. Los resultados evidencian que el trabajo grupal reduce el aislamiento social, fortalece la capacidad de agencia y favorece la integración sociocomunitaria y el empoderamiento colectivo. 14 Trabajo social grupal y aprendizaje-servicio en la formación universitaria: intervención con personas en situación de sinhogarismo Esta presentación describe una experiencia de aprendizaje-servicio en la formación en Trabajo Social centrada en el trabajo social grupal con personas en situación de sinhogarismo. Desarrollada en la Universidad de La Laguna, la iniciativa conecta el aprendizaje académico con la intervención comunitaria. Los resultados evidencian que este enfoque fortalece las competencias profesionales del estudiantado y favorece el apoyo mutuo, la participación social y la integración de las personas participantes. Thursday June 04, 2026The Beulah H. Rothman Plenary - 9:00AM to 10:30AM ETCultivating Hope Through Connection: A Group Work Lens on Trauma, Strength, and Storytelling in The Academy Through scenes from The Academy, this session highlights how performance-based practice and group work create spaces of safety, belonging, and shared power for youth navigating trauma and identity. Participants will explore how symbolic “superpowers” reflect adaptive survival skills and how group processes—including mutual aid and collective meaning-making—support healing and resilience. Discussion and guided reflection will link film themes to trauma-informed, strengths-based group practice. Session 6 // 60 Minute - 10:45AM to 11:45AM ET1 Waka tētē: An indigenous social group work intervention This experiential workshop explores an indigenous group work intervention. Waka tētē is a group work experience in a traditional Māori canoe. Videos shared will enhance understanding of this intervention immersed in Māori values and beliefs. An experiential activity will enable participants to increase understanding of therapeutic elements in this approach. Reflection and discussion will support participants to make connections to theoretical approaches when working with other marginalized and oppressed populations. 2 The Group Will Teach Us: Leaning Into Conflict as an Immersive Experience (TRAINING TRACK) This experiential workshop engages participants in a live group process where conflict is treated as a vital source of learning rather than a problem to fix. Through embodied practice, relational attunement, and cultural humility, participants explore tension in real time, bringing their own challenges while reflecting on trust, power, vulnerability, and broader social and cultural dynamics, including those specific to Puerto Rico. Grounded in mutual-aid and feminist-relational models, the session models authentic, ethically responsive facilitation. 3 Fostering inquiry in times of polarization: An exercise in group facilitation skill building Members of social work groups come from diverse backgrounds which can create both rich dialogue and also tense discussions during such polarizing political times. This presentation will examine pedagogical pluralism and lessons learned from an MSW group class based on facilitator mindfulness and examinations of ethical dilemmas to build inquiry-focused facilitator skills. 4 From Probation to Connection: A Peer-Led Support Group for Early-Career Tenure-Track Faculty This presentation examines the development and implementation of a peer-led support group for probationary university faculty at a public university in Puerto Rico. Grounded in social work with groups and Yalom’s therapeutic factors, the initiative emerged from interdisciplinary collaboration among faculty in social work, rehabilitation counseling, and technology. The session highlights implementation strategies, lessons learned, and transferable practices that promote faculty well-being, retention, and professional development. 5 Applying the Miraculous Energies of Small and large groups to heal others Lynne McTaggart researched: tapping into the extraordinary human capacity for connection and healing, by applying the miraculous power of group intention and its boomerang effect. Within this session, participants will have opportunities to practice McTaggart’s group intention exercises, to learn to apply skills associated with group healing. It is anticipated that participants in this session will be inspired to practice some of Lynne McTaggart’s techniques for harnessing energies within groups. 6 Engaging Aging: Developing a Four-Week Workshop for the Public Addressing Cultural Demands and Personal Narratives of Getting Old Engaging Aging is a psychoeducational and mutual aid group. We aim to mitigate feelings of isolation and promote collective activism to change how older people are seen and related to. Through guided imagery, participants explore lived experiences of aging juxtaposed against societal pressures. We explore multiple dialectics of aging and advocate for accepting, challenging, and honoring diverse narratives. From this broader perspective we open the door to expansive thinking that can engender curiosity and hope. 7 Strategic systems of isolation and control utilized by sex traffickers: Applying Trauma-informed principles to understanding and managing this dynamic when it surfaces in groups for survivors of sex trafficking (RESEARCH TRACK) Human trafficking is one of the largest criminal enterprises globally, with sexual exploitation impacting millions yearly. Sex traffickers implement strategic systems of control, including hierarchical dynamics of competition. Post-trafficking, these dynamics may present as traumatic reenactment in groups, creating unique challenges for group facilitators. This presentation integrates current research, trauma theory, and clinical case studies to provide group workers with the foundational knowledge necessary for recognizing these dynamics and trauma-informed intervention strategies to mitigate retraumatization. Session 7 // 30 Minutes - 11:50AM to 12:20PM ET1 Beyond Stigma: Building Connection and Resilience Through HSV-1 Support Groups Herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) affects over half the U.S. population, yet stigma and shame remain major barriers to emotional and relational well-being. This presentation outlines a psychoeducational and mutual-aid support group grounded in SFBT, CFT, and trauma-informed practice. Participants will learn strategies for addressing stigma, supporting disclosure, and fostering identity resilience. It offers replicable, socially just model for creating affirming spaces that reduce isolation and empower individuals within mental-health and sexual-health care settings. 2 "The Role of Digital Tools in Fostering Environmental Awareness and Psychological Well-being" (TRAINING TRACK) This session examines how digital tools can foster environmental awareness and support psychological well-being in communities. It will explore case studies, discuss practical strategies for integrating digital platforms into social work practices, and design digital interventions for environmental challenges. Participants will gain insights into leveraging technology to promote sustainable practices and mental health support. 3 An Eye for the Highest and Best in Group Work: Appreciative Inquiry in Action Having an eye for the highest and best while applying Appreciative Inquiry to group work can inspire social workers and clients to feel a sense of hope, excitement, co-operation, and ownership. 4 Bringing the out-group in: Exploring healthcare and shelter access among groups of individuals experiencing homelessness Facilitating equitable access to survival resources such as healthcare and housing are paramount in bolstering the resilience of marginalized groups, particularly those experiencing unsheltered homeless. This phenomenological qualitative study explored the perceptions of barriers to and access of needed resources among individuals experiencing homelessness in a mid-sized city. 5 From Advisory to Action: Creating and Mobilizing a Young Adult Cancer Survivor Advisory Board for Advocacy Impact Cancer among young adults (18–39) has risen 79.1% globally since 1990, leaving many facing aggressive treatments, physical decline, and profound existential distress. Group-based interventions can foster belonging, hope, and purpose. Youth advisory councils can engage young adults as co-researchers, improving resource relevance while enhancing participants’ self-esteem and skills. This session highlights how a young adult survivor advisory board implemented a national photovoice advocacy campaign to share experiences, build agency, and drive systemic change. 6 Sharing Diabetes Experiences Through Storytelling and Art: An Intergenerational Approach with American Indian Adults This interactive session will discuss Storytelling and Diabetes, a culturally grounded, semi-structured group program developed for American Indian adults living with diabetes. Integrating narrative medicine, social cognitive theory, and expressive arts, the program uses zine-making and intergenerational pairing to support connection, meaning-making, and self-management. Attendees will learn the program’s foundations, experience a brief storytelling activity, and explore strategies for adapting peer-led approaches within diverse community settings. 7 Construyendo Espacios Libres de Violencia: Al ritmo de la música, el juego y la comunidad En esta presentación se compartirán las experiencias de conceptualización e implementación de los siguientes espacios grupales: sobrevivientes de violencia de género y violencia doméstica, escritura para sanar, talleres de bomba para la prevención de la violencia de género en el campus universitario y los Puntos de Encuentro: Espacios Comunitarios para Mujeres. 8 Group Work as Health Equity Infrastructure: Aligning Health and Social Care through Group-Based Interventions This presentation positions social work with groups as essential infrastructure for advancing health equity within aligned health and social care systems. Using examples from chronic condition management, emotional wellness, falls prevention, and culturally grounded nutrition programs, the session integrates group theory with implementation strategies and offers practical tools for strengthening clinical–community alignment through group-based interventions. Invitationals // 90 Minutes - 2:00PM to 3:30PM ETThe Roselle Kurland Memorial InvitationalPreparing Students for an Interconnected World: The CITE Framework in Action Dr. Eunice Yeboah, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Cranberry Twp, PA (USA) This session introduces the CITE Framework (Critical Self-Reflexivity, Cultural Integration, Inclusive and Trauma-Informed Teaching, and Evaluation) as a group-centered approach to globalizing higher education curricula. Emphasizing shared reflection, relational learning, and collective accountability that guides students in examining intersecting identities, navigating discomfort, and engaging diverse perspectives. Attendees will explore strategies for integrating global and indigenized content, fostering inclusive, trauma-informed spaces, and translating group learning into ethical, collaborative action in a multicultural world. The Catherine T. Papell InvitationalTime of Remembrance: Culturally Responsive Grief Group for Older Adults Marilynda Bustamante, University of Southern California, Los Angeles, CA (USA) Golnaz Agahi, SocialWise Consulting, Irvine, CA (USA) Despite diverse traditions around death, grief support for older adults often lacks cultural responsiveness. Time of Remembrance (TOR) addresses this gap. Drawing from continuing bonds theory and Día de los Muertos traditions, TOR creates a structured, communal space to honor loved ones, share stories, and sustain connections through memory and tradition. The workshop provides a grief group template with tools for culturally attuned, meaningful expression that reduces isolation and builds coping skills. The USC Invitational This presentation introduces an international, interdisciplinary placement model that embeds IASWG group work principles into school social work practice in South Africa. Through collaborative group interventions, reflective group supervision, and partnership with community organisations, the model enhances learner engagement, cultural humility, and practitioner competence. The session highlights how group processes such as mutual aid, shared leadership, and collective problem-solving may shape transformative learning and support culturally grounded, community-responsive international school social work placements. The Charles Garvin Invitational This session introduces the Critical Ecosocial Framework, showing how groups across clinical, educational, organizational, and community contexts can integrate anti-racist, anti-oppressive, and ecosocial practices to address intersecting social and environmental injustices. Participants will learn how to translate theory to embodied group processes that center lived experience, advance reciprocal learning and individual reflexivity, disrupt harmful power dynamics, and mobilize collective advocacy towards transformative social and environmental change. The Robert Salmon Invitational “Is this happening to anyone else?”, is a question asked by children with trauma in milieu-based group program. It is also a question asked by interns, staff and managers in that same program, creating a strong parallel process. This presentation will focus on a multi-faceted group work strategy designed to target intern and staff professional development, wellness, resilience and hope. The question is, can staff “esprit de corps” influence children’s “esprit de corps”? Let’s discuss! The Norma C. Lang Nondeliberative Invitational This workshop creates a space for connection to self and others through an experiential format: We will explore yoga through a group-work lens, starting with a check-in circle, creating group norms and holding space for acknowledging each other. We then move through meditation, breathing, physical yoga postures. We end the session with a closing circle to integrate and observe change. The workshop is based on mutual aid and trauma-sensitive yoga and offers accessibility through modification. Session 8 // 60 Minutes - 3:45PM to 4:45PM ET1 Writing for Wellbeing: Designing a Journaling Group for Adults with Cancer Expressive writing has been shown to have numerous benefits. This presentation will explore a journal writing group developed for adults with cancer, integrating positive psychology concepts to promote wellbeing among group members. This presentation will also highlight the importance of social work group facilitation in establishing safety, containment, and choice. Practical suggestions for journal writing with groups will be provided. Workshop participants will engage in the writing group process through writing, reflecting, and sharing. 2 Promise and Peril: Ethical Considerations for Integrating AI in Social Work with Groups AI is increasingly used in social work with groups, offering tools that may enhance accessibility, efficiency, and practice effectiveness. AI use may raise significant ethical concerns related to privacy, integrity, human relationships, fidelity, respect, and social justice. This interactive workshop explores the promises and perils of AI in group work, engaging participants in situation-based discussions of ethical challenges and applying a practical framework for engaging groups in collaborative problem-solving discussions regarding ethically responsible AI use. 3 Arteterapia y Trabajo Social con Grupos en el Contexto Universitario: Hallazgos de un Estudio Piloto sobre Bienestar Socioemocional (RESEARCH TRACK) Esta sesión presenta los hallazgos de un estudio piloto cualitativo que examina la arteterapia como intervención grupal en un contexto universitario. Desde el Trabajo Social con Grupos, se analizan procesos socioemocionales y factores terapéuticos como la cohesión, la universalidad y el apoyo mutuo. Las personas participantes explorarán hallazgos de investigación, estudios de caso y estrategias prácticas para integrar modalidades creativas en la práctica profesional. 4 Belonging-Centered Groups that Cultivate Hope and Collective Action in Higher Education This session explores how marginalized social work students build social belonging in higher education by drawing on community-rooted resilience. Through storytelling, small-group dialogue, and a “roots of resilience” mapping activity, participants will examine how institutional practices shape belonging and co-create concrete strategies—such as affinity spaces and trauma-informed teaching—for more just, caring social work programs. Attendees will leave with adaptable tools to strengthen belonging on their own campuses. 5 The class-as-group concept: Advancing self-awareness and intersubjective practice in teaching clinical social work In the current context of recurring crises students are thrust into work with traumatized, anxious, depressed and socially isolated clients. Meeting the challenge requires sharing openly in their educational venues. The class-as-group concept is a live arena where authority, anxiety, vulnerability, and interdependence are experienced rather than simply discussed. Participants will role play a class-as-group situation where a clinical theory is presented and reactions highlighted. A synopsis of the relevant group dynamics theory follows. 6 Community and Recovery: Using Photovoice as Group Practice to Cultivate Hope (TRAINING TRACK) This interactive workshop explores Photovoice as a participatory group method implemented in community mental health settings with adults and teens. Participants will experience taking or selecting a photo, writing a caption, and engaging in structured dialogue. Presenters will share facilitation insights and ethical, trauma-informed considerations. Aligned with the IASWG 2026 theme, the session demonstrates how Photovoice cultivates hope, acknowledges fear through shared vulnerability, and transforms reflection into collective understanding and action. 7 Using Jane Addams Vision of Arts for Social Cohesion in Group Work (TRAINING TRACK) Going beyond arts as a psychological tool, Addams understood arts as a social tool, a method to resist capitalism that separates social and cultural groups in order to control them. She used the artistic traditions of different immigrant communities in her houses to resist the dominant “melting pot” ideology of American society at the time (Deegan, 2005; Franks, 1992). Thus, Addams used arts within group work to heal social rifts. This social understanding of arts in groups is particularly relevant for our times and for the themes of this conference. In this presentation I will outline the theory, art mechanisms, and hands on applications of arts ( for non-artist) group workers, as conceived by Addams. Friday June 05, 2026Session 9 // 60 Minute - 9:15AM to 10:15AM ET1 What Will be Your IASWG SPARC Project? Application Information and Inspiration from IASWG Members We welcome you to join the IASWG SPARC Committee and SPARC Awardees to hear about and 2 Designing a Civic Engagement Program for Undergraduate Students (RESEARCH TRACK) Creating a Civic Engagement (CE) program for undergraduate students: They were to develop a strong sense of civism, understand and obey the laws of the Land, respect shared spaces, and actively participate in their community life including protecting the environment and public spaces. Their awareness of local, national, and global issues would enhance their decision-making abilities contributing to increase their hiring opportunities after graduation. 3 Uniendo Islas, Tejiendo Futuros: Un proyecto de trabajo social con grupos en la isla municipio de Culebra, Puerto Rico Esta presentación explora Uniendo Islas, Tejiendo Futuros, un proyecto de trabajo social con grupos dirigido a promover el desarrollo socioemocional, la participación comunitaria y el empoderamiento educativo de jóvenes en Puerto Rico. Fundamentado en el enfoque de fortalezas, el aprendizaje socioemocional y la educación popular, el proyecto integra métodos creativos como el arte, el juego y la narrativa participativa. Se compartirán experiencias, aprendizajes y estrategias transferibles para la práctica grupal en contextos comunitarios. 4 Smuggling the Mainstream-Model of Group Work into Juvenile Court Programming Adolescent sex offender treatment programs frequently use psychoeducational approaches seeking to “teach” appropriate behaviors and attitudes. However, offending behaviors are not typically a product of thinking. Rather they are more impulsive generated from deeper levels of the brain. This paper presentation explores the transition from a highly structured psychoeducational court-affiliated adolescent sex offender treatment program to a hybrid mainstream model program. Participants will learn how to manage court influences, population challenges, and program development. 5 The Classroom as Group: Cultivating Hope, Naming Fear, and Taking Collective Action This interactive session reframes the classroom as a living group system rather than a collection of individual learners. Drawing on relational and trauma-informed group frameworks, participants will explore how faculty can acknowledge fear, cultivate hope, and foster collective agency through intentional group facilitation. Through experiential activities and applied classroom vignettes, attendees will gain practical strategies to strengthen belonging, resilience, and shared purpose in diverse learning environments. 6 Removing the Mystique of Group Work with Clients Who Use Substances (TRAINING TRACK) This presentation focuses on elements of substance use (SU) groupwork including the exploration of relationships to self, others, and substances, accountability, boundary setting, and personal agency. Handouts include education on the neurobiology of SU, de-stigmatization, navigating triggers and cravings, and accountability. Presenters will share key principles of groupwork through the facilitation of mindfulness exercises, presenting case vignettes, and integrating theory and practice. The importance of treating SU and mental health concurrently is demonstrated throughout. 7 Come for the Strategies, Stay For the Community: How Storytelling Shapes Bonding in Parenting Programs The cornerstone of the group process is the relationships participants build. This session explores how the Public Narrative framework uses storytelling to foster connection and mobilize participants into action. Through shared stories, parents move beyond learning strategies to building empathy for one another. Participants will reflect on their lived experiences and craft their story of self. The goal is for participants to leave with tools to strengthen their group work. 8 Older Adults Group Grief Intervention: Providing an Asian Lenses to Addressing Grief Grief is a fact of life that comes for us all; loss is a taboo topic in particular within older adults. This workshop offers an overview of the grief and statistics of Prolonged Grief Disorder PGD among older adults and the ways in which Asians across multiple ethnicities address grief and loss. This workshop is both didactic and experiential and showcases methods to integrate Asian culture in a grief group for older adults. 9 Incorporating Affirmative Practices in DBT Skills Groups for LGBTQIA2S+ Adolescents (RESEARCH TRACK) This presentation will demonstrate through the exploration of research, case examples, practice exercises, and discussion how incorporating affirmative, anti-oppressive, mutual aid practices into Dialectical Behavioral Therapy Skills Classes can better meet the needs of LGBTQIA2S+ adolescent group participants - expanding this experience to become one of connection, safety, and belonging while also providing teenagers with specific tools they can use to manage social and emotional challenges they face outside of the group. Session 10 // 60 Minutes - 10:30AM to 11:30AM ET1 From Isolation to Belonging: The Cultural Anthropology of Black Male Social Work Faculty and their Virtual Groups Black male faculty in higher education frequently experience professional isolation, particularly within predominantly White institutions (PWIs). This qualitative study explored the lived experiences of twenty-seven Black male Social Work faculty. Findings revealed several systemic themes: Black male Social Work faculty frequently work in isolation, encounter workplace inequalities, and receive limited ongoing support from administrators. A central theme emerged indicating that participants rely on spiritual coping strategies to navigate workplace challenges and sustain their careers. 2 Un Modelo Emergente Basado en Evidencia para la Intervención con Estudiantes con Doble Excepcionalidad (2e) y sus Familias: Integrando Investigación y Práctica Esta presentación comparte hallazgos, prácticas e implicaciones de un proyecto interdisciplinario dirigido a estudiantes con doble excepcionalidad (2e) y sus familias en Puerto Rico. El modelo para el estudiantado integra destrezas socioemocionales articuladas con otras áreas del desarrollo, fundamentadas en análisis derivados de la investigación y la práctica. Paralelamente, se presenta un modelo socioeducativo para las familias, basado en apoyo mutuo y factores terapéuticos emergentes de un grupo desde 2014, integrando práctica, investigación e intervención. 3 Concurrent Support: Synthesizing Comprehensive Family and Group Work for Adolescents and Parents/Guardians/Caregivers This workshop will illuminate opportunities in group work to achieve goals for the individual and family. Composition, structure, and parameters of the group, along with elements of family work will be examined. Attendees will take part in a structured group experience from start to finish (process/discussion) to achieve a greater understanding and relevance to working with students and their respective parents/guardians from middle school through high school. 4 The Power of Group Work Worldwide Why it matters for marginalized communities- and why it works. This presentation explores the global importance of social group work as a research-informed, practice-based approach to addressing marginalization and social exclusion. Drawing on interdisciplinary research, international frameworks, and innovations in group work practice, the session examines why group work fosters belonging, shared power, and collective action across diverse contexts. Participants will engage in interactive dialogue and reflection while gaining evidence-based insights applicable to research, education, and practice. 5 Practicing Hope in Groups: Boundaries, Disruption, and Collective Reorganization This 60-minute experiential workshop explores how groups cultivate hope and take action in the face of change. Through structured group practices focused on explicit boundaries, collective response to disruption/change, and shared attunement, participants examine how fear, agency, and cooperation emerge in real time. The session emphasizes hope as a practical group capacity to reorganize, remain connected, and continue acting together when familiar patterns are disrupted. 6 Not Just Another Professional Development: Using Group Work to Enhance Value in Connection Professional development spaces offer a unique opportunity to utilize group work processes to enhance participant connection and learning. This interactive workshop will introduce two group activities that demonstrate how group processes can deepen participants’ understanding of values-based decision making and the impact of assumptions to group dynamics. Participants will experience how personal values shape judgements, relationships and professional practice. 7 Choosing True North: Groupwork with Sex Offenders (TRAINING TRACK) This presentation introduces a treatment approach with court-ordered sexual offenders that centers around groupwork, that is based in Glasser's (1998) choice theory. The approach uses a workbook developed by Dr. Cisse, titled Choosing True North. Presentation participants will be able to: (a) describe supportive approaches that assist with retention and engagement in this group intervention; and (b) apply basic concepts from Choice Theory in treatment settings, based on a sex offender case example. 8 REL(OA)TAM: A Relational and Group-Based Model for Digital Inclusion in Later Life REL(OA)TAM reframes digital inclusion in later life as a relational and developmental Session 11 // 60 Minutes - 11:40AM to 12:40PM ET1 Moving Bodies and Moving Minds: Group Interventions by and for Men of Color (MUTUAL AID TRACK) This panel highlights three culturally responsive, trauma‑informed group models—The Roughneck Development Hour, Resilience for Black Men, and Moving Legs and Bumping Gums—that foster emotional literacy, resilience, and mutual aid among men of color. Through movement, thematic dialogue, rituals, and peer support, these interventions reduce guardedness, strengthen relational awareness, and create dignifying spaces for vulnerability and accountability. Presenters will illustrate how shared storytelling, critical reflection, and collective problem‑solving become catalysts for healing and sustained behavioral change. 2 Towards a Social Work Ethic of Body Sovereignty: Fat Activism and Sexual Wellbeing for Queer Young People (RESEARCH TRACK) This interactive discussion seeks to explore how social work approaches to group work practice can promote body sovereignty for queer youth by integrating two critical domains underrepresented in social work literature: fat activism and queer sexual wellbeing. 3 Group Practice with Black and Brown Men: Black Joy and Wellness This workshop presents a group work model where Black and Brown men can practice vulnerability. Through this process, they become visible as their socio-emotional feelings are processed, validated, and affirmed by each other and the facilitator. The session highlights matters of critical consciousness germane to the lived experiences of these men. 4 Play in the social work classroom: Build group skills, support safety and cultivate joy. Come play in community! This workshop invites you to connect with other participants to act out stories, co-create art and consider how aspects of group play integrate to building and sharing groupwork skills with practitioners and students. Play is how humans first practice groupwork. This experiential workshop highlights play, art & storytelling in teaching groupwork skills to social work students, while providing care, exploration of safety & opportunities for joy 5 HOPE Loop: Turning Fear Into Collective Action Through Mutual-Aid Micro-Interventions (MUTUAL AID TRACK) Interactive 60-minute training introducing the HOPE Loop—three facilitation moves that help groups name fear, build realistic hope through mutual aid, and convert hope into concrete collective action. Participants practice a “Group Weather Report” check-in, complete a HOPE Map, and run a 2-minute role-play facilitation. Attendees leave with ready-to-use prompts, worksheets, and a session-plan template, including optional English/Spanish facilitation language. 6 The DSW Required Group Work Course: Experiencing the class-as-group concept Current mental health and social upheaval crises highlight the need for social work educators in all domains to impart group work theory and skills. This interactional session outlines the content of a DSW program's required group work course and provides an experience of the class-as-group concept. 7 Group Work as Political Action: Advancing Community Resiliency in Local Contexts Group workers can shape community resiliency through local political action. Their skills make group workers uniquely well-positioned to engage in local politics in order to improve community resiliency. In this presentation, attendees will review definitions of community resiliency, political social work, and examine social work within local political domains around the world. In particular, they will examine the use of group work skills in local politics to advance community resiliency in diverse settings. 8 Experiencia estudiantil en el trabajo social con grupos comparte de la formación académica: aprendizajes desde la prepráctica con acompañamiento docente en escenarios de bienestar infantil Esta presentación, realizada por estudiantes de trabajo social junto a su profesora mentora, comparte una experiencia de intervención grupal desarrollada como parte de la prepráctica en organizaciones que sirven a niñeces vinculadas al sistema de bienestar infantil. Desde el marco del Programa Título IV-E, se reflexiona sobre la integración de teoría, práctica y mentoría académica y profesional, destacando el valor del aprendizaje experiencial en el desarrollo de competencias profesionales para el trabajo social con grupos. The Joan K. Parry Memorial Plenary - 2:00PM to 3:30PM ETEco-Social Work through Group and Community Engagement: A Panel Discussion This panel discussion will highlight how climate and ecological justice issues increasingly affect people, their physical environment, and the world at large. The panel will feature representatives of organizations based in Puerto Rico whose practice addresses important environmental challenges. It will also show how their actions involving community participation have brought about durable solutions. |