Social group work in the Philippines has evolved over time from a focus on socialization goals before the 1960s to increasingly emphasize prevention, treatment, and development. Early socio-civic movements introduced group work which was used to develop individuals through social skills and values. In the 1960s, groups were used for both preventive and therapeutic purposes. The 1970s saw an emphasis on developmental goals in line with government plans. Currently, most social welfare agencies offer group services for development, organizing, and treatment.

1. INTRODUCTION TO
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
WITH GROUPS
Philippine Setting:
History
Rona M. Guillena

2. “Through the years,
SOCIAL WORK PRACTICE
with groups has
changed”

3. “ it became a method
to help the people who
are in need”

4. “ let’s review the
historical evolution of
Social Group Work in the
Philippine setting”

5. Socialization Goals
Prevention, Treatment
And Development
Emphasizing
Developmental Goals
Before 1960’s
1960’s
1970’s
Present scene

6. Before Sixties: SOCIALIZATION GOALS
GROUP WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
 Introduction of socio-civic
movement during American
colonial period:
 YMCA in 1911
 YWCA in 1926
 Boy Scouts of the Philippines

7.  YMCA in 1911
Young Men’s Christian Association
Founded by: George Williams
Organized for the improvement of
the spiritual and mental conditions of
young men.

8.  YWCA 1926
Young Women’s Christian Association
 Target groups are : in-school and OSY
girls/women aged 10-25
4 dimensions of its programs:
 the physical well-being using recreation and
camping as program media
 The economic well-being through vocational
guidance; training and placement

9.  YWCA 1926
4 dimensions of its programs:
 The social well-being through family life
educations
 The spiritual and cultural well-being through
Christian Education, world fellowship and
housing for women

10.  Boy Scouts of the Philippines
 Citizenship training , mutual aid and support
 Target groups are : STUDENTS AND YOUTH

11. Before Sixties: SOCIALIZATION GOALS
GROUP WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
 These movements paved way for
the establishment of agencies that
used groups for :
Personality
Development
Character
Building
Wholesome
leisure-time
recreational
activities

12. Before Sixties: SOCIALIZATION GOALS
GROUP WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
 First teachers of group work in the
Philippines were formerly
employed in these socio-civic
agencies.
Training of Social Skills
 Groups were used for the
developments of individual
through :
Inculcating social
values

13. Before Sixties: SOCIALIZATION GOALS
GROUP WORK IN THE PHILIPPINES
 Socialization- as the main goal during
this first decade ( the process by
which people selectively acquire the
values and attitudes of the group of
which they are a part activities
include:
 arts and crafts
 Camping and sports

14. By 1950’s social agencies organized
groups are as follows:
 Phil. Youth Coordination Council (PYCC)-
focused on preventive and developmental goals
through leadership and skills training for OSY.
 First agency where PSW demonstrated how social
group work services can supplement and
compliment their services for the youth.
 Foster Parents Plan- organized mothers’
groups to promote responsible
parenthood, vocational efficiency,
and citizenship training.

15. By 1950’s social agencies organized
groups are as follows:
 Philippine Mental Health Association
(PMHA)- community outreach program
for prevention of juvenile delinquency in
selected communities in Manila.

16. The SIXTIES:
Prevention
Treatment
Developmental
Goals

17.  Agencies started using group method for
both preventive and therapeutic purposes.
i. Special Study Center, Inc.- organized parents’
groups to help them understand, accept and
deal with their children’s condition.
ii. PMHA.- conducted group therapy sessions,
including psycho-drama with emotionally
disturbed patients in its Day Care Center

18.  A great deal of group work was undertaken
in the field of housing and resettlement
during this period.
i. Department of Social Welfare (DCW) – social
workers organized groups who are mostly
tenants in numerous tenement housing centers
in Metro Manila.

19.  Efforts expanded and emphasized on socio-
economic or livelihood programs- nature of
group work described as developmental
group work
 Contributions of the academe in the
development of group work through “field
instruction”

20.  Through the cooperative endeavor
between PSSW and PYWCC – where
students worked with youth groups for
socialization and developmental goals.
 Through UP-Department of Social Work and
the St. Luke’s Hospital – where students
applied preventive and developmental
goals.

21. The
Seventies
Emphasizing
Developmental
Goals

22.  GROUP WORK thrust was in
accordance with the government’s
pursuit of its Developmental Plans
as reflected in the efforts of the
Department of Social Services and
Development to undertake
developmental programs and
services for the bottom 30-percent
of the country’s population.

23.  Emphasis on the developmental
social welfare was spurred by the
UNITED NATIONS’ declaration of the
first developmental decade in the
sixties and the second developmental
decade in the seventies.

24. The Baranganic Approach -
 Use the “barangay” as an existing
political structure as social
worker’s point of entry
 Basis for problem identification
and prioritizing- the group was
used as the main instrument of
service

25. During the late 60’s and early 70’s:
 Socialization and re-socialization
were important but no longer
just through wholesome
voluntary leisure time activities.

26. The declaration of Martial Law (1972-1981)
 provoked a great deal of consciousness-raising
efforts which are aimed at making rural and
urban poor citizens realize that many their
problems such as :
Lack of amenities like water
Low-cost housing Medical facilities
Employment opportunities
and etc….

27.  People we’re organized and
use themselves as the major
resource for change- termed
as Community Group work

28. The Present Scene
Most welfare agencies in the country offer
some type of group service for several
purposes:
1. Developmental Purposes
2. Organizing groups
3. Treatment purpose

29. 1. Developmental Purposes
 Emphasizes human and community resource
mobilization.
 Examples are public agencies which invest a major
portion of their resources for the support of
livelihood programs.
 Programs include leadership training and
small scale business management

30.  Group and group members make decisions
on the livelihood project(s) to be undertaken,
rules governing collection and payment of
loans, marketing of products, etc.
 Programs in day care centers organize
mothers to help them acquire knowledge
and skills in parenting, household,
management, personal enhancement, etc.
continuation

31.  To help members acquire the values,
attitudes and norms of the society carry out
socialization purposes.
2. Organizing groups
3. Treatment purpose
 Focuses on the use of small group to help
individuals who already have problems or
breakdown in their social functioning
(groups for victims of natural disasters, child
abuse, adult sexual abuse, drug abuse)

32. Before 60’s 1960’s 1970’s Present Scene
Introduction of
socio-civic
movements
during the
American
period
Increasing
number of
agencies used
group method
for both
preventive and
therapeutic
purposes
The
government’s
pursuit of it’s
Development
Plan was
reflected in
efforts in the
Department of
Social Welfare
Most Social
Welfare
Agencies in the
country offer
some type of
group service
Agencies used
groups for
personality
development
and character
building through
wholesome
leisure activities
conducted by
volunteers
a great deal of
group work was
also undertaken
in the field of
government
housing and
resettlement
This period
provoked a
great deal of
consciousness-
raising efforts
The
Developmental
purpose
emphasizes
human and
community
resource
mobilization