Running Head: Week 6 GROUP PROPOSAL

GROUP PROPOSAL

By Doris Jones-Billops
Mt. Vernon Nazarene University

SWK3023 Social Work Mezzo-Practice
August 21, 2013
Prof. Nesa Jefferson

GROUP PROPOSAL
Group Proposal Pre-death support group for children when a parent or love one is in Hospice programs, it is important to prepare a child for the death of a love one. The group therapy and intervention provide information, activities, and assessment criteria to help the facilitator implement these procedures to strengthen the social, cognitive, behavioral and emotional needs of the children. The literature review provides strategies for the facilitators to implement group interventions provide information on activities, assessment tools, which are design to help set the group designed. (Doka, K.J., 2000) Expectations, ethical considerations all group members should be punctual to each group meeting. What is said in the group stays in the group. Respect one another, as an individual, do not dominant, be open and receptive to one another. Do not keep secrets, except and respect moments of silence. Try to be sensitive to the reactions of the children when experiencing stress and other emotions that arise. In order to set up and the organization of pre-death group (Graves, A.K., 1992) gives strategies: Agency sponsorship: is local Hospice Agency, recruitment strategy, and referrals from the hospice agency, pamphlets, and flyers. Group composition: children that family member in hospice, and children that has suffered loss of a loved one, between ages of 7-12 years of age, lack coping strategies who are experiencing emotional or some behavioral problems. Group size: 6 to 8 children to the group, meeting twice a week for one hour after school. Location for group: The hospice center, the group will be closed.
GROUP PROPOSAL
Pre-Group Meetings The literature review gives methods of how to conduct pre-group meetings with parents and family members. (Metel M., Barnes J., 2011) gives clearly structured by focusing on the purpose of the group for parents the role of a group facilitator and on helping the children identify why they are in the group. At this session the ground rules are established and written consent for their child and any expectations or concerns the parents may have, will be addressed. To explain to parents if there are any situations that may arise with the child feelings and behavior to let parents know to contact the facilitator. The goal of the pre-group is to reassure the parents, the goal is to help the children find out that they are not alone in their situation. Provide information on activities and assessments criteria that are designed to help the children with their social, cognitive, behavioral, and emotional needs, learn to separate themselves from the loss to build new relationships.
Group Format: curriculum for sessions 1-4 The four sessions that the literature review suggested (Metel, M., Barnes, J., 2011) in the qualitative research study states each session should be structured in accordance with the needs of each child in the group. Art therapy is appropriate for children because they are often visual, concrete thinkers: “Feeling Game”, “Question Box”,” Reading Books about grieving”, “Using art drawings sharing feelings”. This selective exercise focuses on the interaction for the group.

GROUP PROPOSAL * First session: “Feeling Game” (Metel, M., 2011) Children sit around the table taking turns to check in their names, the sharing on a scale from 1 to 10 how are they feeling and why. If they can’t express they draw their feelings down from 1 to 10 scales. Keeping journals of their week, to reflect on their parents can view at the end of the sessions. * Second session: “Question Box” (Barnes,. J., 2011) allowing children to draw or write questions or concerns that they might not feel comfortable sharing in-group. Ask each child to draw the family member