Innovations Applied to the Classroom for Involuntary Groups: Implications for Social Work Education

There is an increasing demand for social work students to be prepared to work with a wide range of involuntary groups including the more traditional court-ordered programs in domestic abuse and chemical dependency, as well as groups in mental health and schools that provide outreach to high-risk client populations. This paper introduces three innovative frameworks including Reactance theory, Stages of Change model and Motivational Interviewing. Classroom guidelines and exercises are presented that help students integrate these interventions as they develop their group work skills. Strategies for involving students in moving these innovations towards best practices with involuntary groups are discussed.