Assignment 3: Group Project - All Parts

Purpose

This assignment is intended to promote learning in teams within evidence-based practices related to client systems of interest to you, and to increase your abilities to synthesize and develop a plan for a group intervention. The Group Project is completed in four component parts and each assignment has its own corresponding due date and rubric. (375 points or 35% total)

Instructions

This assignment requires students to work with a team of 3-4 peers to develop a fixed-time 10-session treatment or support group for a population of interest to you and to create specific plans for its implementation. Teams will be assigned, though instructors typically support student requests when possible. You will apply concepts and theories from this course to the formation and development of your group project, and it must be based on evidence-informed practices appropriate for the population. Teams will prepare a group intervention curriculum binder as if it were a proposal for grant funds to support implementation of this service. A group facilitation role-play using a treatment activity is also required.

Concept Proposal (50 points)
Curriculum Binder (225 points)
Role Play Facilitation (70 points)
Team Evaluation (30 points)

3A: Concept Proposal (50 pts)

Teams will use the Group Project - Concept Proposal Form to describe the purpose, type, and target client population of the group curriculum to be designed, as well as, each team member’s planned contribution to the overall project (see Curriculum Binder components for the task list). Teams are expected to divide project responsibilities equally, and each member is required to sign the Concept Proposal form to affirm their commitment. Choose a team leader who communicates well, will ensure that everyone’s voice is heard and that all sections are being completed in a timely fashion. The leader should also compile the project binder.

See this statement of commitment: "I agree with the purpose and type of group discussed in this concept paper. I agree to participate to the best of my ability on this group project, and to work collaboratively with my fellow group members. I commit to timely completion of my assigned parts in the final project."

3B: Curriculum Binder (225 pts)

This project has many components. The final product will be a sizable document with sections for each of the components found in the grading rubric. Please generate a Table of Contents matching the sections of the document. Discuss each of your team's work on these components and come to agreement on any issues that arise during your planning and research phase. Each component must “fit” with all other components. In other words, the goal is for the finished project to come together and for the various components to coordinate with each other, not compete or contradict. No individual work will be accepted; this is a team project. Member responsibilities are to be listed on the Concept Proposal Form.

Note: For the literature review section, a minimum of two articles per group member (8-10 sources total) on group work with this specific population from professional journals (social work or other behavioral science journals) are required. Then, a 2-4 page synthesis paper of what the team learned overall from all the research about designing a group for this population. Upload all articles (2 per person) as PDFs into Group Files under Project Teams. Do not attach to or within the Curriculum Binder itself.

Required project components with incorporated grading rubric
Curriculum Binder Outline	Required Components	Pages	Points
Purpose of Group	Statement of Purpose Problem or Condition to Treat Overall Goals and Objectives	1-2	15 Points
Agency Sponsorship	Agency Name and Mission (may be actual or imagined) Relationship of Group to Agency Mission Agency Resources (facilities and staff) Agency Supports and Restraints Addressing Restraints	2	20 Points
Group Membership & Recruitment	Specific Population for Group (justify any exclusions) Number of members Identify as Open or closed group with rationale Plan to explain the purpose to potential members Management of diversity concerns Member recruitment/screening/or assessment tool (provide OR develop a screening tool/form/protocol for use)	4-5	30 Points
Group Leadership	Describe Leadership Style and Roles Describe the Leader Skills needed Justify decision concerning Use of a Co-Leader Evaluation tool for leadership effectiveness provide or develop a tool/form/protocol for use	2-3	25 Points
Group Logistics	Frequency, duration, length, location for the group Ideal Room Space and Arrangement Describe Financial Arrangements/Billing issues Plan for any Special Arrangement (such as child care, transportation, meals if necessary) Plan for Contacting Group Members Confidentiality Maintenance plan Record-keeping process Plan for handling difficult member situations	3-5	25 Points
Literature Review	A 2 paragraph synopsis (~1 page) of each article (2 per person) with APA reference at top A 2-4 page synthesis of the key points the team learned from this research (with in-text citations) about designing a group curriculum for this population Reference page at the end of THIS section in APA Upload PDF articles in Group Files/Project Teams	6-8	35 Points
Group Outline	Week 1: Intro meeting plans with icebreakers Weeks 2-9: Therapeutic Activities, Goals and Rationale (details may be bulleted listed) 10^th Termination Session plans with evaluation	4-5	35 Points
Evaluation of Practice Plan	Assessment of Individual group members Assessment of Overall Group Functioning (provide or develop tool/form/protocol for use)	3-4	25 Points
Product Quality - Writing and Organization	Table of contents with corresponding page numbers Binder has consistent voice and information Adheres to required format with appropriate APA headings Meets professional standards for quality writing All materials/resources must be cited if not original		15 Points
Total		27-32 pages	225 Points

3C: Role Play Facilitation (70 pts)

Each team is to prepare and facilitate a group role play (30 minutes total) with class colleagues as group members. Plan to demonstrate an intervention activity (not an icebreaker and not a termination event) from the 10 session group curriculum your team has developed. Instructors may divide the class into two large breakouts (or another arrangement) with three teams each (approximately 12 students per large group) to rotate the group role-plays and participate with each other. Team members should share roles equally.

See the required format, instructions, and timing:

First, prepare your class colleagues for the role play by having one team member review the following PowerPoint slides:

Slide 1: Title of the Group, primary purpose and target participants, plus group project team members;
Slide 2: Client scenario example with basic description of anticipated client issues/needs.

Then, begin the group intervention role play. Two team members will co-facilitate while others engage as group member participants, along with class colleagues.

Engage effectively, explain the topic/activity, and facilitate discussion using an intervention from the treatment phase of your group project for this telehealth role play session. (Do not use icebreakers unless you can demonstrate it is efficacious from a treatment standpoint.) Ideally, the class will be divided into two breakouts with three teams apiece (approximately 12 students in each) to rotate their group role plays and participate with each other.

Finally, one team member will conduct a Q & A dialogue with class colleagues about the group, the population, and/or your research findings.

Team Member Roles & Timing: 30 minutes total

PowerPoint slides - 5 mins (1 team member)
Group Role Play - 15 mins (2 team members as co-facilitators)
Q&A - 5 mins (1 team member)

**Group Intervention Role Play Rubric**
Role Play Components	Points
Prepare: PowerPoint (2 slides) prepare with required info and relevant client scenario	10
Group Role Play Engagement: Engage members and begin the session using best group practices	10
Group Role Play Intervention: Clearly explain the topic/activity directions and ask for member Qs	10
Group Role Play Assessment: Facilitate de-brief of intervention for insights/reactions of clients	10
Group Role Play Evaluation: Conclude the session, summarize, and communicate appreciation for clients	10
Q&A: Dialogue with colleagues on group project and research findings (1 slide)	10
Overall: Team roles were distributed equally and delivered effectively	5
Overall: Timing for components were professional and productive	5
Total Team Grade	70 points

3D: Team Evaluation (30 pts)

Each team member will complete a two page reflection on their team’s group process using the Team Evaluation & Participation Form provided that indicates overall group functioning for the whole team, task group norms, as well as, everyone's roles on the team. In addition, students will reflect on his, her or their own contribution to the group project. Individual grades may adjusted based on the team’s group comments as a whole and integrity of an individual student's reflection.