By Marilyn Ghezzi
On Nov. 2, the UNC School of Social Work was pleased to host the first conference of the newly-formed North Carolina chapter of the International Association of Social Work with Groups. 35 attendees enjoyed three workshops on different aspects of social work with groups.
Workshop topics included, “Working with challenging behaviors in groups,” presented by School of Social Work faculty member, Marilyn Ghezzi; “Meeting the challenges of organ transplantation: How groups can help,” presented by Roberta Wallace, LCSW, from Duke University Medical Center; and “Arts and peer support: A group promoting creative expression and recovery for people with mental illness,” presented by School of Social Work faculty member Laurie Selz Campbell and Hillary Rubesin from the N.C. Art Therapy Institute.
The IASWG chapter was formed by faculty members Anne Jones and Ghezzi, and Dr. Willa Casstevens from N.C. State. As a result, the conference provided a rare opportunity to bring together UNC and N.C. State MSW students, as well as local practitioners. Conference attendees were excited to have an opportunity to focus on the many ways that social workers can make use of the power of groups to help their clients. The chapter is planning a spring conference on March 22, 2014, in Raleigh.
