Although self-help groups function without a professional leader or facilitator there may be some important things that social workers can do to help clients benefit from them. The first and most important thing is to be knowledgeable about the self-help groups that are available in your area for clients with whom you work. A personal knowledge of what they do and what types of people they best help is invaluable. Many self-help groups are very open to having helping professionals come to meetings to observe and ask questions. Take advantage of those opportunities. It is important to have an opinion about the quality of the services provided by such groups as well as to know about their existence.
Specific ways a social worker can assist self-help groups:
The first eight of these come from the Zastrow text. I have added the ninth.
1. Help arrange a meeting place - agencies often have rooms available in the evening, which is a convenient time for many self-help groups to meet.
2. Help locate funds - there are resources available through national/state organizations, grants, private donations, or agencies that provide related services. Sometimes a little bit of funding can make a lot of difference
3. Refer members to the group - this is very important, and is a good reason to know as much as possible about the quality of services provided by the group.
4. Arrange or provide training for members and leaders.
5. Accept referrals from the group - it is important for group members to know what your agency and others can provide when they have crises or other experiences that can be responded to by professionals.
6. Help provide credibility of the group within the professional community and within the geographic community.
7. Help new groups get organized, including contact with national/state organizations.
8. Serve as a consultant when problems and opportunities arise - this may be especially important when there is no available outside organization or such organizations do not provide local support. It may be appropriate to establish some type of affiliation between your agency and the self-help group.
9. Provide evaluation expertise and other resources - you will know more about the group's effectiveness if it is evaluated and this may help the group and/or your agency receive funding, esteem, and other resources.