Reclaiming the Social in Social Group Work: An Experience of a Community Center in Hong Kong

ABSTRACT

This paper recaptures the history of the settlement house and its relationship with social group work. Through the examination of a community center in Hong Kong, the author argues that the “social” of social group work lies largely in the organizational domain within which group work is practiced. Group work practice inherited from the mission of the settlement house can connect individual change and growth with improvement in the social context. Therefore, to reclaim the roots of social group work, we may need to revisit the commitment of the profession to community-based center service.

KEYWORDS:

• Settlement house
• community center
• Hong Kong
• social group work
• Hull House
• Jane Addams