An organizational typology for self‐help groups

Abstract

Those investigating the nature and functioning of self-help groups have been handicapped by the lack of a conceptual framework to bridge the diversity among such groups as well as to clarify the boundaries between consumer-owned and professionally owned groups. This paper describes a typology that classifies local units of these groups in terms of differences and similarities in their organizational structures. Rooted in organizational theory, it has two dimensions: external dependence upon resources and internal extent of experiential authority. Using it, the authors identified five types of groups, referred to as Unaffiliated, Federated, Affiliated, Hybrid, and Managed. The typology was validated with actual groups.

Continuum of professional involvement in self-help groups

“…Schubert and Borkman (1991) state that groups which are professional-led are fundamentally different from peer-led groups. The research regarding professional involvement generally presents a dichotomous situation comparing peer-controlled self-help groups with little or no professional involvement and professionally led "support groups" (Borkman, 1990;Humphreys & Rappaport, 1994).…”

“…However, all groups which focus on providing mutual help using experiential knowledge, egalatarian and communal methods, regardless of their leadership, can be identified as "mutual aid" groups (Humphreys & Rappaport, 1994). For most researchers, a critical part of the operational definition of a self-help group-a subset of mutual aid groups-is that the group is member-controlled (Humphreys & Rappaport, 1994;Schubert & Borkman, 1991). The Surgeon General's Worship on Self-Help and Public Health defined self-help groups as:…”

“…At times these groups are not included in studies or self-help clearinghouse databases (Schubert & Borkman, 1991).…”

Razlike U Percipiranim Koristima Članstva U Različitim Tipovima Grupa Za Samopomoć I Podršku

“…Even though the types of self-help and support groups were constructed by the criteria of the target population, there lies a question about underlying dimensions, which were addressed by researchers who dealt with typologies of mutual-aid groups (Schubert & Borkman, 1991;Shopler & Galinsky, 1995;Farris Kurtz, 1997). The answers to questions about the programme of the groups, organisational characteristics, the rate of user-led activities in the group, etc.…”

Nurturing a Self-Help Group

“…Through one of my sociology courses, I met Dr. Thomasina Borkman, who consented to be my advisor. With her help, I completed an independent study that involved interviews with representatives of 10 self-help groups in the Washington, D.C., area (Schubert & Borkman, 1991). These interactions with selfhelp group members made me even more aware of the efficacy of self-help groups.…”