Conducting online social work groups, as a substitute for traditional forms of groups, was uncommon in Hong Kong before the outbreak of COVID-19. Frontline social workers encountered several difficulties and challenges while trying to provide this alternative form of social work intervention. This article serves as a reflection on the use of online social work groups from social work practitioners’ point of view at this critical juncture.
BarbhuiyaF.MazmuderA.Z. (2020) ‘Transformation of a Recreational Youth Group into Community Service Group during the COVID-19 Pandemic’, Social Work with Groups44: 53–9.
2.
BeaunoyerE.DupéréS.GuittonM.J. (2020) ‘COVID-19 and Digital Inequalities: Reciprocal Impacts and Mitigation Strategies’, Computers in Human Behavior111: 106424.
3.
BryantL.GarnhamB.TedmansonD.DiamandiS. (2018) ‘Tele-Social Work and Mental Health in Rural and Remote Communities in Australia’, International Social Work61(1): 143–55.
4.
ChanC.HoloskoM.J. (2016) ‘A Review of Information and Communication Technology Enhanced Social Work Interventions’, Research on Social Work Practice26(1): 88–100.
5.
ChanC.S.NgaiS-Y. (2018) ‘Utilizing Social Media for Social Work: Insights from Clients in Online Youth Services’, Journal of Social Work Practice33(2): 157–72.
6.
CheungJ.C.S. (2016) ‘Confronting the Challenges in Using Social Network Sites for Cyber Youth Work’, Social Work61(2): 171–3.
7.
CheungJ.C.S. (2020) ‘What Have Hospital Social Workers Been Prepared for COVID-19 from SARS, MERS, and H1N1?’Health & Social Work45(3): 211–14.
8.
KwanC.K.LingH.W.H.CheungJ.C.S.ChuiE.W.T. (2020) ‘Safeguarding Health Equality for the Disadvantaged during the COVID-19 Pandemic: Lessons Learned for the Social Work Profession’, Qualitative Social Work. Epub ahead of print 16 November. DOI: 10.1177/1473325020973337.
9.
LeungZ.C.S.WongS.S.K.LitC.ChanS-W.CheungF.WongP.L. (2017) ‘Cyber Youth Work in Hong Kong: Specific and yet the Same’, International Social Work60(5): 1286–300.
10.
LoueS. (2016) ‘Ethical Use of Electronic Media in Social Work Practice’, Romanian Journal for Multidimensional EducationVIII: 21–30.
11.
McDermottF. (2002) Inside Group Work: A Guide to Reflective Practice. Crows Nest: Allen & Unwin.
12.
PayneM.Reith-HallE. (2019) The Routledge Handbook of Social Work Theory. Abingdon; New York: Routledge.
13.
SeifertA. (2020) ‘The Digital Exclusion of Older Adults during the COVID-19 Pandemic’, Journal of Gerontological Social Work63: 674–6.
14.
ShumH.L.LeeC.H.CheungJ.C.S. (2020) ‘Should Esports Be a Co-Curricular Activity in School?’, Children & Schools. Epub ahead of print 23 July. DOI: 10.1093/cs/cdaa028.
15.
TrevorL.OrtonS. (2014) Groupwork Practice in Social Work, 3rd edn.London: Learning Matters.