Social Work Chat Format/Rules

How does a live twitter chat work? In order to participate, you must first have access to a twitter account. Then, you will need to go to your twitter search and type in the # hashtag associated with the chat.  Depending on the number of participants, the tweet stream may flow quickly.

To contribute to the discussion, you will need hashtag in each tweet. To direct a question to and/or include the moderator in the post, your tweet will need to include @swhelpercom and the hashtag. You can also use the Time Meeting Planner to determine the time for your time zone.

We will be discussing social justice, politics, and current events as well as issues relating to social work policy and practice. A few ground rules may need to be established to maintain a solution focused conversation.

Ground Rules CFT (Child and Family Team Meeting) Style

Creative environment
Open minded
No bad ideas
We support risk taking

All views heard
Listen with respect

Neutral Moderation
Facilitators serve the discussion

Understanding before judgment
Open minded
Ask questions

Minimize assumptions
Listen to understand
Imagine the other person’s view
If unclear, ask

Tolerance
Assume the best in each
Give the benefit of the doubt
Focus on behaviors, not personalities

We are here for the group cause
Us over me
Fully present

We know the process is imperfect
Don’t expect too much of each other
We probably won’t achieve all things for all people

Positive outlook
We might achieve more than we dreamed
Conflict and tension lead to solutions

Humility
I don’t know what’s best for the group
No one is smarter than all of us

Look for the best in each other
Each person has gifts to share
Appreciation and gratitude

We judge behaviors, not people
Separate behaviors from personalities
Don’t carry grudges
Don’t take things personally

Shared responsibility
For the chat outcomes
For following the process

Have fun
Laughter is good
Jokes welcome, at no one’s expense

Deona Hooper, MSW
Founder and Editor of Socialworkhelper.com

This rules were obtained from Good Group Decision Inc. For more information on Group Decision Making go to http://www.goodgroupdecisions.com/GroundRules.aspx