Introduction CHAPTER SUMMARY This chapter introduces students to social group work practice and provides them with a broad framework and overview for working with treatment and task groups. The chapter begins with an overview of the organization of the book and the generalist practice perspective for working with the wide array of groups professional social workers participate in and lead in community and institutional settings. This is followed by a description of the historical and current values and ethics that govern social group work practice. Readers are referred to Appendix A1, A2 and A3 that contain guidelines for ethical group work practice available from the three major group work associations; the American Group Psychotherapy Association, the Association for Specialists in Group Work, and the Association for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups. After presenting a definition of group work practice that is compatible with generalist social work practice perspective, the chapter distinguishes between formed and natural groups and treatment and task groups and presents the advantages and disadvantages of working in treatment and task groups as compared to individual efforts. To illustrate the breadth and depth of social group work practice the chapter concludes with comprehensive typologies of treatment and task groups. CSWE COMPETENCIES FOUND IN THIS CHAPTER Ethical Practice Research Based Practice Policy Practice Engage, Assess, Intervene, Evaluate LEARNING OBJECTIVES • To introduce students to social group work practice • To place social group work practice within a generalist practice framework • To define social group work practice