A significant challenge for the mutual aid model is the lack of group work education inschools of social work. Social work students receive limited exposure to group work theory,methods, and skills related to forming groups, contracting, supporting mutual aid in phasesof group life, building mutual aid group structures and cultures, and dealing with blocks tomutual aid. Without sufficient exposure to group work history, theory, and practice traditions ofcommitment to democratic values of partnership, mutuality, and social justice, graduates do notfully appreciate the potential of mutual aid and lack sufficient group work skills (Kurland &Salmon, 2002). Thus what remains unclear is where the future educators, administrators,practitioners, and researchers will learn the art and science of mutual aid processes. TheAssociation for the Advancement of Social Work with Groups (www.aaswg.org) is attempting toassure the survival and growth of social group work practice. (105)

By helping an individual solve a problem, group members are also helping themselves to deal with similar issues. A particular form of problem solving is rehearsal, through which group members try out new behaviors in a safe environment. And when the focus is on collective rather than individual problem solving, the group provides a “strength in numbers” that increases courage and lessens risks. (100)