ABSTRACT
Group work practice with children and youth has exerted a strong influence on the value system, conceptual framework and technology of social work with groups. From its early emergence in settlement houses, community centers and child care institutions, through its street corner gang period and into its latter day proliferation in public schools, clinics and residential treatment programs, it has been both a creative pacesetter and a neglected step-child of the profession. The concept of peer culture is implicitly or explicitly identified as a contextual principle and as a means of access to helping the children to make use of the group and to aid them in resolution of their individual problems and growth needs. Also of interest is the integration of object relations and interpersonal, peer culture theories, a development that is proving to be of great value in enriching the theory and practice of group work in both child and adult spheres.
