ABSTRACT
This introduction presents an overview of the key concepts discussed in the subsequent chapters of this book. The book gives information on an action research project developed to address the needs of international students and their families. It describes a group designed to assist and support birth families in developing a self-assessment of strengths and needs for family reunification. Crossing frontiers and establishing alliances is as much an integral part of the group worker's life as the development of mutual help between people is the foundation of social work with groups. The creation of alliances is an important way to reduce the limits that we are confronted by and permits us to make valuable contributions toward a more promising future. The arrival of new technologies, such as teleconferencing and the Internet, make it possible to hold discussions and exchange ideas, an advantage that was virtually nonexistent or impossible a decade ago.
