Reddit mentions of The Mutual-Aid Approach to Working with Groups: Helping People Help One Another, Second Edition

There is a great book for you to read as the leader The mutual aid approach to working with groups. It is mainly for a therapist, but has great methods for helping g the members see it as their group, how to handle conflict, setting group rules etc.

Is it mandatory that they attend? If so, it requires a different approach.

Flyer will need to include who, what, where, when etc. Have a group purpose defined and publicized. Answer the question for them, "why should I attend this? What is in it for me?"

Get buy-in. Make it their group. They may not want to read the things you pick, so preplan have different categories. Do they want fun & relaxing to take their minds away from their problems? Stories of hardship overcome? Stories about single moms or aliens travelling in space?

If it is at all possible, provide drinks & snacks. Research shows this increases attendance significantly.

Is the application for the students or the residents?

The good news is you don't have to worry about bus routes, building opening hours, etc.


http://www.amazon.com/The-Mutual-Aid-Approach-Working-Groups/dp/0789014629/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1395770918&sr=8-1&keywords=mutual+aid+groups+approach

It is a short book but extremely worth the read.

As for book sources, visit some used book stores/thrift shops and see if they will donate copies of titles once they are selected. Most of the used book stores I frequent have donation programs for prisons or schools or troops overseas.

You are doing a wonderful thing here.