Rural Left-behind Children Growth Group Practice And Reflection

Left-behind children has become a growing concern of our society in recent years. The author has participated a creative social program offered by Touch Community Services, a non-governmental organization of Singapore and the research area was social service for left-behind children. After synthetizing the materials, the author finally chose15left-behind children in Shang BuZi village (Chang’an District, Xi’an City) as her research target, and named this group of left-behind children as "smiling sunflowers growth group". The author has stayed with these15left-behind children for four month with the hope of knowing about their current status and real needs. The author used the team work method in social work study and gave her own suggestions and responses of the left-behind children problem.This dissertation applies literature review and interviewing method in qualitative research. Through literature review, the author learned about the current research status of left-behind children and came up with her own research aspect and method:the using of group social work method. The theoretical basis of this dissertation is social study theory and strength perspective. As a social worker, the author interviewed guardians of left-behind children and local village official. The author found out the advantages and actual needs of left-behind children through social work practice and focused research. The author also adjusted her research plan according to current situations. After summarizing the left-behind children’s change of thought and behavior before and after the group activity, the author analyzed whether the application of group social method has achieved the expected goals. The author found out the limitations of her research and came up with some responses. The responses include four levels:supporting system, the cooperation of left-behind children, group activity design, social work team construction.This dissertation aims to provide feasible methods of social work practice for left-behind children. The implementation of group work method in social work study enables the left-behind children to learn from each other through game playing, they also develop their potential and it is useful for their healthy growth. In the meanwhile, the solving of left-behind children problem will contribute to building a harmonious society.