title: Genetic support groups and social workers as partners.
abstract: Collaborations with individual genetic support groups and with regional and national coalitions offer social workers the opportunity to expand their contributions to genetic services. Explored in this article are the current service contributions of genetic support groups, the potential impact of the national Alliance of Genetic Support Groups, and the opportunities for social workers to form mutually advantageous partnerships with genetic organizations. This expanded agenda for social work in genetic services also challenges the profession to translate the concept of partnership into action in the many other service areas in which social workers offer their skills.
authors.affiliation: Columbia University School of Social Work, New York, NY 10025.
authors.forename: R B
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Black
authors.forename: J O
authors.initials: JO
authors.lastname: Weiss
mesh_terms: D005817:Genetic Counseling; D006801:Humans; D007373:Interinstitutional Relations; D007587:Job Description; D009313:National Health Programs / Q000458:organization & administration; D009937:Organizational Objectives; D012657:Self-Help Groups / Q000458:organization & administration*; D012947:Social Work / Q000379:methods / Q000458:organization & administration*; D014481:United States