Facilitator Magic: Near-Peer Mechanisms and Strategies to Facilitate Participant Engagement

Background and Purpose: Near-peer facilitation is an effective intervention strategy to engage young adults, particularly those with foster care histories (Munson et al., 2020). Research on supportive relationships among adults with mental illness suggests that peers with shared lived experience can enhance positive outcomes (Sledge et al., 2011). However, less is known about the specific strategies utilized beyond disclosing their shared history and personal recovery (Davidson et al., 2012). Despite these recognized benefits, there remains a knowledge gap regarding which specific near-peer strategies and mechanisms most effectively support participant engagement. This study aimed to identify strategies employed by near-peer facilitators and to examine collaborative dynamics between near-peers and adult supporters during intervention delivery to determine which mechanisms most effectively promote participant engagement.

Methods: Data were drawn from the remotely delivered Strengthening Youth Networks and Coping (SYNC) intervention program, which consisted of seven 90-minute sessions delivered in a small-group setting. SYNC is an adaptation of Coping Effectiveness Training (CET) that is designed for young people transitioning from foster care and is facilitated by near-peers with foster care experience and adult supporters. Video recordings of intervention sessions were systematically coded to identify concrete strategies used by facilitators. Analysis examined specific words and phrases, which were categorized into themes.

Results: The analysis of intervention sessions based on observer forms and memos revealed key facilitation strategies used by near-peer facilitators including: (1) expressing shared identities (e.g., as students, young adults, etc.) using phrases such as; "I think we all have a shared feeling of stress" including shared foster identities/experiences, such as "we are a group of people with lived experience in foster care”, “being in care we are encouraged to problem solve”; (2) expressing gratitude, positive affirmation, such as "thank you guys for your responses"; and (3) integrating social learning strategies through role modeling, vicarious learning, and guided practice of using skills (e.g., applying a skill first to a vignette and then in the context of their own lives). Findings revealed that the use of facilitator examples and relatable avatars was particularly effective in fostering participant engagement and integrating skill-building into the curriculum. Results also indicated that (4) leveraging technology (e.g., using polls and social media) and (5) cultivating relationships and rapport between facilitators were other forms of facilitator magic that continually fostered collaboration, effective communication, and created a comfortable learning space for participants.

Conclusions and Implications: This presentation will review concrete strategies that near-peers can use in the field, which have important implications for social work practice. Researchers should continue to examine and document the long-term impact of these strategies on participant outcomes and engagement. Additionally, further research should explore how the unique strategies and techniques that make facilitators effective (aka facilitator magic) can be scaled and adapted across different social work settings and populations to enhance engagement and meaningful connections.