The Beauty and the Mess: Adolescent Group Programming

Developing autonomy and social identity within peer groups is a hallmark trait of adolescence. Inpatient hospitalization, evolving technology, and the COVID-19 pandemic have disrupted how chronically ill adolescents interact with their peers. This presentation will discuss how group programming in the hospital setting can assist in mitigating these barriers to optimal development and provide participants with concrete tools to successfully establishing group programming in their institution.

Suggested Domain: Intervention

1.5 PDUs

Learning Objectives:

1. Participants will have exposure to background in theory and current research regarding adolescent development, and how hospitalization, chronic illness, and current cultural trends are creating barriers to optimal development. 

2. Participants will have an understanding of different peer group modalities to establish safe and therapeutic, peer group environment with directed goals and objectives that meet the needs of varying ages, cultural backgrounds, interests, and developmental levels.

3. Participants will understand strategies to successful group programming including physical settings, adaptability of facilitator, strategies for management of multiple patients, reflection and processing of activity, and continued follow up.