Opportunities For Peer Support Research Articles

A Qualitative Exploration of Participant Experiences in the Avoiding Diabetes After Pregnancy Trial in Moms (ADAPT-M)

ObjectivesGestational diabetes mellitus (GDM), a temporary condition of pregnancy, identifies women at high risk of developing subsequent type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2D). Lifestyle interventions have been shown to reduce the risk of developing T2D after GDM. However, they often have low attendance and adherence rates. The Avoiding Diabetes After Pregnancy Trial in Moms (ADAPT-M) is a 24-week home-based postpartum program aimed at bridging the gap from prenatal care to T2D prevention for women with GDM. Our objective was to explore the experiences of participants who completed the ADAPT-M program, to elicit their perceived benefits and opportunities for improvement. MethodsThis was a qualitative descriptive study wherein we conducted semistructured interviews with 21 women with previous GDM who participated in the ADAPT-M program in Ontario, Canada. Transcripts were analyzed using NVivo software using a conventional content analysis approach. ResultsTwo themes describing the experience of women who underwent the ADAPT-M lifestyle-based coaching program emerged: 1) the benefits of a supportive relationship between coaches and participants; and 2) a desire for more from the program, including peer support, more customization, and addressing emotional needs. ConclusionsOur findings support the importance of fostering supportive health-care relationships in T2D prevention programs for postpartum women with a history of GDM. Enhanced customization, emotional support, and opportunities for peer support should be considered in the development of future programming to better meet the needs of participants.

"Uncovering the unspoken": a narrative analysis of patients' experiences with testicular cancer.

The aim of this study was to understand the experiences of young men with a diagnosis of testicular cancer (TC) using a narrative approach, with the intention of informing models of care and support in clinical services. TC patients were recruited to participate in one of four focus groups examining their lived experiences from diagnosis. Focus groups were recorded and transcribed and analyzed using a narrative approach. A total of 4 focus groups were held from March to May 2019, involving 21 participants. Participants were currently on treatment (n = 2), < 2years from treatment completion (n = 7), or > 2years from treatment completion (n = 12). Two overarching meta-themes were identified: Negotiating Identity (comprising "recovery, repair and control"; "breaking the news"; "threats to fertility and virility"; "multiple masculinities") and Needing to Adjust (comprising "trauma and post-traumatic growth"; "facing vulnerability"; "managing to cope"; "secrecy vs. privacy"). Shared themes relating to environments for support, conversations about cancer, and time stress were also identified. Despite the significant cure rates for testicular cancer, the psychosocial needs of patients diagnosed with TC are paramount and potentially long-lasting. Improved clinical care for these patients includes exploration of both physical and psychosocial concerns over multiple timepoints. Opportunities for peer support and mentorship may be essential to support these vulnerable patients.

Meeting the Needs of Emerging Adults With Type 1 Diabetes Living in a Rural Area With Mobile Health Interventions: Focus Group Study.

Emerging adults (EAs; age 18-30 years) with type 1 diabetes (T1D) have more challenges with diabetes management and glycemic control than other age groups. Living in a rural community introduces additional unique diabetes care challenges due to limited access to specialty care and ancillary support services. Yet, few interventions have been developed to improve diabetes management in rural-dwelling EAs with T1D. This study aimed to understand the diabetes management experiences of older adolescents and EAs (age 16-25 years) with T1D living in a rural area and to assess their perceptions of the acceptability of 4 fully automated mobile health (mHealth) interventions to support diabetes management. EAs were identified by clinical staff through convenience sampling. In total, 8 EAs participated in 1 focus group and 1 EA completed an individual interview; all data were collected over Zoom. Facilitators explored EAs' experiences living in a rural community with T1D and discussed EAs' impressions of, feedback on, and recommendations for improving 4 mHealth interventions to meet the specific needs of EAs with T1D living in rural communities. Discussions were transcribed and analyzed using conventional content analysis. In total, 9 EAs (aged 18.8, SD 2.7 years; 5, 56% men; 8, 89% White) with a duration of diabetes of 8.6 (SD 4.3) years participated. They described experiences with diabetes stigma (attributing diabetes to poor lifestyle choices) and feelings of self-consciousness (hyperawareness) in their rural communities. They attributed these experiences to the small size of their communities ("everyone knows") and community members' lack of knowledge about diabetes (unable to differentiate between type 1 and type 2 diabetes). In contrast, EAs reported high levels of social support for diabetes and diabetes care from family, friends, and other community members, but low support for medical needs. The location of their diabetes care providers and the limited accessibility of diabetes-specific and general medical care services in their local community created a challenging medical care context. Overall, EAs found mHealth interventions appealing due to their digital delivery and highlighted features that increased accessibility (voiceovers and simple, jargon-free language), individualization (ability to tailor intervention content and delivery), and applicability to their own lives and other EAs with T1D (relatability of vignettes and other content). EAs suggestions for improving the interventions included more opportunities to tailor the interventions to their preferences (greater frequency and duration, ability to adapt content to emerging needs), increasing opportunities for peer support within the interventions (friend and significant other as identified support person, connecting with peers beyond their local community), and making the tone of intervention components more casual and engaging. mHealth interventions aligned with EAs' needs and preferences are a promising strategy to support EAs in communities where social support and resources might be limited. N/A, not a clinical trial.

Perspectives on and Experiences With Bullying From Youth With Neuromuscular Conditions.

Aim: To understand the bullying experiences of youth with neuromuscular conditions. Method: Fourteen participants with neuromuscular conditions (10 male; 10-19 years old) participated in semistructured interviews that were analyzed using inductive thematic analysis. Results: Four overarching themes were identified: (1) participants experienced stigma-based bullying; (2) participants exhibited resilience despite bullying victimization; (3) participants identified personally and theoretically helpful and unhelpful supports with regard to bullying; and (4) participants proposed bullying interventions. Interpretation: Individuals with neuromuscular conditions had unique experiences and perspectives on bullying. This qualitative study provides health care professionals with insight into the bullying experiences of patients with neuromuscular conditions. Findings highlight the role for formal and informal education to mitigate stigma-based bullying and increased opportunities for peer support as a protective factor against bullying.

Creating Family-Centred Support for Preschoolers with Developmental Disabilities in Low-Income Countries: A Rapid Review to Guide Practitioners.

Preschoolers with disabilities and their caregivers have been neglected in health and social service provision in most low-income countries and arguably also in low-resourced areas of more affluent nations. Yet as this rapid review of the published literature identifies, there are low-cost, evidence-based strategies to address their needs that can be implemented in communities by local people. Five key features of the necessary supports are examined. First, the leadership functions required to create and implement the support services. Second, the family-centred, home-based support provided to caregivers and the personnel undertaking this form of support. Third, providing opportunities for peer support to flourish and encouraging the formation of advocacy groups across families. Fourth, mobilizing the support of significant groups within the community: notably, traditional healers and leaders, health services and poverty alleviation initiatives. Fifth, devising ways in which preschool educational opportunities can be offered to children as a prelude to their inclusion in primary schools. The review serves a further purpose. It provides an example of how public health researchers and academics could achieve more rapid implementation of evidence-based knowledge into existing and new support services through dissemination to community practitioners.

Building a communication and support network among quality improvement teams in nursing homes: a longitudinal study of the SCOPE trial

BackgroundWe applied a longitudinal network analysis approach to assess the formation of knowledge sharing and collaboration networks among care aide-led quality improvement (QI) teams in Canadian nursing homes participating in the Safer Care for Older Persons (in residential) Environments (SCOPE) trial which aimed to support unregulated front-line staff to lead unit-based quality improvement (QI) teams in nursing homes. We hypothesized that SCOPE's communicative and participatory nature would provide opportunities for peer support, knowledge sharing, and collaboration building among teams.MethodsFourteen QI teams in Alberta (AB) and seventeen QI teams in British Columbia (BC) participated in the study. Communications across nursing homes occurred through a series of 4 collaborative Learning Congresses (training sessions) over a 1-year period. The senior leaders of QI teams participated in two online network surveys about the communication/collaboration between teams in their province, 1 month after the first, and 6 months later, after the fourth Learning Congress. We developed communication and collaboration network maps pertaining to three time points: before SCOPE, at 2 months, and at 9 months.ResultsOver time, teams made significantly more new connections and strengthened existing ones, within and across regions. Geographic proximity and co-membership in organizational chains were important predictors of connectivity before and during SCOPE. Teams whose members were well connected at baseline disproportionately improved connectivity over time. On the other hand, teams that did not have prior opportunities to connect appeared to use SCOPE to build new ties.ConclusionsOur findings suggest the importance of network-altering activities to the formation of collaboration networks among QI teams across nursing homes. Active strategies could be used to better connect less connected teams and facilitate collaboration among geographically proximate teams. These findings may inform the development of interventions to leverage existing networks and provide new networking opportunities to develop and sustain organizational improvements.

Digital communication tools in family therapy: A review of opportunities and challenges for English-Speaking practitioners

Digital communication tools have revolutionized the field of family therapy, offering both opportunities and challenges for English-speaking practitioners. With the proliferation of technology, therapists have access to a wide array of platforms and applications that can enhance therapeutic interventions. However, integrating these tools into practice requires careful consideration of ethical, legal, and clinical implications. Digital communication tools offer numerous advantages for family therapy practitioners. Teletherapy platforms enable therapists to reach clients in remote locations or those with mobility constraints, expanding access to care. Video conferencing allows for face-to-face interactions, facilitating rapport building and nonverbal communication cues essential for effective therapy. Additionally, digital tools such as secure messaging apps or virtual whiteboards enhance communication between sessions, fostering continuity of care and homework completion. Online support groups and forums provide clients with opportunities for peer support and community engagement, supplementing traditional therapy approaches. Despite their benefits, digital communication tools pose significant challenges for English-speaking practitioners. Ensuring confidentiality and data security is paramount, requiring adherence to stringent privacy regulations such as HIPAA (Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act). Therapists must navigate issues of informed consent, boundary maintenance, and emergency protocols in the digital realm. Moreover, technological barriers, such as internet connectivity issues or lack of digital literacy among clients, can hinder the effectiveness of therapy sessions. Cultural considerations also play a role, as language barriers or cultural differences in technology use may impact therapeutic engagement. Digital communication tools offer English-speaking family therapy practitioners unprecedented opportunities to enhance therapeutic interventions. However, these tools come with inherent challenges that must be addressed to ensure ethical and effective practice. By carefully navigating the opportunities and challenges presented by digital communication tools, therapists can harness the power of technology to improve client outcomes and advance the field of family therapy.

"Too Many Jobs and Not Enough Hands": Immigrant and Refugee Community Health Workers at the Frontlines of the COVID-19 Pandemic.

Refugees and immigrants have experienced heightened health inequities related to COVID-19. As community-embedded frontline health personnel, refugee and immigrant community health workers (riCHWs) played essential roles in the provision of informational, instrumental, and emotional support during the unprecedented first year of the pandemic. Despite the importance of this workforce, riCHWs are at high risk for burnout due to low recognition and demanding workloads. This was exacerbated as riCHWs navigated a new and uncertain health delivery landscape. We sought to glean insight into riCHWs' stressors, coping strategies and resources, and self-efficacy to identify ways to support their work and wellbeing. Using a narrative inquiry approach, we conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 11 riCHWs working in a midsized city in the midwestern United States. We generated three distinct yet interrelated themes: (1) Rapid and trustworthy information is key, (2) Creativity and perseverance are good … structural support is better, and (3) Integrating riCHW expertise into health promotion programming and decision-making. Although riCHWs were deeply committed to enhancing community wellbeing, quickly shifting responsibilities in tandem with structural-level health inequities diminished their self-efficacy and mental health. riCHWs relied on work-based friends/colleagues for informational and emotional support to enhance their capacity to deliver services. Findings suggest increasing opportunities for peer support and idea-exchange, professional development, and integration of riCHW expertise in health promotion decision-making are effective strategies to enhance riCHWs' professional self-efficacy and personal wellbeing.

Autistic adults’ experiences of managing wellbeing and implications for social prescribing

Autistic people demonstrate poor outcomes on objective measures of wellbeing, yet research centring lived experience provides a more nuanced picture. There is growing support for person-centred, holistic and community approaches to enhancing wellbeing for autistic people. Social prescribing may be one such approach. This qualitative study explored the concept of wellbeing for autistic adults – including barriers and self-management – and the implications of this for modifying social prescribing. It involved semi-structured interviews with 21 autistic adults in the UK. Reflexive thematic analysis of the data supports research suggesting that self-determination may underlie many aspects of wellbeing for autistic people. The COVID-19 pandemic provided new opportunities to develop wellbeing strategies but also had negative impacts. Social prescribing could promote self-determination by signposting autistic people to peer support opportunities building on intrinsic interests.

Student nurses as a future general practice nursing workforce. Implementing collaborative learning in practice: implications for placement learning and patient access. A mixed methods study

BackgroundThere is a global shortage of nurses, with particularly acute shortfall in General Practice Nursing in the United Kingdom estimated at as high as 50% vacancy rate by 2031 by some sources. There has previously been reluctance for General Practices to host student nurses on placement, but it has become imperative to increase placement capacity if practices are to be able to recruit a future workforce. Collaborative Learning in Practice is a means of organising placement learning for student nurses using a coaching model, that allows for leadership development, peer support and earlier engagement in patient care, and increases placement capacity.MethodsThis was a mixed methods study using qualitative data from focus groups to evaluate the implementation of Collaborative Learning in Practice, and routinely collected audit data on numbers of clinic appointments to investigate the potential impact an increased capacity of student nurses might have on patient access to services. The aims of this study were: to implement and evaluate Collaborative Learning in Practice in General Practice Nursing settings; to explore issues of interprofessional learning; to explore patient access to services related to increased student nurse capacity.ResultsOur qualitative data indicated the following themes as important to students and staff: Peer Support; Interprofessional Learning; and the Importance of ‘own clinics’ for students to see patients. The audit data indicated that having students leading their own clinics increased the clinic numbers available by approximately 20% compared to when students were not in placement.ConclusionsThis study shows that student nurses increased clinic capacity and improved access for patients. Students valued their placement, felt that they were more ‘part of the team’ than in other placements and consequently had a greater sense of belonging. This was multifaceted, coming in part from the welcoming practice staff, in part from the opportunities for peer support engendered by the collaborative learning in practice model, and in part from the interprofessional learning opportunities available. General Practice Nursing placements for students are important for future workforce recruitment and can help meet Quality and Outcomes Framework targets for General Practices.

Experiences of implementation of the group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities among multi-professional teams in specialized healthcare

Objective To describe the experiences of multi-professional teams of implementation of group-based adaptation training intervention for patients with chronic somatic illnesses or disabilities in specialized healthcare. Materials and methods Multi-professional teams (n = 7) implementing adaptation training courses for chronically ill patients in specialised healthcare were interviewed between 09/2020 and 12/2021. The themes for thematic group interviews were based on the standard protocol implementation of adaptation training in specialised healthcare, including planning, implementation and evaluation of the adaptation training courses. The interviews were audio-recorded and transcribed. The data were analysed using inductive content analysis. Results The experiences of multi-professional teams involved using pedagogical methods, providing guidance and counselling to support the rehabilitation process, ensuring opportunities for peer support, and supporting the course participants’ involvement and activities in everyday life. Conclusions Healthcare professionals should use pedagogical methods in reflective guidance and counselling to promote client-oriented approach in supporting adaptation. Their competence in pedagogy needs to be build and maintained by continuous education. Multi-professional teams need to ensure sufficient and versatile conditions for peer support and involvement of family members by creating open and trusting atmosphere, unhurried encounters, discussions, different and varying ways of working. Adaptation training can strengthen the self-efficacy of participants and help them shift their attention from illness and disability to thoughts of the future. Adaptation training can support active and meaningful daily life in a changed life situation.

“I would want to see young people working in here, that’s what I want to see…” how peer support opportunities in youth offending services can support a Child First, trauma-informed, and reparative model of practice for youth justice

PurposeThis paper aims to explore how peer support can support a combined Child First, trauma-informed and restorative approach for youth justice. While other scholars have identified clashes between these approaches, particularly between Child First and restorative approaches, a focus on reparative practice with peers has been under-explored as a more child-centred model for reparation-focused work.Design/methodology/approachWe draw on qualitative data from interviews and surveys undertaken with young people and parents/caregivers in a London youth offending service (YOS). The data was part of a broader mixed-methods study in the YOS that used observational methods alongside surveys and interviews to evaluate the effectiveness of its model of practice. Peer support emerged as a theme.FindingsParticipants expressed the desire to see young people working and volunteering in the YOS and felt this would help make it a safe and non-threatening space. Young people who had completed their time with the YOS saw themselves as role models with the insight and skills to support others. These young people expressed a strong desire to work in the YOS and, in some cases, to develop long-term careers supporting young people.Originality/valueOur research challenges the notion that young people who have been involved in crime struggle to empathise, providing rich examples of their empathic understanding for peers. Peer support opportunities could offer a reconceptualisation of restorative practice that is Child First and trauma-informed. Such opportunities would benefit both the young people being supported and those offering support, building a co-produced approach that is directly informed by the expressed needs and desires of the young people.

A qualitative analysis of how frontline homeless service workers in Texas experience burnout during the COVID-19 pandemic

ABSTRACT Frontline homeless service provision is both rewarding and challenging work. Some have raised concerns about elevated burnout risk, traumatic stress, compassion fatigue, and high levels of staff turnover in the sector. Previous research has shown that the COVID-19 pandemic exacerbated existing challenges and added new ones, such as adapting to changing public health guidance, which created particularly stressful conditions for workers and agencies. The aim of this study was to explore to what extent homeless service workers have experienced burnout during the pandemic and the primary work-based contextual factors they believe contribute to burnout. Qualitative interviews were conducted with 21 frontline homeless service workers in Texas. While all participants described some burnout during the pandemic, the severity varied. Participants’ burnout experiences aligned with the three dimensions of burnout: energy depletion, mental distancing from work, and reduced professional efficacy. Workers also pointed to multiple organization-level factors as causes of burnout during the pandemic. These included poor communication, top-down decision making, lack of organization support, reduced peer support from co-workers, and inadequate supervision. Recognizing how organizational factors can impact worker well-being, recommendations for strengthening leadership, improving supervision strategies, and creating opportunities for peer support between co-workers are offered.

Global Statements to Produce and Implement Evidence in the Post-COVID-19 Era Provide a Path Forward for Rehabilitation - A Joint Initiative of Cochrane Rehabilitation and the Leading Journals in the Field.

Global Statements to Produce and Implement Evidence in the Post-COVID-19 Era Provide a Path Forward for Rehabilitation - A Joint Initiative of Cochrane Rehabilitation and the Leading Journals in the Field.

CHALLENGES AND SUPPORTS FOR VETERAN CAREGIVERS DURING THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC: A MIXED-METHODS STUDY

Abstract Informal caregivers face challenges in supporting older or medically-complex Veterans, which could be exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Our mixed methods observational study explored Veteran caregivers’ supports, challenges, and self-identified impacts during the pandemic. Caregivers whose veterans needed help with at least one activity of daily living for the last year and received care at one of five Veterans Health Administration (VA) study sites were eligible. Survey participants (n=46) were 96% female, 32-83 years old (median 59); most (83%) cared for a spouse. A majority (67%, n=31) reported increased stress since the start of the pandemic. Top sources of increased stress included worry about COVID-19 infection, increased caregiving responsibility, delayed access to care, concerns about vaccine safety, and employment or financial concerns. Caregiver interviews (n=26) qualitatively analyzed using a rapid, templated approach identified the following themes: (1) the benefits and challenges of VA COVID precautions to Veteran care access (e.g. telehealth, getting care for new problems), (2) supports afforded by and limits of the expansion of the VA Caregiver Support Program, (3) declines in Veteran physical and cognitive functioning, (4) increased caregiver role in Veterans’ support and care, (5) changes in work and living situations to address increased caregiving needs and/or reduce risk of exposure, and (6) loss of and then return to more usual routines and social outlets amid ongoing COVID-related uncertainties. Recommendations include targeted, personalized outreach to engage caregivers in existing supports, removing barriers and streamlining processes for obtaining services, and creating durable caregiver-to-caregiver, peer support opportunities.

The Adverse Effects of Burnout and Compassion Fatigue Among Mental Health Practitioners: Self-care Strategies for Prevention and Mitigation

Over the years, a body of empiricism and conceptual frameworks has burgeoned related to the emotional toll often exacted on mental health practitioners engaged in the helping field—an emotional toll often denoted as burnout and compassion fatigue. This article delineates the concepts of burnout and compassion fatigue and their adverse, often catastrophic, effects on mental health practitioners’ personal and professional functioning when left unaddressed. The article also highlights the more recent research relating to the changes and challenges brought about by the SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19) pandemic and its exacerbation of burnout and compassion fatigue among mental health practitioners. Finally, the article highlights practical, empirically validated, and efficacious self-care strategies for individual practitioners and organisations to utilise in preventing and mitigating the adverse effects of burnout and compassion fatigue. The latter are: walking or other forms of exercise; engaging regularly in mindfulness and meditation practices; seeking support from family and friends; engaging in pleasurable activities, such as taking a holiday and socialising; and personal psychotherapy. The top five best practice strategies for office/practice managers are: instituting reasonable working hours and caseloads for mental health practitioners; optimising working spaces and consulting rooms; providing adequate break times throughout the working day; providing ample opportunities for peer support, clinical supervision, and other debriefing initiatives; and facilitating occasional team-building and wellbeing days.

Impact of Virtual Yoga on Management of Sleep and Anxiety in Persons with Vision Impairment

The goal of this research was to assess the effects of virtual yoga on sleep and anxiety in persons with vision impairment. This study was a quasi-experimental single group design. Thirteen participants engaged in a six-week Hatha yoga experience with weekly sessions presented on a zoom platform with the recorded sessions provided to the participants after each session. Participants completed self-report assessments for sleep quality and anxiety, pre and post intervention. Wilcoxon Signed Ranks tests revealed significant improvements in both outcomes. Participants reported other positive outcomes from this experience, including opportunities for peer support, socialization, and the ability to exercise within the safety of their home environment.

Posterior Tibial Nerve Stimulation in Children with Lower Urinary Tract Dysfunction: A Mixed-Methods Analysis of Experiences, Quality of Life and Treatment Effect.

Background: Posterior tibial nerve stimulation (PTNS) is one of the treatment modalities for children with therapy-refractory lower urinary tract dysfunction (LUTD). This study used a mixed-methods analysis to gain insight into the experiences of children treated with PTNS and their parents, the effect of treatment on quality of life (QOL) and the effect of PTNS on urinary symptoms. Methods: Quantitative outcomes were assessed through a single-centre retrospective chart analysis of all children treated with PTNS in a group setting between 2016–2021. Voiding parameters and QOL scores before and after treatment were compared. Qualitative outcomes were assessed by an explorative study involving semi-structured interviews transcribed verbatim and inductively analysed using the constant-comparative method. Results: The data of 101 children treated with PTNS were analysed. Overall improvement of LUTD was seen in 42% and complete resolution in 10%. Average and maximum voided volumes significantly increased. QOL improved in both parents and children independent of the actual effect on urinary symptoms. Interviews revealed PTNS to be well-tolerated. Facilitating PTNS in a group setting led to feelings of recognition in both children and parents. Conclusions: PTNS is a good treatment in children with therapy-refractory LUTD and provides valuable opportunities for peer support if given in a group setting.

Psychosocial screening in a pediatric diabetes clinic: Adolescents' and mothers' perspectives.

Adolescents with type 1 diabetes (T1D) frequently experience psychosocial concerns, and mental health screening is becoming increasingly common in routine diabetes care. However, little is known about what adolescents or their caregivers think about the role of mental health screening and intervention within the context of comprehensive diabetes care, or how their diabetes care providers should be involved in navigating mental health concerns. This study used qualitative methods to obtain the perspectives of adolescents with T1D and their caregivers regarding these issues. Participants were 13 adolescents with T1D (ages 12-19 years; M = 15.1 years; 53.8% female; 61.5% Hispanic/Latinx White) and 13 mothers, recruited from an outpatient pediatric endocrinology clinic in South Florida, who participated in semi-structured interviews via video teleconference. Thematic content analysis was used to evaluate participants' responses. Adolescents and their mothers reported positive experiences with the clinic's psychosocial screening procedures and appreciated meeting with the psychology team during visits. They wanted the clinic to offer more opportunities for peer support. Mothers highlighted barriers to seeking mental health care outside of the clinic and the importance of mental health professionals understanding diabetes. Mothers also wanted the clinic to offer more on-site therapeutic services. Study participants valued psychosocial screening and supported addressing mental health as a routine part of diabetes comprehensive care.

"A Place to Be Heard and to Hear": the Humanities Collaboratory as a Model for Cross-College Cooperation and Relationship-Building in Undergraduate Research.

This article reports findings from a study of laboratory-styled humanities undergraduate research (UR) programming designed to increase access to this high-impact practice, better reaching historically excluded students and less visible institutions. The Humanities Collaboratory (HLAB) is a ten-week summer research program that emerged from the partnership of a research university and the area community college system. Aimed at actively addressing educational inequity, and the more specific lack of access humanities students have to impactful UR opportunities, HLAB offers an intensive humanities research experience to first-generation students, low-income students, and Students of Color currently enrolled in two-year colleges, HBCUs, MSIs, and HSIs. Since the program’s creation in 2018, qualitative data collected from 50 participating students over three years of self-evaluations illustrates why HLAB presents a significant learning opportunity for students and highlights the critical importance of relationship-building in UR. Analyzing students’ responses through the heuristic of communities of practice provides insight into a community-focused UR pedagogy that emphasizes relationality among students, mentors, and institutions. Students detail the importance of collaborative skill-building, opportunities for peer support, networking connections, and possibilities for more holistic personal growth in UR experiences. Our findings describing the benefits of relational UR signal the need for cooperative programming designs that increase access to undergraduate research for humanities students across institutions of higher education.