Social and Emotional Learning Group Work during the COVID-19 Pandemic, the Reopening, and the Mobilization for Racial Justice

Abstract

S ocial and emotional learning (SEL) group activities are one of the most common intervention approaches to teach students the developmental skills they need to succeed in life. The COVID-19 (coronavirus disease of 2019) pandemic forced facilitators to rapidly adapt SEL activities in response to changing conditions, including restrictions on conducting activities in person. Then the national mobilization for racial justice following the murder of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, and many others called for facilitators to tailor supports in relevant ways. This Practice Highlights column discusses the issues, challenges, and experience of staff and volunteers in one midwestern community-based youth agency in engaging K–12 Black students in SEL activities over three periods: before the pandemic, during the stay-at-home order, and when the agency reopened for in-person operations. Focus group discussions and interviews with staff and volunteers involved in facilitating the groups, as well as their logs documenting the proceedings of the group activities, were analyzed. Our research institutional review board approved the research activities. Overall experience indicates that the ability of the agency and facilitators to adapt and respond to students, families, and the community in creative ways ensured the successful delivery of SEL group activities during an uncertain time.