EMPOWERMENT GROUP TRAININGDiane Kittelson, Director of Training & Education

Wednesday November 13, 2013 Fergus Falls, MN

Thursday November 14, 2013 Morris, MN

safety. options. hope.

safety. options. hope.

safety. options. hope.

TODAY’S FOCUS

The facilitator role Core practices of facilitators Facilitation Behaviors and Strategies Empowerment group facilitator requirements Empowerment group rules Difficult participants/Possible problems Empowerment group recruitment Empowerment group topics and curriculum

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THE FACILITATOR ROLE

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Plan and design the meeting

Help everyone get acquainted and feel welcome

Clarify the purpose of the meeting, the desired outcomes, the process to be used and the roles of each person

Remain neutral

THE FACILITATOR ROLE

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Help set ground rules Draw our opinions and

encourage all members to participate

Clarify communication between people

Keep the meeting on task

THE FACILITATOR ROLE

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Provide a safe place for creative ideas

Listen actively Manage difficult

behaviors Name conflict when it

arises and guide the group through the differences

THE FACILITATOR ROLE

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Encourage the group Summarize the progress

of the meeting at key points

Guide the group in coming to conclusions, agreements, and clarity

CORE PRACTICES

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CORE PRACTICES – ASK QUESTIONS

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CORE PRACTICES – GIVE AND RECEIVE FEEDBACK

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CORE PRACTICES – STAY ON TRACK

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CORE PRACTICES – STAY NEUTRAL ON CONTENT

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CORE PRACTICES – TEST ASSUMPTIONS

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CORE PRACTICES – PARAPHRASE TO CLARIFY

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CORE PRACTICES – SYNTHESIZE IDEAS

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CORE PRACTICES – COLLECT IDEAS

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CORE PRACTICES – LISTEN ACTIVELY

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CORE PRACTICES – SUMMARIZE CLEARLY

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FACILITATION BEHAVIORS AND STRATEGIESsafety. options. hope.

Be informed

Be optimistic

Be consensual

Be flexible

Be understanding

Be alert

Be firm

Be unobtrusive

EMPOWERMENT GROUP FACILITATION SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE

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Anyone facilitatingEmpowerment Groupmust believe in thestrengths andcapabilities of thesurvivors, and in theirability to change, adaptand discover their ownsolutions to theirproblems.

EMPOWERMENT GROUP FACILITATION SKILLS/KNOWLEDGE – CORE BELIEFS

Domestic violence is preventable. Domestic violence is never the survivor’s fault. Domestic violence is rooted in the relations of power

and control in intimate family relationships. Perpetrators have sole responsibility for their violence. Children may also be victims of abuse, and need a

violence free environment.

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KEY FACILITATOR COMPETENCIES safety. options. hope.

THE POWER TO CHANGEHow to set up and run

support groups for victims and survivors of domestic

violence.2.3 KEY FACILITATOR

COMPETENCIES pgs. 17 – 19KnowledgeExperience

SkillsEducation, qualifications,

and training

FACILITATOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIESsafety. options. hope.

THE POWER TO CHANGEHow to set up and run

support groups for victims and survivors of

domestic violence.2.4 Facilitator Roles &

Responsibilities pgs. 19 - 21

FACILITATOR ROLES AND RESPONSIBILITIES safety. options. hope.

EMPOWERMENT GROUP RULESsafety. options. hope.

Suggestions: Timing – start on time One person speaks at a time/Raising

hand to speak No mocking or attacking others Speak for yourself Listen and understand Avoid distracting side conversations

Do you set up group specific ground rules vs Someplace Safe standard

ground rules…..

Examples: The Power To Change Group Policies and Protocols

Pgs 33 - 39

DIFFICULT PARTICIPANTS/POSSIBLE PROBLEMS

THE POWER TO CHANGEHow to set up and run support groups for victims and

survivors of domestic violence.4.6 Possible Problems and How to Overcome Them

pgs. 40 – 424.7 Conflict and Conflict Solving

Pgs 43 – 45Group presentations

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safety. options. hope.

RECRUITING PARTICIPANTS Inform systems partners of your date and time Hang posters at pertinent places Post on your face book pages

Discussion

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GROUP TOPICS/CURRICULUMsafety. options. hope.

DO’S AND DON'TS safety. options. hope.

Listen Actively Stay in your facilitator

role (identify when you are sharing personal experience)

Take a break if necessary Make sure everyone has

a turn

Work on other projects Participate in gossip Get defensive Put people down (group

members and others)

Do’s Don’ts

WRAP UP - QUESTIONS

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REFERENCESThe Community Tool Box: Developing Facilitation Skills. http://ctb.ku.edu

The Power to Change, How to set up and run support groups for victims and survivors of domestic violence. http://www.fsnnetwork.org/sites/default/files/the-power-tochange2.pdf

UPENN Collaborative on Community Integration, Community Integration Toolkit. http://tucollaborative.org/pdfs/Toolkits_Monographs_Guidebooks/pe er_support_consumer_run_services_peer_specialists/Peer_support_developing_and_facilitating_self_help_groups.pdf

Group Works, Facilitation – What is it? http://www.umext.maine.edu/onlinepubs/PDFpubs/6101.pdf

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