Barbara white webinar

New Jersey Self-Help Group Clearinghousewww.NJgroups.org

WELCOMEWELCOME

HOW TO START AN EFFECTIVESELF-HELP

SUPPORT GROUP


WHAT IS A WHAT IS A MUTUAL AID MUTUAL AID SELF-SELF-HELP HELP SUPPORT SUPPORT GROUP?GROUP?

• It’s a group of people who all share a common problem or life situation who come together to both give and receive support.

• Members share their feelings, coping strategies, resources & experiences with others who truly understand.

• “Mutual help” is at the heart of the group.


BENEFITS OF BENEFITS OF ATTENDING GROUPSATTENDING GROUPS

• Sense of Community • Learn Coping Skills • Knowledge• Helper Therapy • Advocacy • Acceptance &

Understanding

• Positive Role Models• Empowering • Accessible • Learn about Local

Resources• Feel “Normal”• Liability Becomes

Assets


WHO CAN START A GROUP?WHO CAN START A GROUP?

• Persons who can’t find a group.• Those who want to give back.• Professionals who want to help clients.• Agencies who want to help families of clients.• Teachers who want to help students.• Doctors who want to help patients• Clergy who want to help congregants.• Consumer-run organizations who want to help

each other and themselves.• Basically....anyone with the PASSION


BASIC STEPS IN BASIC STEPS IN STARTING A GROUPSTARTING A GROUP

• Look for Existing Groups / LiteratureExisting Groups / Literature• Develop a Group Vision / FocusGroup Vision / Focus• Find a few People to HelpPeople to Help• Find a Meeting Place / TimeMeeting Place / Time• Develop a Group Format / StructureGroup Format / Structure• PublicizePublicize Your Group• Have Your First MeetingFirst Meeting


DEVELOP A CLEAR FOCUS DEVELOP A CLEAR FOCUS FOR YOUR GROUPFOR YOUR GROUP

• WHY WHY are you starting the group?

• WHOWHO can join your group?

• WHAT WHAT will be the purpose of the group?

• HOWHOW will the group goals be accomplished?


OTHER CONSIDERATIONSOTHER CONSIDERATIONS

LEADERSHIPLEADERSHIP

- Who will lead the group?

- Will there be more than one leader?

- Will you have elected officers?

- Will the leadership be shared?

DURATIONDURATION

- Will the group be time limited?

- Will the group be on-going?

AFFILIATIONAFFILIATION

- Will the group be a local chapter of a national?

- Will the group be an autonomous group?


WAYS TO PUBLICIZE YOUR WAYS TO PUBLICIZE YOUR GROUPGROUP

• Local Helplines• Radio• Key Professionals• Develop a Brochure• Hang Up Flyers• Business Cards• Network with

Groups• Have a Newsletter• Magazines

• Cable TV • Word of Mouth• Church Bulletins• Speaker’s Bureau• Look on Internet• Newspapers• Local Associations /

Agencies• Health or Other Fairs• Anyone!


WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN WHAT TO LOOK FOR IN A MEETING LOCATIONA MEETING LOCATION

Groups meet in a variety of places.....

• Has movable tables and chairs• Neutral, private location• A central location that is easy to find • Long term availability• Safe parking at night• Accessible

Thanks to Dr. Joal Fischer, SupportWorks for this list


A BASIC GROUP FORMATA BASIC GROUP FORMAT

• Start of Meeting

• Introductions / Check Ins

• Group Discussion

• Other Activities

• Wrap Up & Formal Closing

• Refreshments / Social


GROUND RULESGROUND RULES

• Ground rules are essentialessential• Create a “safe”“safe” space• Provide a way to correct inappropriate correct inappropriate

behaviorbehavior• Keep rules to a minimumminimum• Put them in writingwriting and read aloudread aloud at

meetings


EXAMPLES OF EXAMPLES OF GROUND RULESGROUND RULES

• Only one person may talk at a time.• No advice giving. Always speak from the “I.”• We must share the time. No monopolizing the

conversation.• We need to be non-judgmental and respectful

of each other.• What is said in this room, stays in this room.• If we come in late, we will quietly take our seat.


DEVELOP A “Core Group”DEVELOP A “Core Group”IF POSSIBLEIF POSSIBLE

Find a Few People to Help You

Have a Core Group Meeting to: Divide the Workload Discuss Group Basics Plan Your First Meeting


YOUR FIRST YOUR FIRST “PUBLIC” MEETING“PUBLIC” MEETING

• Decide on a date, time and place.• Create a friendly, welcoming atmosphere.• Start and end meeting on time. • Talk about how and why group got started.• Have members introduce themselves. Make

sure everyone gets a change to speak.• Decide on time/date of next meeting.• After meeting, serve refreshments & socialize.


MAKE THE ROOM MAKE THE ROOM “COMFY” “COMFY”

• Arrange chairs in a Circle if possible

• Use your ground rules

• Keep the group POSITIVE

• Do something fun!• Deal with problems as they arise


GET MEMBERS INVOLVED GET MEMBERS INVOLVED “If it’s their group, they will come (and bring friends).”

• Involve membersInvolve members in the group operation. Ask for volunteers!

• Promote a sense of “group ownershipgroup ownership” through shared leadership

• Encourage input / participationinput / participation through group discussions.

• Every member in the group can be a Every member in the group can be a leader.leader.


BEING A GREAT BEING A GREAT GROUP CONTACT PERSONGROUP CONTACT PERSON

• AcknowledgeAcknowledge person’s courage to call • Be honesthonest about the group • Don’t talk too much about you…

LISTENLISTEN!!• Don’t give too much support too much support • Thank the callerThank the caller for calling


NJ SELF-HELP GROUPNJ SELF-HELP GROUP CLEARINGHOUSE CLEARINGHOUSE

• Helps people find self-help groups• Helps people to start groups • Helps existing groups solve problems• Is non-profit & all of our services are free.

CONTACT INFORMATION:CONTACT INFORMATION:

To request additional information on starting or running groups call us at 1-800-367-6274 (1-800-FOR-M.A.S.H.) or 973-989-1122. Visit our website at www.njgroups.org (Copies of today’s slides and webinar will be available on our website.)

http://www.njgroups.org/

Barbara white webinar

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