Welcome and thank you for helping peers improve their lives. Below you will find news and resources for Support Group Facilitators.
Resources for Support Group Facilitators
News
DBSA support groups were named “Best Specialized Support Groups” by Healthline and “Best Overall” by PsychCentral.
The DBSA DEI Toolkit made possible through the support of the Alkermes Inspiration Grant
DBSA’s DEI Toolkit consists of the following:
Training Information
Whether you are a new DBSA facilitator or an experienced one, raise your facilitation skills up to the next level by attending DBSA’s free, interactive Virtual Facilitator Training. Taught by experienced support group facilitators, this 8-hour introductory training class includes 2 – 3 separate sessions featuring lecture, question and answer segments and mock facilitator practice. Please note that the training is for DBSA support group participants only.
Participants must attend all sessions of a particular class to receive a certificate of participation. Please note that these training sessions are intended for peers who are working with a DBSA chapter or DBSA support group.
Basic Support Group Facilitator Training
To register, email jburgos@dbsalliance – include your full name, chapter name and email. | |||
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1. October Basic SGFT 10/8 & 10/15 1pm – 5pm Eastern time AT CAPACITY waiting list only
Facilitator Think TanksTo register, email jburgos@dbsalliance – include your full name, chapter name and email. 1. October Facilitator Think Tank Thursday October 12th at 7pm Eastern |
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Next Level Thinking SessionsTo register, email jburgos@dbsalliance – include your full name, chapter name and email
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Resources
Training Resources
We suggest that DBSA Support Group facilitators be familiar with and follow the DBSA Support Group model as outlined in the DBSA Support Group Facilitation Guide.
Meeting Resources
Welcoming New Participants
A welcome kit can be an important tool for your support group. It provides information about your group to new peers and also carefully explains what a peer can expect from a support group meeting. Starting a relationship with a strong welcome can increase support group participation and retention. The following are templates and samples that you may wish to include in your support group’s welcome kit:
Preparing for Challenges
Community Outreach
DBSA support groups may choose to perform community outreach by offering educational programming, focusing on specific communities within the local community. The following are resources support groups may use to help in outreach and member recruitment activities:
- Bipolar Community Education Kit
- Depression Community Education Kit
- Living Successfully with a Mood Disorder
- WRAP for Groups and Organizations
- DBSA Chapter Inclusiveness Guide
- Inclusion, Diversity, and Language
- DBSA Chapter Advocacy Guide