AdoptUSKids Webinar: Effective Facilitation of Support Groups

Welcome and Introduction

• Host: Britt Cloudsdale, Family Support Team of AdoptUSKids
• Trainers: Barb Clark & Kim Stevens from the North American Council on Adoptable Children (NACAC)
  • Both are adoptive parents and experienced trainers.
• Purpose: To guide leaders, administrators, or those interested in starting support groups for adoptive and foster parents.

Webinar Structure

• Duration: 60 minutes, including Q&A
• Questions can be submitted during the session and will be addressed during natural pauses.
• The webinar will be recorded and shared publicly.
• Participation via polls and chat encouraged.

About AdoptUSKids

• A national project of the U.S. Children's Bureau.
• Aims to raise awareness for the need for foster and adoptive families.
• Offers capacity building and engagement services.
• Provides a Minority Professional Leadership Development Program.

Main Topics

1. Effective Facilitation

   • Importance for group success and sustainability.
   • Skills: Guiding discussions, managing difficult conversations, and handling challenging behaviors.

2. Facilitation Techniques

   • Group process understanding: Decisions, member roles, human dynamics.
   • Key stages: Forming, storming, norming.
   • Proactive facilitation: Solution-focused speakers, respectful redirection.

3. Structuring Meetings

   • Preparation: Set agendas, involve volunteers, set room layout.
   • Emphasize beginning, middle, and end structure.
   • Ground rules reinforcement: Confidentiality, respect, focus.

4. Facilitating Discussions

   • Encouraging participation: Engage everyone initially, monitor discussion balance.
   • Addressing non-compliance: Politely enforce ground rules.
   • Positive environment: Reframe issues, humor, and support.

5. Challenges in Facilitation

   • Handling dominance in conversation.
   • Managing expectations and behaviors.
   • Conflict resolution.

Key Strategies

• Self-awareness for leaders: Balancing personal sharing and maintaining a group focus.
• Sensitive Topics: Avoid topics like politics or any that can cause division without consensus.
• Creating a Safe Space: No judgment, confidentiality, and supportive dynamics.
• Resource Awareness: Facilitators should be familiar with local resources and services.

Tools and Resources

• Discussion Guides: Available resources on specific topics like children’s behavior management.
• Engagement Strategies: Ideas from previous webinars and resources.
• Professional Support: Ideal to have both professional and parent facilitators.

Closing Remarks

• Encourage evaluation feedback.
• Upcoming resources and webinars to be announced.
• Contact information for further support or inquiries provided.