Leading a support group can seem like an overwhelming task, but follow along with this simple checklist to cover all of the administrative tasks, and it will run much smoother down the road. [1] Group's purpose. Spend a few minutes writing a 1-2 sentence mission statement to help you clarify your goals. [2] Group description. What exactly is the problem people are dealing with and how do you intend to try to help fix it through your support group? [3] Personal motives. Take some time to ask yourself "Why do I feel I am the one to lead this group?" Make sure you really want to do it, and are not just saying yes to someone because you'll feel guilty saying now, nor because you are seeking personal glory. [4] Approval. Does your group need to receive formal approval from a higher source? If you are under an organization or company, for example, have you received their approval? [5] Life of the group. What is your ideal length of the group's life? Not every group has to last forever. You may choose to meet for an indefinite amount of time, and then have it grow and change as members express their needs. Or, you may choose to ask people to commit for a certain period of time, and then recommit if they still want to meet after the date? [6] Meeting frequency. How often do you plan to meet; weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly? Take into consider the schedules and lifestyles of your members. Would you prefer to have seventy percent attend one time a month or thirty percent of the member attend twice a month? [7] Group outline. How will the time at your meeting be filled? Do you wish to have time allotted for people to share, pray, or network? Do you plan to go through a study or will you have speakers from your community come to share their expertise? What is your preference and your attendees? [8] Location. Where will your group meet? Will it be a short driving distance for most people? Is it accessible for people with disabilities? Is the atmosphere comfortable or will members feel intimidated? It the lighting good? If it's in a large building, like a hospital, will there be signs to make sure people don't get lost? Will a receptionist know when and where your group meets? Do they know where to park and will there be a fee for parking? [9] Attendance. Will your attendance be open or closed? For example, can anyone come at any time, or are new members welcome only during a certain time period? Are there any qualifications to attend? Such as, if it's an illness support group sponsored by a church, do participants have to attend the church? [10] Activities. Will the group be having parties, picnics, or time with family members? About how frequently? [11] Guest guidelines. May family members or friends attend a meeting? If yes, is this alright with other members? Is it approved for only certain occasions, or any time? [12] Projects. Do the attendees of you group want to be involved in activities outside of the support group meeting that help others? For example, would your group be open to delivering care packages for people who are home-bound, or would they want to have a Christmas party for children who have chronically ill parents? [13] Policies. Have you written up some basic guidelines for the group? They should contain: a privacy statement, the expectation that everyone will be treated respect, how to handle conflicts, that the group is not for commercial use, etc. If you are an illness support group, you may want to be specific about how you will handle alternative treatment discussions and people's desire to share their most recent "cure." [14] Handouts. What brochures or other educational pieces will you have available? Can anyone bring handouts? Do they need approved in advance? [15] Exchange of personal information. Ask group members if they would like their addresses, phone, and/or emails be distributed to other members; or do they want them to remain private and only distributed when they see fit. [16] Promotion. What are your plans for letting people know about your group? If your group is formed under an organization, what forms of advertising are acceptable? For example, a classified in the local paper? An announcement in the calendar section of the paper? Flyers? Is there anything not allowed that you should be aware of and do the promotional pieces need approval? [17] Media exposure. Can you write a press release? If not, ask around to find someone qualified. Tell them about your meetings and purpose. Many people have past journalism, writing, or public relations experience that can help. [18] Videotaping or photos. You may wish to consider videotaping group meetings for people who are not able to attend to watch, but you must inform your attendees. They may choose to sit out of the camera range or even not attend. Turn the camera off druing sharing times. Even if you aren't sure how the tape will be used, have participants sign a release form. Also, do not post the video online without telling those in the video you plan to do so. [19] What promotional pieces do you need and who will design them? Posters, flyers, business cards, and stickers, can all be helpful. [20] Online communication. Would your group like to have a "hub" on the internet to exchange information and encourage one another between group meetings. Would they prefer something simple like just exchanging emails, or are they comfortable using a social network group like Ning? [21] Online web site. Could your group reap the benefits of having a web site where you can to post a calendar of events, resource links, announcements, and more? You can design a simple blog for all of this information in a few hours for free. If you set up a web site you can easily share information you find online with your attendees from other resources or organizations. Through links, RSS feeds, online radio programs and more, your group can have a wealth of support that you cannot provide on your own.
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