Workshop leaders facilitate the six-week "Living a Healthy Life" workshop in community settings, working in pairs. Leaders follow a scripted manual to teach and model self-management skills. Topics covered during the workshop include healthy eating and exercise; managing pain, fatigue, stress and medications; communicating with healthcare professionals; making decisions about treatments; planning ahead and problem solving.
The process of leading a group is as important, or perhaps more important, than the content delivered! Workshops are interactive. Leaders set a positive example by being a role model for workshop participants through their own self-management.
Leaders learn the skills required to facilitate workshops by attending a free 4-day Leader Training course. We ask certified leaders to commit to deliver one (1) six-week workshop within 6 months of their training and at least once per year thereafter. Leaders must facilitate a workshop once a year to retain an active certification. They will also have the opportunity to participate in activities to promote and implement the workshop in the community.
Roles and Responsibilities
- Co-facilitate standardized "Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions" Workshop at various locations in the community as assigned by the program coordinator.
- Commit to facilitate a minimum of one full series every 6 months – 1 year
- Distribute, collect and record required participant data, such as attendance sheets and evaluation forms, and return these to the program coordinator as outlined in workshop checklist.
- Work together with co-leader to fairly share the work load of all preparation, teaching and follow-up activities required
- Notify program coordinator of equipment and material needs at the sites
- Notify program coordinator of all concerns regarding: facilities, class participants, and co-leader
- Identify participants for future leader trainings and notify program coordinator of interest
- Teach only as directed in the leader's manual without additions or deletions
- Refrain from giving personal advice, selling or endorsing particular products to class participants
- Keep program coordinator updated on his/her availability to facilitate workshops
- Assist program staff, if possible, with other duties as designated and approved by the coordinator, i.e. recruiting class participants, promoting program
- Arrange own transportation
- Abide by program rules and expectations
Volunteer Peer Leader Training Requirements
- Attend an in-person or telephone interview
- Complete the 4 day Leader's training course including practice teaching assignments
- Attend refresher sessions periodically to maintain certification
- Where possible, we prefer that Trainees have completed a Self-Management Workshop as a participant before training as a leader
- Complete a police reference check
- Submit the attached Volunteer Application Form
