Powerful Tools for Caregivers

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is designed to empower family caregivers to take better care of themselves.

Caregiver Class Series

Feeling stretched in your role as a caregiver? Caregiving can be stressful—physically, emotionally, and financially. Whether you care for a loved one at home or in a care facility, nearby or far away, your role is important. You will learn ways to take care of yourself, reduce stress, improve your caregiving confidence, and establish balance in your life as you care for others.

Classes are led by a pair of certified class leaders for two primary audiences:

  • Caregivers of adults with chronic conditions (offered as six 2-1/2 hour or 90-minute workshops)
  • Caregivers of children with special health and behavioral needs (offered as six 2-hour workshops)

Intended audience: Family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions or family caregivers of children with special health or behavioral needs
Format: Six 90-minute to 2.5-hour workshops

Check the Upcoming Events section for details. All times are CDT.

Workshop titles include:

  • Taking Care of You
  • Identifying and Reducing Personal Stress
  • Communicating Feelings, Needs and Concerns
  • Learning from Emotions
  • Communicating in Challenging Situations
  • Mastering Caregiving Decisions

Managing Stress Class

Caregiving for a family member or friend can be stressful—physically, emotionally, and financially. Join us to learn about taking care of yourself with self-care strategies and techniques to reduce stress.
Intended audience: Family caregivers of adults with chronic conditions or children with special health or behavioral needs
Format: One 90-minute class

Check the Upcoming Events section for details. All times are CDT.

Class Leader Training

Powerful Tools for Caregivers is a national program with class leaders across the nation. Class leaders must be certified in order to plan and teach a class for caregivers.

Iowa State University's three master trainers offer certification training throughout the year. Cost is $270, which includes the $200 Powerful Tools for Caregivers licensing fee and The Caregiver Helpbook.

  • Face-to-Face Class Leader Certification - two-day training in Iowa
  • Virtual Class Leader Certification - three hours per day for five days online

Check the Upcoming Events section for details about class leader training opportunities. All times are CDT.

Contact Barb Dunn Swanson, Malisa Rader, and Phyllis Zalenski, Coordinators and Master Trainers for more information.


Interested in bringing Powerful Tools for Caregivers to your community? Review the class leader training brochure, consider helpful class leader characteristics when selecting potential leaders and contact the Powerful Tools for Caregivers master trainers to find out if there is are other certified class leaders in your area.

Upcoming Events

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Contact Us

Find a Human Sciences specialist in family wellbeing serving your county.

Locate your county extension office.

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