Training

Facilitator Training

Professional training by Iowa State University National Trainers is required in order to be certified to facilitate the Strengthening Families Program: For Parents and Youth 10-14 (SFP 10-14) with families in your community.

Facilitator Training Activity

The 3-day training helps ensure program fidelity, making it more likely that there will be positive outcomes for youth and caregivers. Facilitators learn about the background, evaluation, goals, and content of the program as well as practice facilitating sessions. Training is very interactive with facilitators taking part in all activities. Training also includes information on practical considerations for implementing SFP 10-14 such as recruiting families, handling challenging participants, and options for providing child care, transportation, food, and incentives. 

The three-day format allows time for group discussion and question and answer periods. Typically each day begins at 8:30 a.m. and ends at 5:00 p.m. Morning and afternoon breaks, as well as a lunch break, allow for a relatively relaxed schedule. Trainings over weekends (Friday-Sunday) are also an option. Facilitators have to attend the entire training in order to receive certification.

Groups of at least three facilitators per program site must receive training. One facilitator teaches the caregiver goup; two facilitators teach the youth group, and all three facilitators work with families in the family session. Facilitators should have strong presentation and facilitation skills and experience working with caregivers or youth.

Visit the calendar for information about upcoming training opportunities and conference exhibits.                     

Hosting a Training                              Trainers having fun and celebrating completion             

Costs (as of January 1, 2024):

  • Cost for a small training (10-15 facilitators) is $5800 plus travel for one trainer (estimated at $1700 depending on region).
  • Cost for a large training (16-30 facilitators) is $7000 plus travel for two trainers (estimated at $1700 per trainer depending on region).
  • Curriculum costs are not included – refer to the sample budget of materials needed. 

Contact Cathy Hockaday to schedule training in your area. 

Iowa Training                                                                                                             Trained Facilitators with Des Moines Public Schools

Iowa trainings are open to agencies worldwide. Teams of 3 facilitators should attend Iowa trainings unless sites already have previously certified facilitators on staff.

  • Cost is $600 per person.
  • Cost includes lunch and snacks.
  • Curriculum costs are not included – refer to the sample budget of materials needed.

Check the training calendar for a list of upcoming training opportunities in Iowa.

Facilitator and Local Agency Trainer Recertification Training

As of September 1, 2015,  SFP 10-14 has implemented protocols for facilitator recertification.  

Facilitators - Recertification every 3 years 

Rationale for recertification includes the need to continuously improve delivery of evidence-based programs:

  1. Train on updated curriculum (major revision in 2007 with edits in 2015 and 2022);
  2. Discover the latest research and how implementing with fidelity to the curriculum is related;
  3. Learn objectives of activities;
  4. Improve skills through modeling from ISU National Trainers; 
  5. Receive feedback from ISU National Trainers during facilitation practice on Day 3 at trainings when a full training is encouraged. 

The Facilitator Recertification Process

Local Agency Trainers - Recertification every 3 yearsLocal Agency Trainers in Ames

Rationale for recertification:

  1. Train on updated curriculum (major revision in 2007 with edits in 2015 and 2022);
  2. Discover the latest research and how implementing with fidelity to the curriculum is related;
  3. Learn objectives of activities;
  4. Improve skills through modeling from ISU National Trainers;
  5. Receive feedback from ISU National Trainers during training

For information on the Local Agency Trainer Recertification process, contact Cathy Hockaday.

Becoming a Local Agency Trainer

Experienced certified facilitators who wish to become a Local Agency Trainer will need to complete strict requirements before being considered a candidate. Agency Trainers are only allowed to train their own agency staff as part of their normal job responsibilities. Special arrangements will be made on a case by case basis for those who wish to train facilitators outside their agency. Training costs are $1,000/per person for LATs held in Iowa. Agencies who wish to host their own LATs will be charged $7,000 plus travel costs for 2 National Trainers. LATs are limited to 10 people. Teams of two or three agency trainers will need to complete the following to be considered:

  • Attend a facilitator training in the program led by approved certified trainers.
  • Implement the full 7-week program at least 1 time as a parent facilitator (7 weeks) and 1 time as a youth facilitator (7 weeks). Additionally all family sessions need to be facilitated one time while implementing as a parent and/or youth facilitator.
  • Assist in coordinating/planning/recruiting of families for one 7 week session.
  • Conduct retrospective pre post survey on participants when they were the lead facilitator.
  • Conduct process assessments with families during the sessions when lead facilitator.
  • Complete facilitator process form.
  • Video record 3 sessions (1 parent, 1 youth, 1 family) when lead facilitator.
  • Collect fidelity observation forms for 4 parent sessions, 4 youth sessions, and 4 family sessions. Forms must be filled out by supervisor/site coordinator. Sessions 2-7 fidelity observation forms are available online.
  • Complete agency trainer questionnaire.

Questions can be directed to Cathy Hockaday. Hard copies of the above paperwork and video recordings need to be sent to Cathy Hockaday in one package to be reviewed before candidate will be considered as a candidate for Agency Trainer. Once considered a candidate, the person will need to complete the following:

  • Attend a Local Agency Trainer Training led by certified national trainers.
  • After this requirement is fulfilled the candidate will be considered to be either approved, probationary status, or not approved.
  • During each stage, candidates may receive phone consultation from the program manager, Cathy Hockaday
  • Agency trainers will sign an agreement stating that they understand the limitations of their certification and that it can be revoked at any time and the agency will be contacted if the agency trainer abuses their privileges.