Group
Clearinghouse
STARTING
A MUTUAL AID SELF-HELP GROUP
Self-help
groups offer people who face a common problem the opportunity to meet with others
and share their experiences, knowledge, strengths and hopes. Run by and
for their members, self-help groups may also be described as "mutual
help" groups. Hundreds of groups are started each week by
ordinary people with a little bit of courage, a fair sense of commitment, and a
lot of caring. The following guidelines are based on our experience at
the Clearinghouse in helping individuals to start groups. While there is no one
recipe for starting a group, we have listed below a few general considerations
and strategies you may find helpful.
1. Don't Re-Invent the Wheel
If
you are interested in starting a group, you should first consider learning from
those who have started that type of group elsewhere. For helpful information
on existing national group contacts, model groups, or similar groups in NJ, you
can call our Clearinghouse (in NJ, 1-800-367-6274 out of state, 973-326-6789).
Invest in a phone call or two, possibly out of state if you need to, in order
to learn how others have started that type of group. When you call, ask
for advice on what has worked and request any group development materials they
may have or samples of what they have used, such as meeting guidelines, flyers,
etc.
If
you interested in starting a group in NJ, call the Clearinghouse. A staff
member will be your consultant, and provide you with some ideas and
suggestions, as well as other Clearinghouse "how-to" materials that
are focused upon different aspects of starting a group. When you are
ready, we will add your name to the database as a contact person for callers
who may be interested in helping you start the group.
Consider
attending one or more meetings of other self-help groups to get a feel for how
they operate (especially if you're trailblazing and developing a new type of
self-help group.) Borrow or adapt what you consider good techniques and
practices to use in your own group.
2. Think "Mutual Help"
From the Start
Find
a few others who share your interest in starting (not simply joining) a
self-help group. Put out a flyer or letter that specifically cites your
interest in hearing from those who would be interested in "joining with
others to help start" such a group. Include your first name and
phone number. Make copies and post them at places you feel most
appropriate, e.g., library, community center, clinic, or post office.
Mail copies to key people whom you think would know of others interested in
forming a group. You may also have a notice published in your local
newspaper or church bulletin. When, hopefully, you receive a response,
discuss with the caller what their interests are. Share your vision of what you
would like to see the group do. Ask if they would be willing to start the work
with you for a specific period of time (e.g., next six months of so) to try to
get the group off the ground. Suggest that the work could be: greeting
people at the door and introducing new members, bringing refreshments, making
coffee, co-chairing or helping to run the meeting, etc.
Once
a couple of people have said yes, you have a "core group" or steering
committee - and you wont have to do it alone. Its much easier to start a
group if the work is shared. Most importantly, if several people are involved
in the initial work at that first meeting (getting publicity, bringing
refreshments, greeting new people, etc.) they will model for newcomers what
your self-help group is all about. Not one person doing it all, but truly a
group effort shared by many members. If you don't involve others in
leadership and share work from the very beginning, you will find it more
difficult to get volunteers later.
Consider
obtaining the assistance of any professionals who may be sensitive to your
needs and willing to assist you in your efforts. They may be helpful in
various ways, from providing meeting space to making referrals, from offering
their ideas to locating needed resources.
3. Find a Suitable Meeting Place and Time
Try
to obtain free meeting space at a local church, library, community center,
hospital or social service agency. Have chairs in a circle and avoid a
lecture set-up. If you anticipate a small group and feel comfortable with
the idea, consider initial meetings in members’ homes.
Would evening or day meetings be better for members? It is also easier
for people to remember the meeting time if its the same day of the week or
month, e.g., first Tuesday.
4. Publicize and Run Your First Public Meeting
Reaching
potential members is never easy. Depending upon the problem area, consider
where potential members go. Would they be seen by particular
professionals or agencies? Contacting physicians, clergy or other
professionals is one approach to try. Flyers in post offices, community
centers, hospitals, libraries is another. Free announcements in the
community calendar sections of local newspapers can be especially
fruitful. Consider calling newspapers and asking to speak with an editor
to suggest an article on the group and issue.
The
first meeting should be arranged so that there will be ample time for you and
other core group members to describe your interest and work, while allowing
others the opportunity to share their concerns. Go "round robin"
permitting each member an opportunity to say what they would like to see the
group do. Will they attend another meeting, helping out as needed? What
needs do they have in common that the group could address? Based on group
consensus, make plans for your next meeting. After the meeting ends,
consider having simple refreshments so people have more opportunity to talk and
socialize informally.
5. Future Meetings
Other
considerations for future meetings:
•
Establish the purpose of the group. Groups often focus upon providing emotional
support, practical information, education and sometimes advocacy. Are the
purposes clear? You may want to add them to a flyer or brochure you have
for the group. You may also include any guidelines you develop for
meetings to assure that group discussions are nonjudgmental, confidential and
informative. Some groups read their purpose and guidelines at the start
of each meeting.
•
Membership.
Who can attend meetings? Do you want regular membership limited to those
with the problem? An associate membership for spouses and family?
Membership dues or "pass the hat?"
•
Meeting format. What choice or combination of discussion time, education,
business meeting, service planning, socializing, etc. suits your group?
Topics can be selected or guest speakers invited. A good discussion group
size is 7 to 15. As your meeting grows larger, consider breaking down
into smaller groups.
•
Continue to share the work and responsibilities in the group. Who will be the phone contact
for the group? Do you want officers? Consider additional roles that
members can play in making the group work, e.g., greeter of new members,
librarian, sending out meeting announcements, arranging speakers, group liaison
with an agency, etc. In asking for volunteers, its sometimes easier
to first ask the group what specific tasks they think would be helpful.
You may already know the special satisfaction and benefits of helping others -
so remember to give all your members that same opportunity to help.
•
Phone network. Self-help groups should provide an atmosphere of caring, sharing and support
when needed. Many groups encourage the exchange of telephone numbers or a
phone list to provide help to members between meetings.
•
Use of professionals. If you choose, consider using professionals as speakers,
advisors, or consultants to your group and as sources of continued referrals
and information.
•
Projects. Always begin with small projects. Rejoice and pat yourselves on
the back when you succeed with those projects. Then work your way up to
the more difficult tasks.
•
Stay in touch with the needs of your members. If your group doesn't follow
a set program for helping members help one another (like the 12 steps or
another approach), plan your groups activities and goals based upon the
expressed needs of your members. Remember to regularly ask your new
members about their needs, and what they think both they and the group can do
to meet them. Similarly, be sure to avoid the pitfall of the core group
members possibly become a clique. The welcoming of new people into the
group is a process that continues well beyond welcoming them at the door.
•
Expect your group to experience "ups and downs" in terms of
attendance and enthusiasm. It's natural and to be expected. You may want to consider
joining or forming a coalition or association of leaders from the same or
similar group for your own mutual support and the sharing of program ideas and
successes.
Remember - we're here to help
If
the Clearinghouse can be of assistance to you in any way, please don't hesitate
to contact us. Our consultation services are free. Each month we
hear from individuals who have decided that a group is needed, and then take
that important first step to make it a reality.
SOME IDEAS FOR STRUCTURING YOUR
MEETING
Meeting
formats for self-help groups range from loosely structured discussion groups to
more formally structured meetings that follow the traditional program of the
national groups (e.g. "12-step groups"). There is no one right
way to plan a meeting. The following activities are common to some self-help
group meetings and can be used as an initial guide for structuring your
meeting., it's not necessary to incorporate every activity mentioned here in
each meeting agenda.
Before
the meeting starts, as people arrive at the location, be sure that you or
another group member welcome new members. It is a practice of many self-help
groups that a volunteer member greets and welcomes new members ar the door when they arrive, introducing them to other
members especially those who are in a similar situation.
1.
Start the meeting: Shortly after the agreed upon time,
the meeting should be called to order by the leader for that night. Some
groups open their meetings with a welcoming statement, a reading of the group's
purpose and/or meeting guidelines, and possible more, e.g. outline of what the
agenda is for that evening.
2.
Introduction of Members or
"Check Ins:" Going around the room, each member can introduce himself/herself
briefly (often just giving a first name) and may state their reason for coming
to the groups or, if not the first meeting, how they have been doing since the
last meeting.
3.
Basic Discussion or Another
Activity: For a
first meeting, members can take turns (going around in a circle) indicating
whey they would like to see this group do, the key topics they would like to ee discussed, any group speakers they would like to hear on
those issues, and other major activities or problems that they would suggest
the group address. be aware of the that that often those people, who bring up a
special issue, may be knowledgeable enough to share with members what they know
about the topic. In other words, you might ask if they would spend time talking
about whey they know the topic at a future meeting.
4.
Regular Group Discussion and/or
Guest speaker For
discussion, selecting one or more discussion question s ahead oaf time is one possibility.
Another idea, you could have a book or an article reviewed by a member who
reports on it, and then the group might discuss any questions raised. Playing a
short but good tape recording of a presentation, TV or radio program is another
way to trigger r group discussion, If you decide to have a guest speaker t one
of your meetings, consider having time for group discussion that would give
members an opportunity to comment upon on the speakers points that, based pin
their experience, they found most important.
5.
Goal Setting: Some groups set aside some time
after discussion for goal-setting--that is, each member who is willing, sets a
personal goal that they hope to meet by the next meeting. Then at the next
meeting, they can report back on how they did.
6.
Business/Planning Portion: If included, this time could be
set aside for any business the group wishes to take up, such as planning or
reporting upon projects or activities (to include any advocacy efforts by the
group or members), arranging for future meetings (choosing discussion
topics/guest speakers, etc.). making announcements, and collection of any dues
or voluntary contributions by "passing the hat."
7.
Wrap-Up or
"Check-Out:" this is an opportunity for the leader of this meeting to
summarize the meeting discussion and ask if any members need to say anything
left unsaid from the meeting. members are reminded of the time and place of the
next meeting.
8.
Formal Closing: It is helpful when you have some
signal or tradition that the meeting is formally closing, e.g.., a closing
statement, or other retinal at the end of each meeting, e.g. joint reading of
the serenity pray, etc.
9.
Social Time: After the meeting refreshments are
often served, providing an opportunity for informal but often very helpful conversations.
PUBLICITY
Suggested Techniques for Recruiting
Group Members
Simply sit down with several other members to go over these
ideas. You could start by having them read over the list and check which efforts
they feel would be most productive. Then discuss which members will work on
getting which tasks done.
- Print
and distribute one-page flyers on your group. Places notices on key
posting areas: libraries, post offices, shops, community agencies, hospitals,
churches, etc.
- Contact local offices and
associations that address your area of concern, e.g.., county office on
aging or disability, United Way, mental health association, etc.
- Write a very brief community
announcement ad and send it to the local cable TV company for posting on
their community notices channel.
- If health related, contact your
local hospital's departments that see members, e.g., social services
department, community health education department, oncology department,
etc. Ads with other professionals here, ask for their outreach suggestions
too.
- Simply pick up a phone and call
the local weekly/daily newspaper, ask for an editor or reporter, request
they consider doing an article, cite how helpful groups are, mention any
professionals who support your work and would d be willing to be
interviewed too.
- Write a brief 10 second radio
spot and send it to local radio stations requesting they please air it as
a public service announcement.
- Talk to persons who have
started similar groups and ask what methods they have found especially
helpful in recruiting group members.
- Design a brochure that explains
group's purpose and activities in greater detail than the flyer.
- Contact key clergy, doctors,
agency directories, social workers, media representatives, i.e.. anyone
who would be sympathetic to your needs.
- Call your local information and
referral helplines. Make sure they know about and have your group listed
in their database.
- Determine which community
agency/organizations print newsletters, contact them and ask if they would
please include your group in a future edition.
- Write a brief description of
your group and ask that it be placed in church bulletins, newsletters.
Consider other newsletter, e.g., YMCA, etc.
- Write "letter to the
editor" describing your groups (it is more likely to be printed if
you comment on any current article or editorial that touches your
concern).
- Ask a few professionals to
serve on an advisory committee, enlist their ideas and help in publicizing
the groups, e.g. writing letters to other professionals.
- Ask yourselves, "Is their
another good way to reach potential members?"