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Group Peer Support (GPS) Facilitator Training

Name: Group Peer Support (GPS) Facilitator Training
Start: 2025-04-01T10:00:00-07:00
End: 2025-04-17T12:30:00-07:00
Location: Online

April 1 @ 10:00 am - April 17 @ 12:30 pm

**REGISTRATION CLOSED**

Perinatal Support Washington is partnering with Group Peer Support to offer a Group Peer Support Facilitator Training. This is a specialized training program aimed at empowering individuals to lead perinatal peer support groups.

Our training will equip facilitators to create confidential, secure, respectful, and inclusive spaces where parents can genuinely and empathetically connect. In GPS groups, parents receive the essential support they need to thrive during the early months of parenting, and facilitators gain the confidence to provide them with a much-needed support group experience.

This program focuses on creating inclusive and supportive environments for parents, with an emphasis on evidence-based methods and culturally responsive support.

GPS FACILITATOR TRAINING SPRING 2025

April 1 – April 17, 2025

Training Objectives:

A trauma-informed, culturally responsive support group model that is easy to learn and implement in diverse settings, with diverse populations, and in multiple languages.
How to address the intersection of trauma, racism, poverty, disparities, cultural and gender identity, as well as the COVID-19 pandemic, with compassion, transparency, and skill.
Unique trauma-informed skills to create environments of mutual respect, non-judgement, compassion, and safety.
How to incorporate evidence-based approaches of Cognitive Behavioral Therapy, Motivational Interviewing, and Mindfulness-based Stress Reduction in groups.
A strengths-based group approach that ensures an accessible, welcoming, and transformational group experience for all.
How to run groups that support, empower and benefit not only the individuals and communities being served, but the group facilitators as well.

Cost: A limited number of spots are available for WA state residents for a fee of $250.

TRAINING SCHEDULE:

LIVE attendance to 1 opening practicum is REQUIRED.

OPENING PRACTICUM OPTIONS: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm PST

04/01 Opening Practicum
04/02 Opening Practicum
04/03 Opening Practicum

TRAINING MODULES: 10:00 am – 12:30 pm PST Attending training modules LIVE when possible is recommended. Recordings of all modules will be available to registered participants – viewing recorded modules should be completed before the end of the training.

04/08 Module 1: Introduction to GPS and Power of Groups
04/09 Module 2: Mindfulness Rest Stop
04/10 Module 3: Guidelines
04/15 Module 4: Realities & Principles
04/16 Module 5: GPS Check-In
04/17 Module 6: Reflective Listening, Weaving, Grounding & Closing

What You’ll Gain from the Facilitator Training:

Inclusion of Diversity: Learn how to support parents from diverse perspectives and backgrounds and perspectives, including at-risk populations in the perinatal period and BIPOC parents to create environments of mutual respect, non-judgment, compassion, and safety. The GPS model has been successfully utilized and adapted to serve a diverse range of populations.

Evidence-Based Approaches: Acquire skills to effectively use evidence-based methods in peer-led group settings for the perinatal community.

Culturally Responsive Support: Discover a trauma-informed, culturally responsive support group model that is easy to learn and implement in diverse settings. This model provides consistency, structure, and sequence that both facilitators and group members can rely on for safety and comfort.

Empowering Facilitation: Learn how to run groups that support, empower, and benefit parents, both as individuals and communities being served, as well as the group facilitators themselves. This training provides a step-by-step process to create courageous spaces where people can openly share struggles, confusion, fear, trauma, and concerns.

Strengths-Based Approach: Adopt a strengths-based group approach that ensures an accessible, welcoming, and transformational group experience for all. This offers a safe space for perinatal parents to share topics that are often shrouded in stigma and shame, such as feelings of depression, anxiety, OCD, barriers against seeking mental health support, non-bonding with the baby, traumatic birth, and intrusive thoughts.