BEING A FACILITATOR OF A SUPPORTIVE GROUP CHAT

What is the role of a facilitator?
The role of a facilitator is to support and encourage genuine conversation, to uphold the comfort and safety guidelines within the group, and to be a liaison between the GUTF team and the supportive group chat.
- Training to become a facilitator allows you to acquire communication and leadership skills that you will use your whole life.
- The volunteer position is a great addition to resumes and college applications.
- Each Facilitator earns up to 5 hrs of community service per month, provided all the duties listed below are fulfilled. The very active ones can even earn additional hours.
- A role of Senior Facilitator may be offered to the most engaged facilitators.

How do I apply to be a Supportive Group Chat facilitator?
You first need to spend a minimum of 2 weeks as an engaged and respectful participant in your group. After 2 weeks, you will be asked if you’re interested in being trained to become a facilitator. If yes, we’ll guide you through the steps. Remember, If you prefer to stay a participant, it is completely up to you! We want you to do what is best for you. If you do not receive the message, please email groups@giveusthefloor.org

What will happen once I have applied and what does the training look like?
The  steps of training are:
1- You and one of your guardians need to sign an agreement online (if over 18, guardian's signature is not needed).
2- Online training: 10 Training video modules that you can watch at your own pace. You will be required to answer a mini-quiz at the end of each module and a longer quiz at the end. The training must be completed within 2 weeks and you need to pass the Final Quiz with 100% (You can take it as often as needed), in order to get to the next step.
The training will give you the tools you need to effectively facilitate a supportive group chat, including:
     - How to navigate difficult conversations
     - How to enforce Give Us The Floor's Community Rules
     - How to spot a teen in crisis
     - Tips for understanding your own leadership abilities
     - Tips for self-care

3-The next step will be for you to participate in a “mock chat” group for two weeks: Mock chats groups are replicas of supportive group chats with other facilitators in training and at least one Adult Advisor. The goal of the mock chat is for you to apply what you learned in the training to real-life scenarios: you will practice different scenarios that can occur when you will be a facilitator. It will help you become more comfortable in your role as a facilitator.
4- You will have a video meeting with one Adult Advisor who will determine if you are ready to facilitate or co-facilitate a group or if you need to perfect your training. 

What are the perks in becoming a facilitator?
- up to 5 hrs of community service per month, provided all duties are fulfilled.
- Master communication and leadership skills that you will use your whole life.
- The volunteer position is a great addition to resumes and college applications.
- Making a difference in the lives of your peers!
- 2 additional community service hours + a stipend of $45 per month if you graduate to the role of a Senior Facilitator

What are the commitments of a facilitator?
- Commit to 8 weeks minimum to facilitate a group
- Facilitate the chat a minimum of 6 days/week
- Fill out the monthly surveys that are sent to you
- Fill out the surveys you receive after being a facilitator for 1, 3, 6, and 12 months
- Respond to the adult team within 24 hours unless you previously notified them you would be on a break
- Report any inappropriate behavior within 3 hours of you seeing it
- Report any members who have left the group within 48 hours
- If unable to facilitate the chat and need a break, it is required to notify the adult advisor team at least 2 weeks ahead. The community service hours will be adjusted prorate to your time off. It can’t be more than 2 weeks in a row every 6 months.
- If you'd like to stop facilitating a group, a minimum of 2-week notice is required

I would love to help my peers, but I'm a bit afraid that I might not know how to act if something sensitive arises in my group.
Do not worry! You will be trained to deal with these exact kinds of issues. And any time something sensitive arises, you are required to share it with the Adult Advisor team so you're not alone in dealing with it and they can take it over if the situation can potentially be harmful to a participant! They are there for you.