Certification process

1. Complete and submit a Facilitator Application. This application requests information on qualifications relevant to being a training facilitator, and may also identify areas that need strengthening. After receiving an application, the Living Well Iowa Program Consultant may call an applicant to provide more information about the Living Well program or to clarify information received in the application. This requirement cannot be waived.
   
   

2. Participate in four, 2-hour phone and Internet training sessions provided by the University of Montana. Living Well with a Disability curriculum. They review its contents and are given tips on how to implement it. Participants must complete a minimum of three of the four training sessions. Make-up sessions may be available upon the discretion of the LWI Program Consultant. This requirement cannot be waived.
   
   

3. Participate in a full-day Train-the-Trainer class. Attend, actively participate, and successfully complete the Train-the-Trainer (TTT) class offered by the Living Well project. TTT training offers classroom instruction and discussion of facilitation responsibilities. A second component is a simulation or practicum using the Living Well program curricula. TTT covers the following:

• Background on Living Well Iowa and its curricula
• Information on how people learn
• Basic facilitation techniques
• How to maintain the flow of the curriculum
• How to handle emergencies
• How to deal with challenging behaviors
• Modifying the curriculum

Waiver: The LWI Project Director may waive all or part of this requirement based on individual circumstances. For example, individuals with degrees and experience in teaching or those who successfully completed TTT as part of another project may not be required to take this course.

Evaluation: TTT facilitators will make a recommendation to the Project Director about an applicant’s skills and capacity to facilitate Living Well classes, or the need for additional training and technical assistance. Qualified applicants will be certified, and receive a facilitator certificate. Those not certified as facilitators may receive a trainer certificate.

4. Complete Continuing to Live Well training. Attend and actively participate in a two-hour, scheduled session provided by the Living Well Iowa project. This training prepares a facilitator to use the Continuing to Live Well with a Disability curriculum by reviewing its contents and providing tips on implementation. This requirement must be met before facilitating any portion of the Continuing to Live Well.


 

5. Complete Human Subjects Research Training. TTT facilitators will make a recommendation to the Project Director as to an applicant’s skills and capacity to adequately facilitate Living Well classes, or the need for additional training or technical assistance. Qualified applicants will be certified, and will receive a facilitator certificate. An applicant who is not certified may receive a trainer certificate.

Completing the certification process

Training costs
Living Well Iowa provides free training and certification to facilitators named by our sponsored class sites. Those who wish to become independent facilitators will need to pay a fee for training from the University of Montana, and are also responsible for expenses they incur while participating in other training components

Facilitator Mentoring Program
Once a Living Well Iowa facilitator is certified, a mentor will be assigned. We recommend that a new facilitator work with this mentor to co-facilitate Living Well trainings while receiving constructive feedback. However, this is not a requirement unless specified at the time of certification. If a facilitator elects to facilitate the first class on his or her own, the mentor will still serve as a role model and resource person for the new facilitator.