Prepared by Suzanne DiBella-Olson, Emily Wolff, and Erica Schmitz21 Reasons, Maine Environmental Substance Abuse Prevention Center and

Medical Care Development, Inc.

Facilitator TrainingMaine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services

Training agenda:1. Introduction and Warm-up

2. Overview of Table Talks

3. How to facilitate a Table Talk

4. How to prepare for a Table Talk

5. Questions

6. Evaluation forms

Objectives:Become familiar with the purpose, format, and

content of “Table Talks” model

Obtain general tips for facilitating Table Talks

Practice Table Talk activities

Strategize around how to handle challenging facilitation scenarios

Ground rules for todayRespect diverse experiences & viewpoints

everyone brings to this trainingLet everyone have a voice in the discussionAsk questions!Participate fully in activitiesRespect confidentialityAnything else?

Part 1 – Introduction and

Warm-Up

Warm-up Activity: InstructionsReflect for a moment on all of the trainings

and meetings you’ve ever been a part of.

Think about the facilitators for those meetings, and what it was about their actions or style that made the meeting either a positive or negative experience.

Warm-up Activity: WorksheetSpend TWO minutes writing on your

worksheet:Under “+” column, list some things about

the facilitator’s style or actions that led to a positive discussion.

Under “–” column, list some things about the facilitator’s style or actions that led to a negative discussion.

Warm-up Activity: IntrosPlease share with the group:

your name, the organization you are with, ONE positive and ONE negative item from your worksheet

Feel free to add items you agree with to your list as they are shared!

Part 2 - Table Talk Overview

Table Talk Overview:DescriptionSmall, informal parent discussions around

underage drinking Held in a comfortable setting Based on “Tupperware party” model

Table Talk Overview:Objectives of Table TalksConnect with other parents who care about

underage drinking prevention Learn new information about underage

drinking and how to prevent it Share challenges and ideas for preventing

underage drinking Get practical tips to use at home and share

with other parents

Table Talk Overview:Development: A Joint EffortMaine Office of Substance Abuse and Mental

Health Services (SAMHS); 21 Reasons Coalition, a project of Medical Care

Development (MCD); Maine’s Environmental Substance Abuse

Prevention Center (MESAP), a project of MCDPiloted in Cumberland, Waterville, and Raymond

by local coalitions

Table Talk Overview:Roles and Responsibilities

Three roles are critical for a successful parent Table Talk:

1.Sponsoring Agency

2.Facilitator

3.Parent Host

Table Talk Overview:Role of the Sponsoring Agency

Administrative support

Financial sponsorship, where needed

Could be a local coalition, parent association, school, etc.

Table Talk Overview: Role of the Facilitator

Organizer, presenter, and moderator

Prepares all materials and information

Can be a trained community member or professional from sponsoring agency.

Table Talk Overview: Role of the Parent HostProvides/secures locationSends out invitations & reminders to friendsPurchases & serves refreshments

Can be any parent concerned about underage drinking

Part 3 – How to

Facilitate a Table Talk

Table Talk Facilitation:Set-up overview

Page 10Each Table Talk should last 1.5-2 hoursFacilitators should arrive 20-30 minutes early

to help the host set up

People’s time is valuable:Start when you say you will start.At the start of the discussion, review the

agenda.Ask a participant to act as timekeeper.End the meeting on time.

Table Talk Facilitation: Agenda

WelcomeIntroductions/Icebreaker ActivityFact Check QuizTough Subjects DiscussionNext ActionFeedback

Table Talk Facilitation:Welcome overviewPage 10Length: 5-10 minutesIntroduce Facilitator & Sponsoring agencyReview agenda, objectives, & ground rules

Page 40Agenda/Objectives HandoutIntroduce “parking lot”

Table Talk Facilitation:Introductions/Icebreakers overview

Page 11Length: 10-15 minutesEach Table Talk participant gives a 30 second

intro, including:NameAges of kids One thing they want to get out of the meeting

Table Talk Facilitation:Introductions/Icebreakers – 2 minute review!

Read through the sample script on page 11 of the How-to Guide

Table Talk Facilitation:Fact Check Quiz Overview

Page 12Length: 20 minutes5-question quiz for participants to take and

self correct, followed by short discussionAllows participants to begin thinking about

underage drinking; dispels some common myths

It’s important to promote positive communication by:

Setting the appropriate tone.Keeping in mind the importance of

both non-verbal and verbal listening.Asking clarifying questions.

Table Talk Facilitation:Fact Check Quiz Facilitation Activity (10 min)

1. Break up into small groups

2. Choose ONE volunteer to act as the facilitator

3. Choose ONE volunteer to act as a role play personality

4. Rest of group members: You will act as Table Talk participants!

Table Talk Facilitation:Fact Check Quiz Activity (10 min), cont.5. Facilitator: Role play using script, p. 12.

While participants take the quiz, read through the rest of sample script pgs 12-13.

6. Role Play Personality: Use personality card to act out during the activity.

7. Rest of group: Go through the activity as if you were a participant at a Table Talk.

Table Talk Facilitation:Fact Check Quiz Activity Review (5 min)

Facilitators:How did you handle the “personality” in

your group?What worked well in this exercise? What was difficult?

If a participant openly disagrees:Listen carefully to the opinion; it may

be shared by othersDisagreement may mean info is

unclear /misunderstood. Explain again using different words

Acknowledge the difference of opinion, offer to talk later 1x1.

Use the “parking lot”

Sometimes, facilitators don’t know the answer to a question being asked. You can handle this by:

Making note of the question and telling the group that you’ll look into it Following up with the group with an email after finding the answer

Table Talk Facilitation:Tough Subjects OverviewPage 13Length: 45 minutesTime for open discussion amongst participants

Use Tough Subjects Question Cards, p. 34Allows parents to engage in open discussion

with other parents

Table Talk Facilitation:Tough Subjects Faciltiation Activity (15 min)

1. Break up into small groups

2. Choose ONE volunteer to act as facilitator

3. Choose ONE volunteer to act as role play personality.

4. Rest of group You will act as Table Talk participants!

Table Talk Facilitation:Tough Subjects Activity part 1 (5 min)1. Facilitator: Receive “tough subject” question

to discuss. Role play leading the activity using script on p 14, answers pgs 44-46)

2. Role Play Personality: Receive personality card to act out during the activity.

3. Rest of group : Go through the activity as if you were a participant at a Table Talk.

Table Talk Facilitation:Tough Subjects Activity, part 2 (5 min)

8. SWITCH!9. NEW facilitator. Receive “tough subjects”

question. Role play leading using script on p. 14, answers p. 44-46.

10.NEW role play personality: Receive personality card to act out during the activity.

11.Rest of group : Go through activity as if you were a Table Talk participant.

Table Talk Facilitation:Tough Subjects Activity Review (15 min)

Facilitators:How did the facilitator handle the

“personalities” in your group?What worked well in this exercise? What was difficult?

Sometimes there is low participation by group members. Encourage participation by:Creating & reviewing ground rules Using icebreakers Recognizing participation, encouraging group members to shareGoing around the group, giving each person a chance to speak if they wish

If discussion is dominated by one person, the facilitator can:Thank them for their input, restate what they said, & ask for input from

other group members.Encourage participation from others by making eye contact.Ask for opinions or input from “those who haven’t spoken yet.”

Discussions can easily get off-topic. Bring things back by:

Reviewing goals & objectives at the start of the discussion.

Setting up a “parking lot.” If a side topic continues to come up,

asking participants if they would rather discuss that topic.

With emotional subjects, conversations can easily turn to personal storytelling or “war stories”. Make the best of this by:

Being sensitive - you don’t want to discourage participation.

Looking for an underlying theme in the story that relates to the topic at hand.

Table Talk Facilitation:Next Actions OverviewPage 14Length: 15 minutesBrainstorm “Next Actions” for participants to

take after leaving Table Talk.Use Index Cards as a personal reminder:

3 things they will do; 3 people they will talk to

Quick actions suggestions:Thank store clerks who cardWrite a Family Contract (p. 49)Write letters to the editorWait up for your teenCreate a parent phone tree

Table Talk Facilitation:Next Action Suggestions

Longer term action suggestions:Host your own Table TalkContinue to meet on your ownJoin your local coalitionCreate/join a Task Force

Table Talk Facilitation:Next Action Suggestions Cont.

Follow-up will vary depending on the group of parents, and the capacity of sponsoring agency.

Table Talk Facilitation:Next Actions Follow-up

Table Talk Facilitation:Feedback Forms Overview

Page 17Length: 5 minutesFeedback forms should be filled out by

facilitators & participants Pass around “Count Me In!” Sign-up SheetReturn feedback forms & “Count Me In!”

Sign-up Sheet to sponsoring agency

Part 4 - How to Prepare for a

Table Talk

Table Talk PreparationSection IV: Planning ToolsThese are useful in planning your Table Talk:

To-Do Checklist for Facilitators (pg. 24-25)To-Do Checklist for Hosts (pg. 23)Sample Invitation (pg. 27)

Table Talk Preparation Section V: Facilitator ToolsFacilitator brings these to the Table Talk:

Facilitator Tips (pg. 30-32)Fact Check Quiz Answers (pg. 33)Tough Subjects Questions Cards (pg. 34-

36)“Count Me In!” Sign-up Sheet (pg. 37)Facilitator Feedback Form (pg. 38)

Table Talk Preparation Section VI: Participant HandoutsSponsoring agency is responsible for

handout packets

Facilitators should be familiar with all handouts

Questions?

Today’s Feedback FormsWe appreciate your feedback! Please fill

out your evaluation forms.

Place completed forms face down at the front of the room before you leave.

Contact information

Table Talks technical assistance:Cheryl CichowskiMaine Office of Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services 41 Anthony Ave.11 SHSAugusta, ME 04333

(207) 287-4391 cheryl.cichowski@maine.gov