Abstract

There are many considerations to remember when planning a training for AmeriCorps members coming from multiple sites. This effective practice shares a general planning checklist, successful strategies for creating a workshop proposal, and ideas for finding an appropriate meeting site and persuading members to attend. Jaya Chimnani, Training and Resource Manager for the Community HealthCorps program at the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), submitted this effective practice in July 2002. These materials were presented as a best practice at the AmeriCorps*National Direct Best Practices Conference in San Diego, California, in February 2002.

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Issue

Planning a training for AmeriCorps members coming from multiple sites presents a wide range of challenges.

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Action

There are three key components when planning a training:

1.  
   1. Logistics: site planning and communication between attendees and planners
   2. Proposal Development and Design: designing, developing, and editing Request for Proposals (RFPs)
   3. Monitoring and Implementation: issues, concerns, and troubleshooting during the training

General planning checklist:

• Time constraints
• Financial constraints
• Planning committee
• Training topics
• Finding speakers
• Balancing training with team building
• Food choices for a diverse group
• Making everyone happy

Essential elements for creating a good workshop proposal:

• Know your target audience
• Define the objective and the purpose of the workshop
• Present no more than 2-3 objectives that are realistic, measurable and specific
• In addition to theoretical knowledge, teach tangible skills as outcomes through demonstration and practice
• Make sessions interactive using role playing and group work
• Address a variety of learning styles
• Develop an outline of the session
• Maintain adequate organization
• Develop a time-frame for the session
• Be realistic in attempting to cover a certain amount of information during the time allotted
• Assess the background knowledge of the presenters
• Make sure the content matches the theme of the conference
• Provide handouts/materials to members
• Know the number of participants
• Access participant needs (including special needs like disability issues or dietary concerns)
• Conduct an evaluation at the end of the training

Overcoming obstacles Training organizers encounter various obstacles. Two examples of common situations with possible solutions are provided here.

First scenario: An AmeriCorps coordinator is assigned the task of finding a hotel or conference center to accommodate 200 members on a budget of $45 dollars a day for accommodations and all three meals. Issues to consider include financial constraints and location.Possible solutions include:

• Inform the hotel that you are a non-profit so they will give you a better rate (members are providing community service and this is good public relations for them). Let hotel management know that you will return if the conference is successful, and will also recommend others to the facility.
• Hold the conference at a location that is central to all sites, or is a hub for one of the major airlines so that participants can procure least expensive rates. Also conduct trainings during off-season to take advantage of lower rates for airline and hotels. If the training is for a small group, retreat centers and college campuses during summer can be an ideal location. Researching the Internet can yield other good ideas for alternate, lower cost locations.
• Additional Resources: Ask what additional incentives the hotel can provide. For instance, sometimes free shuttle service to and from the airport is included, or breakfast is available at no additional cost. Conference facilities can also link you with other services that you might need to plan your training and get additional discounts.

Second scenario: An AmeriCorps coordinator is trying to convince a reluctant member to attend a training, but the member believes that he/she already has all the knowledge and skills and will not benefit from attending. Some strategies for involving the member include:

• Asking the member what aspects of the session topic he/she is most familiar with.
• Asking the member if he/she would like to join the planning committee so he/she could positively contribute to the training and share some of their knowledge with other service members.
• Asking the member to lead/co-lead the session. This helps empower the member, enables the member to learn presentation skills and take ownership of the session, and helps ensure that the member will not get bored during the session.

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Context

The suggested strategies have been used by the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC) to successfully implement the National Mid-Year Training Academy (MYTA) that provides members with extensive training on the AmeriCorps Big Picture, Life After AmeriCorps, and the "Ten Core Competencies of a Health Promoter," designed for HealthCorps members to understand the key issues in health care.

During 2002, NACHC provided comprehensive training to approximately 225 coordinators and members representing 15 National HealthCorps sites, AmeriCorps*VISTA programs in New York, Michigan, 3 New York Community HealthCorps programs and the Promise Fellows Program. NACHC staff is responsible for all aspects of planning and implementing the training, including budgets, location, developing an RFP for member designed workshops, selecting trainers and facilitators, general logistics and overall training evaluation.

The Community HealthCorps is a partnership of the National Association of Community Health Centers (NACHC), the Corporation for National and Community Service, and thirteen national Community Health Centers. The Community HealthCorps strives to deliver culturally appropriate preventative and primary health care to medically under-served populations and communities. Community health care members, serving with the AmeriCorps program, reach out to the medically under-served and provide outreach and support services for low-income families served by community, migrant, and homeless health centers. Members are exposed to a variety of careers and they gain invaluable experience by working with health professionals that are dedicated to improving the status of hard-to-reach populations.

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Outcome

After attending the National Mid-Year Training Academy, members are energized and motivated to go back to their sites and complete their terms of service. It is an excellent opportunity for them to meet other HealthCorps members from across the country to network, share ideas and learn from one another. MYTA is also a primary vehicle used by NACHC to implement the advanced level training for HealthCorps members on key issues in health care.

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Evidence

The results of the evaluations from the National Mid-Year Training Academy (2002) demonstrate that the members were pleased with the overall organization, logistics, planning and the content of the training.

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Source Documents

Related Practices

• Working effectively with multiple sites
• Managing multiple sites and developing esprit de corps

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Related sites

CHP International

"Office of Leadership Development and Training

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