FRESH START_^® TRAINING

Fresh Start offers two Facilitator Training Conferences a year. Each conference runs from Tuesday afternoon through Friday noon. Participants experience a number of Fresh Start modules, gain an understanding of the philosophy of the Fresh Start program, create an initial implementation plan for the unique needs of their diocese and practice leading modules for their fellow participants.

Everything needed to launch and maintain a Fresh Start program is provided at the training.

Here are some of the reasons we encourage dioceses to send a team of two or more facilitators to be trained.

• The program is not the ministry of just one person.
• There is continuity of the program even if a facilitator leaves the position.
• The program benefits from the collaborative energy of a facilitation team.
• More diocesan resources are pulled into the trusting relationships established in Fresh Start.
• A diverse team brings a combination of gifts to the program. It is especially important for a team to represent the ethnic diversity of the diocese. It can also be very valuable to include both lay and clergy members on the facilitation team.

To see a list of the knowledge, skills and abilities expected of a Fresh Start facilitator, click here: Facilitator Competencies Assessment.  A basic library of background reading for facilitators is also available here: Basic Library.