1. Project Leadership: Chapter 7
Solidifying Partnerships:
Connecting with Local Change Makers
Facilitator Notes:
NOTE: Family Voices of California (FVCA) grants permission for the printing and implementation of FVCA Project Leadership curriculum as long as FVCA is given credit. This curriculum is intended for use as a seven-session training series, or chapters can be used for individual training workshops. Please refer to the Manual Introduction pages for general information about the training. If you are using individual chapters, please present Chapter 0 prior to beginning the chapter session.
Start here if these are families who are going through the series of 7 trainings.
Today’s training, “Solidifying Partnerships,” is the seventh and final training in the series.
So far we have covered:
The History and Purpose of Advocacy
Systems, Laws, and Entitlements
Working with Decision-Makers for Change
Enhancing Communication
Developing and Presenting your Story to Others
Participating on Decision-Making Bodies

2. Purpose To connect with local leaders and advocates
To present completed Action Plans
To peer review Action Plans
To wrap-up the training series
Facilitator Notes:
Today we will meet with local change makers, share, and peer review our Action Plans, and wrap-up the training series.

3. Connecting with Local Leaders and Advocates
Facilitator Notes:
Our first section today is “Connecting with Local Leaders and Advocates.”

4. Guest Speakers
[Add guest speaker names, title, agencies. Or create individual slides for each speaker with name, title, agency and brief bio.]
Facilitator Notes:
The format for the panel can be informal – no need for presenters to bring a PowerPoint presentation. Start with introductions from each panelist (a brief statement about the organization where they work, their position at the organization, and any past advocacy they have done). The trainer/mentor acts as the facilitator. Ask Project Leadership participants to hold their questions until the end.
Some example questions and focus points are below:
Concrete examples of successful public policy advocacy specifically related to children with special health care needs / disabilities (What have you, members of your organization or other parent leaders done in order to effect systems-wide change for CSHCN / disabilities?)
Tips for being an effective public policy advocate ( What does it mean to be a good advocate?)
Opportunities for health care advocacy in the community (What committees, groups, boards, or other involvement can you recommend for parent participation?)

5. Your Action Plan: Presentations & Peer Review
Facilitator Notes: (50 minutes)
Now we will move onto Action Plan presentations and peer reviews. You have all come a very long way since we first started! Don’t forget to think about your “Telling Your Story” skills while presenting!
PRE-ACTIVITY: “Action Plan Peer Review”: Divide participants up into as many groups as there are local leaders. Each local leader should be assigned to one of the groups. Designate one participant per group as the time keeper.
ACTIVITY: “Action Plan Peer Review”
NOTE: Prior to the activity, discuss with the local leader their role in the Peer Review process. Local leaders should act as a part of the group, offering positive suggestions and feedback and being open to peer review from participants.
Within each group, each participant should share their Action Plan with their group members and the local leader in 4-5 minutes.
After each participant shares, the peer review for that person commences, with the local leader facilitating the discussion. Each participant gets approximately 5 minutes of feedback from the local leader and other group members.
Repeat process for each group member.
Facilitator should wander between the groups, making sure everyone is sharing and offering feedback.

6. Training Series Wrap-Up
Facilitator Notes:
PRE-DISCUSSION:
Set up chart paper on easel or taped to wall.
PRE-DISCUSSION:
Discuss with participants personal expectations, expectations for continued group contact and expectations for further facilitator-participant partnerships.
Ask the following questions:
Now that you have completed the training series, what expectations do you have for yourself?
How will you ensure that you follow through with these new expectations and responsibilities?
What is the expectation for further group contact/meetings?
Will we continue communication? How will we communicate? How frequently?
What are your expectations for me as the facilitator and your continuing mentor?
Is there anything else you need information about or help with from me?
Chart responses.

7. Opportunities for Graduates with Family Voices of CA
Databases
Family Database
Opportunities Database
Quarterly Webinars / Conference Calls
FVCA Newsletter
Online Advocacy Group
Annual In-Person Meeting:
Northern CA
Southern CA
FVCA Annual Health Summit and Legislative Day
Mentoring / Support from Project Leadership Manager:
/ (415) ext. 136
Facilitator Notes:
Walk through the opportunities provided by Family Voices of California on Handout 7.1.
You also have the option of contacting the Project Leadership Manager, Allison Gray, to call in and talk about these opportunities to your group.
Allison Gray
(415) ext. 136

8. Chapter 7 Review Facilitator Notes: (10 minutes)
PRE-ACTIVITY: “Chapter 7 Review”
Materials:
Chart titled “Chapter 7 Review”
Blank paper for each participant
ACTIVITY: “Chapter 7 Review”
Facilitator directs everybody to quickly write down on a piece of paper everything they have learned in this section.
Facilitator charts as the group members share what they have learned. (While charting, the group may notice that different members remember different things. If this should happen, the facilitator should point it out.)

9. Homework THIS IS JUST THE BEGINNING!!
FOLLOW THROUGH WITH YOUR COMMITMENTS AND ACTION PLANS!
Facilitator Notes:
We have spent a lot of time and energy preparing ourselves to engage in public policy advocacy. We must all work to follow through with our Action Plans as well as any other commitments we have made along the way.
Don’t forget to ask for help along the way if you need it.
Reiterate the group’s plan/schedule for keeping in touch, communication, etc.

10. Evaluation
Purpose
To get feedback on the effectiveness of this training
To identify what participants are learning
To find areas that can be improved
Facilitator Notes:
Purpose
 The purpose of the Evaluation is to get feedback on the effectiveness of this training. The information you provide will tell us what information you learned from the training and identify areas where the training can be improved. Please take a few minutes to complete this evaluation form.
In the table at the top, after each statement, please circle the number that best describes how much you agree with the statement. “5” means you agree strongly, with a “1” meaning you strongly disagree.
Any comments you provide will be very helpful to us.
When you are done please put it on the table (designate a place to collect them) and you may leave. I look forward to seeing you on _________________ (date and time) at the next training.
HANDOUT 1.7: Evaluation

11. We’re Done! Celebrate! Facilitator Notes:
With the remaining time + any extra time, have a small potluck-style celebration for participants.
Decide beforehand who will bring what.