How Coalitions Work: Developing and Maintaining Effective Workgroups

Most of us have to lead work groups at some point in our career. Often, we simply repeat the role as we have seen others do it. But there is an art and a bit of science to fostering truly collaborative and productive work groups or coalitions. Join us in this interactive, discussion-focused training as we explore how to avoid common pitfalls by attending to group development and maintenance, including collaboration, leadership, membership, decision-making, teamwork, and facilitation. Participants will engage in group discussion and interactive activities as we explore these topics over the course of two afternoons. At completion of the training, participants will be able to:

1. Identify the stages and phases of group development.
2. Explore group development and maintenance through collaboration, leadership, membership, decision-making approaches, and teamwork.
3. Understand the spheres of conflict, which are a natural part of work groups.
4. Identify the five keys to facilitating effective meetings.
5. Assess their use of the seven areas of inquiry that lead to meaningful discussions.
6. Identify common work group pitfalls and steps to avoid them.

Criteria for Successful Completion: Participants are expected to fully participate on both dates (5/28 & 5/30) with audio and video access in order to receive a certificate. Participants will be expected to keep video on throughout the workshop. Participants will engage in both individual activities and group discussions during the workshop. Please come prepared to engage with this training to create a successful learning environment for all participants.

About the Trainer: Allison Sharer, OCPC, has worked in the Prevention field since 1983. She is an independent trainer and consultant, and the President of Wingspan Training, LLC. Her experience includes work within youth-led prevention, community-based prevention, environmental prevention and drug-free workplace. She has developed and presented workshops, trainings and other educational opportunities for a wide variety of audiences. Allison is the past-president of the Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Association of Ohio (now called Ohio Prevention Professionals Association) and also served on the former Ohio Credentialing Board as chair of the Prevention Committee. She represented Ohio for three years to the International Certification and Reciprocity Consortium.

For any questions about this training, please contact Kristen Erickson, kerickson@ccsme.org. This training is hosted by the New England Prevention Technology Transfer Center, a program funded through SAMHSA, in response to an identified need for more advanced training for coalition development. Participants will receive a certificate of participation for up to 5.5 contact hours. This training has been pre-approved by the Maine Prevention Certification Board, an IC&RC member board.

Register today!