35 Things to Decide Before Starting a Support Group

Leading a support group can seem like an overwhelming task, but follow along with this simple checklist to cover all of the administrative tasks, and it will run much smoother down the road.

[1] Purpose of your group. Sit down and work on a mission statement of 1-2 sentences so you understand what your actual goal is for the group.

[2] Group description. What exactly is the problem people are dealing with and how do you intend to try to help fix it through your support group?

[3] Personal motivations. Why do you feel called to lead this group? Make sure it's something you want to do, not something you're being pressured into or because you are seeking personal glory.

[4] Approval. Does your group need to receive formal approval from a higher source? If you are under an organization or company, for example, have you received their approval?

[5] Group's life expectancy. What do you see as the life of your group? Do you hope it will meet indefinitely until the need fades away, growing and changing as members define it? Or would you rather ask that people commit to the group for a certain amount of time, like four months, and then recommit if they still want to attend?

[6] Meeting frequency. How often do you plan to meet; weekly, bi-monthly, or monthly? Take into consider the schedules and lifestyles of your members. Would you prefer to have seventy percent attend one time a month or thirty percent of the member attend twice a month?

[7] Outline of the group outline. How will you fill the time? Do you want people to network with one another, work their way through a study or workbook, listen to speakers from the community, or a mixture of all of this? What do you believe your members will desire?

[8] Location. Where will you meet? Is it within a short driving distance for most people? Is it handicapped accessible? Is it comfortable for the atmosphere you desire? Will it intimidate members? Is it well lit? If it's in a large building, be sure to hang up signs and alert the receptionist about your group. Do they know where to park and are there parking fees?

[9] Attendance. Will your attendance be open or closed? For example, can anyone come at any time, or are new members welcome only during a certain time period? Are there any qualifications to attend? Such as, if it's an illness support group sponsored by a church, do participants have to attend the church?

[10] Activities. Would the group like to have special times together outside of the group? Would people want to have a picnic or get together with family of the group members? How frequently would you have these outings?

[11] Guests. Can friends or family members or friends attend the group? If yes, are other group members comfortable with this arrangement? Is there a preference to have people attend any time or just on certain occasions?

[12] Projects. Do the attendees of you group want to be involved in activities outside of the support group meeting that help others? For example, would your group be open to delivering care packages for people who are home-bound, or would they want to have a Christmas party for children who have chronically ill parents?

[13] Policies. Have you written up some basic guidelines for the group? They should contain: a privacy statement, the expectation that everyone will be treated respect, how to handle conflicts, that the group is not for commercial use, etc. If you are an illness support group, you may want to be specific about how you will handle alternative treatment discussions and people's desire to share their most recent "cure."

[14] Handouts. What brochures or other educational pieces will you have available? Can anyone bring handouts? Do they need approved in advance?

[15] Exchange of personal information. Ask group members if they would like their addresses, phone, and/or emails be distributed to other members; or do they want them to remain private and only distributed when they see fit.

[16] Promotion. How do you plan to promote your group? If it's formed under the umbrella of another organization, what kind of approval do you need to advertise or use their name? Understand the specifics about what is acceptable or not. For example, are classified ads in the local paper, or an announcement in the paper in the calendar section okay? Is it okay to post the flyers around town. Make sure you know exactly what promotional pieces need advanced approval.

[17] Media exposure. Can you write a press release, or find someone who can, about your meetings and purpose? Are there people in your group who would be willing to be interviewed by journalists?

[18] Videotaping or photos. It can be helpful to videotape the group meetings for people who are not able to attend so they can hear guest speakers, etc. Inform your attendees so they can choose to sit in view or out of view of the camera. Know when conversation is personal and the camera needs to be turned off. If you aren't sure how you will use the tape, have participants sign a release form. Don't post it online without permission from those who are on the tape. Are attendees comfortable having photos for the media, for example, if a journalist wants a photo of the group for a local story.

[19] What promotional items could you have to help promote your group and who could design them. You may ask those who do desktop publishing or digital scrapbooking for some assistance in designing things such as flyers, posters, business cards, and stickers.

[20] Online communication. Does your group wish to have a "hub" online to exchange information or encourage one another? Do they want something simple, like just email exchanges, or a social network setting available through a source like Ning?

[21] Online web site. Could your group reap the benefits of having a web site where you can to post a calendar of events, resource links, announcements, and more? You can design a simple blog for all of this information in a few hours for free. If you set up a web site you can easily share information you find online with your attendees from other resources or organizations. Through links, RSS feeds, online radio programs and more, your group can have a wealth of support that you cannot provide on your own.