Training of Trainers

The Training of Trainers (TOT) process is designed to equip a team of people from a school and/or district to conduct Expansion Trainings at specific school sites where the SSA program has already been launched, in order to continue to grow it.

Our experience has shown that this model succeeds when the TOT is the natural culmination of a multi-phase process described below. This model works best if the school has staff who:

• are committed to the program
• are dynamic trainers and skilled facilitators
• are credible and approachable in the eyes of youth
• have TIME to devote to learning and delivering the program
• and intend to stay at the school for at least two years.

Once a school has done an Initial and an Expansion training, the school and its staff are eligible to participate in a Training of Trainers.

Phase 1: Initial Trainings

The Safe School Ambassadors program is launched at a school site giving staff a "laboratory" in which to study the model and determine through experience how well it works.

Phase 2: Expansion Trainings

It is important for schools to have a second training conducted by Community Matters. This gives them a chance to get a broader base of students and staff trained, and gives the school an opportunity to "refine" their implementation of the program, working through any challenges encountered in the first year. It also gives potential trainers an essential "second experience" in the training itself. When we have flexed that requirement in a couple of instances for certain individuals, those TOT participants were LOST - they spent the TOT time remembering the activity being discussed, rather than actually learning the essentials and subtleties of how to conduct it.

Phase 3: Training of Trainers

The actual Training of Trainers is 2 days in length, and covers the overall design of the SSA Expansion training, as well as how to conduct key activities. A short segment is also devoted to Refresher Trainings, which are the one-day trainings that help previously trained Ambassadors sharpen their skills and renew their commitment.

The TOT is then followed by at least one "Practicum" experience that allows at least some TOT participants an opportunity to co-lead a 2-day Expansion Training under the guidance of a Master Trainer, and then to have a 4-6 hour meeting on the following day to debrief the co-training experience. Districts often set up several "Practica."

Participants in the TOT process receive the full trainer's Manual, along with handouts used in the training. The sponsoring school or district also receives a Training Kit, which includes the flipcharts, video clips, CD and props used in the training. Additional Kits can be purchased.

Participation in the TOT requires a full day or more of study/prep on the front end, and additional time after the TOT to study and prepare (and plan with co-trainers) in order to deliver the actual Expansion Training. It is important that those who say "yes" understand the commitment, and have the support to fulfill it.

Pricing:

The investment required depends on the number of sites and people involved. A district-wide training that involves participants from several sites is often the most cost effective option.

A TOT for one school costs approximately $5500. A portion of this investment includes the 2-day Training of Trainers (TOT) itself, as well as one Training Kit. It also includes the one-time site license fee that represents the transfer of intellectual property from Community Matters to that school, and entitles that school to use the SSA materials at their licensed site forever.

The cost for a District TOT will vary depending on the number of schools. This is because the site license fee decreases as the number of licenses increases.

Each Practicum costs $5000. A portion of this investment covers the 2-day Expansion Training ($4000 if conducted by CM). It also covers the time required for the Master Trainer to work with the "co-trainers" before the training, prepare feedback for each co-trainer, and conduct the coaching meeting after the training.

The trainer's travel expenses for the TOT and each Practicum are additional.

For more information, please contact Community Matters.