Facilitating Group Participation – 7 Module Live-Learning Program

Lead Meetings That Get Results
A practical, live 7-week program for people who run meetings
This 7-week, live, hands-on program helps people who run meetings lead discussions that are focused, inclusive and productive.  Participants learn practical facilitation tools they can use immediately to engage groups, manage participation, and guide teams toward clear decisions – especially in government, nonprofit and community settings.

” Within weeks of finishing the course,  I was using these facilitation skills in every meeting I lead.”
– Tyler, public section program manager

At a glance

• Live on Wednesdays, 2:00 – 3:30 ET
• 7 weeks | 90 minute session
• Online via Zoom + Canvas LMS
• $495 per participant ($450 government and non profit)
• Sessions available;
  • Feb 4 – March 18, 2026 – SOLD OUT
  • April 1 – May 20, 2026 (no class on April 15th)
  • July 8 – August 19, 2026
  • September 30 – November 18, 2026 (no class on Nov. 11th)

Why This Course?

• Live, Interactive Learning: Participate in seven 90-minute online sessions, each focusing on a unique facilitation method or tool. Sessions are recorded for your convenience.
• Practical Application: Practice facilitation techniques in a safe environment with peers, building confidence to implement them in your workplace.
• Expert Resources: Receive a printed copy of Facilitator’s Guide to Participatory Decision Making by Sam Kaner, a leading expert on collaboration.
• Why 7 Weeks: Spacing over 7 weeks allows time to practice skills, reflect, and apply them in real meetings.

What You’ll Learn and Be Able To Do

• Facilitate Listening in Real Meetings: Practice more than 20 facilitative listening skills that help you draw out quieter voices, manage dominant participants, and keep discussions constructive.
• Meetings With Clear Purpose and Structure: Learn how to design purpose-driven agendas and use simple facilitation tools that keep meetings focused, participatory, and efficient.
• Participation That Leads To Better Decisions: Use participatory meeting methods that help groups think together, build shared understanding, and reach clearer decisions and next steps.
• What do Past Participants Say? Here is a link to some of the letters they have written to you, the next cohort.

What’s Included

• Access to a state-of-the-art learning platform
• Individual coaching and mentoring
• Certificate of completion
• Opportunity to take a refresher course at no additional charge
• 23 NCHES credits

Ready to Run Better Meetings?

• This 7-week live course gives you practical facilitation skills you can use right away to lead more focused, inclusive and productive meetings.
• Questions?  Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page.
• Registration closes three days before the course begins.
• Register now at the bottom of this screen to hold your space.

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What can I expect as a participant?

The more you participate the more you get out of the course.  This is an interactive, engaging course.  You should expect to spend:

• 1-3 hours per week of reading short, practical materials
• Participating in weekly online discussions (posting and reading)
• Attending a 90 minute live online session each week, or watching the recording if you can’t attend live
• Practicing one or two new facilitation skills in your own meetings and sharing what you notice with the group.

Still have more questions?  Visit our Frequently Asked Questions page for more details.

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Past participants said….

• “I learned quite a lot and love the book.  It is a great resource for me to go back to.”  Stefania
• “I loved the sections on agendas and chart writing.” Tara
• ” This course has been valuable to my personal and work growth.   I have improved my communication skills. I am learning to be more thoughtful and participatory.  My meeting agendas have been updated with all groups providing positive feedback on the changes.” Audrey
  

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What will we cover during the 7-modules?

 

• LINK TO DETAILED AGENDA
• Module 1:  Principles of Facilitation – Understand the role of a facilitator and how facilitation choices influence group participation, decision making and meeting outcomes.
• Module 2: Facilitative Listening Skills – Practice more than 20 facilitative listening skills that help draw out ideas, manage participation, and keep discussions constructive.
• Module 3: Chart Writing Techniques – Learn how to use color, layout, and visual structure to capture group thinking clearly and effectively, both online and in person.
• Module 4: Effective Brainstorming – Learn how to choose the right brainstorming approach for different situations and practice a variety of methods in an online setting.
• Module 5: Productive Discussions – Develop skills for guiding discussions that surface diverse perspectives while keeping conversations focused and respectful.
• Module 6: Designing Agendas – Design clear, purpose driven agendas that support participation, manage time, and lead to meaningful outcomes.
• Module 7: From Difficult People to Constructive Outcomes – Learn how to diagnose common challenging group behaviors and apply practical strategies to keep meetings on track.

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PUBLIC HEALTH COMPETENCY ALIGNMENT
Download the course competency mapping for public health competencies.

CREDITS

NCHEC – Sponsored by Dougherty, Inc., a designated provider of continuing education contact hours (CECH) in health education by the National Commission for Health Education Credentialing, Inc. This program is designated for Certified Health Education Specialists (CHES®) and/or Master Certified Health Education Specialists (MCHES®) to receive up to 23 total Category I contact education contact hours. Maximum advanced-level continuing education contact hours available are 0 . Continuing Competency credits available are 0.” Provider ID#1153594, program number 3733

CPH – This course is approved for 23 hours of  CPH recertification credits  from the National Board of Health Examiners.

Florida Certification Board Approved Provider – This course qualifies for 23 hours of continuing education for Addiction, Child Welfare, Community Health/Health, Mental Health, Prevention

Illinois EPA – Approved by Illinois EPA for 23 credit hours – Course ID 19219 (as Facilitating Great Meetings)

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CONTRACTS IN PLACE

Contracts

• University of Wisconsin-Madison #MSNALL-2024-2198-General  RFB NO. 2024-UWMSN-00482-RFB
• City of Tucson – Contract 240097-14 Employee Leadership and Development
• City of Phoenix – Contract #163712 – Professional Development and Training

Government Employees can choose the “invoice me” option and be billed at the conclusion of the course. 

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 Register today and build practical facilitation skills for the meetings you run.