The Living Well with a Disability materials are intentionally written so that laypersons, peers, or health professionals can teach them. Available trainings are designed to familiarize facilitators with the philosophy, goals and written materials of Living Well. No expertise outside the information provided in the training is required for conducting a successful group.

Our desire to maintain the quality and consistency of Living Well with a Disability workshops motivates our request that all facilitators train through the Rural Institute on Disabilities. Living Well is geared toward helping people make healthy lifestyle choices and that means effective facilitation to encourage change.

Training session(s) provide an experience similar to the actual workshop. Facilitators-in-training are encouraged to complete exercises they will ask future participants to do, and group discussions enrich the virtual or actual classroom experience. The final training segment includes a section on facilitating in groups to encourage change.

There are currently two types of training available for Living Well, which include web-based training and on-site training.

It may be a small stretch to say that training courses for Living Well leaders is just a mouse click away...but we do offer a facilitator training course over the Internet. With the help of conference calling and an Internet-connected computer, trainers and participants can communicate by telephone during scheduled internet based slide show presentations. The web-based training is conducted during four, two-hour sessions.

Cost per participant is $200. Participants are also responsible for long-distance charges (approx $50).

If you prefer good-old, in-person training, that is also available. A trainer will travel to your location and teach 14 hours of materials over two days. This training can be conducted for up to 20 facilitators.

The fee for on-site training is $2,500 plus the cost of materials and travel.

CANCELLED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE One final option for facilitators is to attend a summer or winter Living Well Training Institute. Not only can you access some great training, but tie in a vacation to Montana for fly-fishing, skiing, or to visit our national parks. The Training Institutes cover 14 hours of material over 2 days for up to 40 facilitators.

Each "facilitator in training" receives a notebook identical to the one used by participants in the workshop. A variety of accessible formats such as large print and audiotaped versions are available upon request.

If you are interested in any of the listed training options, please contact Craig Ravesloot at (406)370-6840 or email cravesloot@comcast.net for additional details or to schedule a workshop.

If you would like programmatic information, please email Craig Ravesloot at cravesloot@comcast.net.