Ask an Advisor Questions

Dear Toolbox Advisor,

I am in the final stages of writing a modified version of my current book, Starting and Sustaining Groups that Thrive: Therapist’s Workbook and Planning Guide. This edition, Groups That Thrive: Workbook and Planning Guide, is for a wider audience of non-therapists, such as leaders of self-help and support groups, writer’s groups, work groups, community and networking groups.
 
I am writing to ask your assistance in finding recent statistics.
I have been unable to find statistics about the number of self help or support groups in the US that are more recent than the last 10 years. Your implement/enhancing-support/peer-support-groups/main page cites 500,000 support groups in the US. 
 
Do you know the source and date of that statistic? Re: “Did you know that there are over 500,000 support groups in the United States? Because they are both inexpensive and effective ways to offer assistance to people dealing with a variety of concerns, support groups have become a common method of serving the needs of people who are experiencing problems in their lives.” [From: http://ctb.ku.edu/en/table-of-contents/implement/enhancing-support/peer-support-groups/main ]
 
Thank you in advance for considering these requests,

Ann Steiner, Ph.D., MFT Certified Group Psychotherapist
 
Psychotherapist/ Author /Trainer/ Professional Speaker
Recently Released: How to Create and Sustain Groups that Thrive: Therapist's Workbook and Planning Guide
To be Released: How to Create and Sustain Groups that Thrive: Therapist's Workbook and Planning Guide
Board Member, American Group Psychotherapy Association
Lafayette, CA 
(925) 962-0060
www.DrSteiner.com 

Hello, I am searching for a training around community organizing. Our organization uses your Community Toolbox and we are currently looking at ways to expand our offerings around community organizing.

Hello,
I am trying to decide between a phd and masters in Community Psychology. I am pretty certain I do not want to be an educator or conduct research in an academic setting. Would a masters degree be a better choice for me? Recently I have graduated with an MA in marriage and family therapy but I found I wanted to do more than just therapy and think Community Psychology will help me better integrate my interests ( human rights, policy, advocacy etc). Could you tell me what I can do with a phd that I wouldn't be able to do with just a masters?

I am looking forward to so advice from your Advisors. A team of teachers at my school attended the IEL Family and Community Engagement Conference. I ended up with a little flyer from your organization... I just logged into your website and I am excited about all the tools you have available. I work at a diverse urban school district in CT. One of our focus areas are Family and Community engagement. We are honestly floating... our family engagement coordinator is knowledge and working hard but she is one of many people responsible for the interactions with our families and students. We do have a diverse staff population and as it become more diverse, I believe we as educators become more adept at effectively readjusting to situations based on our feedback from adult communication. However, we need to change our parent teacher conferences. When I think about building powerful PARTNERSHIPS with families, I do not see a teacher on one side of a table and family members on the other. Teachers reading information many parents don't understand, then strengths and concerns shared that may not be the same values as the families. We could get really into this!!! But our principal has given us 30 minutes on Dec. 1st for a group of use to support teachers in changing their conferencing practices, building cultural competence, and planning for their next weeks parent communication. PLEASE if you could offer any materials, resources, information that could support us, it would effective the lives of 523 students and a community of 4 times that. I thank you in advance for any advise, direction and "tools" that you can recommend.
Thank you,
Kara Levenduski
-Also wanted to mention we do have a book club of about 13 teachers reading Beyond the Bake Sale. - We are working on things... we need to continue to take relevant steps to improve our school culture.

Seek advise on developing Civic Leadership and Civic Education tool box.What tips and/or assistance that you can provide to deliver this committment.

Would any of your staff be willing to facilitate a presentation virtually on sustainability planning for community-wide initiatives? If so, what is the cost for this? This would be a session lasting 1 hour to 1.5 hours.

I want to start a peer support group in my community for survivors of sexual abuse. I have facilitated a support group before but it has been about 10 years. I really want this to be successful. Is there anyone who would be able to give me tips on getting started?

l want to write a vision n mission for the first woman business association and am really stressed on that n would like any ideas from you as u know we have been in a war zone country which is now getting better n we also have this culture where women are seen as minor n not business owners so l would like to get some help if you don't mind.

I am interested in doing more writing and editing for my organization. One area I would like to enhance Grant Writing. What are some suggestions that would allow me to advance in that area?

Hello!
I am the grant writer for The University of Alabama's College of Community Health Sciences. We are preparing our proposal for the Academic Community Partnership Conference Series Grant R13. Within the PAR, they suggest that guidance from the University of Kansas Community Tool Box can inform the development of our MOU with our community partner. I would like to utilize your tools to develop our MOU. What is the best way to get started? I have found the general information on for a Memorandum of Agreement. Thanks for your assistance. Susan Page

I am a doctoral student at the University of Cincinnati currently enrolled in a Qualitative Research course and an Action Research course. I'm working on an assignment to locate resources about obtaining appropriate samples for qualitative research related to health and education. What are the best resources for best practices related to sampling?

Thank you for all this useful tips you have here. I just opened an organization for my local community and am also thinking if I should operate at the state level or national level. My aim is to improve the live of our youth educational and also provide training for them to face the real world.

I was wondering when the workshop was tomorrow (Tuesday) to help make the pad that you all will take over to the women in need?

Good day. Sir/Madam

My name is Yongama Mabhengu. a Young Mediator, As well as Youth Chairperson of a small Political party Called African Independent Congress in South Africa. And now I realy need to Develop my Youth but then I realy have no Idea. Please help me

Thank you. Hope to hear from you soon

Yongama Mabhengu
0766572151

I want to further my education in Community health and development, how do I get scholarship and information? I am an Mphil Student from the University For Development Studies, Ghana.

how can i make my petition legal in kern county ca do i file with what office?
its for a free local community skatepark for at risk

I am a pastor in Emporia, Kansas, working with the university and the ministerial alliance to develop anti-racism training. We are aware of resources from outside the area, but came across the Community Tool Box and are wondering what resources might be available from KU to foster community conversations.

Good Evening. I am in the process of forming a non profit to help families become more aware of the local resources. The families would go on our website and complete the needs assessment and then we would then link the up with that resource. My question. what would are strategic plan be to make sure that this service is effective. We have about 5 board members. what should are turn around be when the individual contacts us. i just needs some guidance. there is a service that is available for the community but the hold time is extremely long and the information is not always accurate. We dont want to duplicate those type of services or complaints. Please advise

Hello,

I'm working on a few projects for the Marygrove block club and would like to know if you have any information that would be helpful in making our organization stronger.

Currently, I'm working on updating our website and creating a newsletter to reach out to more residence that live within our community. Any ideas and/or suggestions is greatly appreciate.

Thank you,

Yolanda Harris
734-883-8454