Become a Change Club Leader
Eligibility
In order to be eligible for the StrongPeople Change Club Training Program, you must:
Be an employee/staff with a nonprofit organization; If you are not an employee/staff of a nonprofit but are working in partnership with a nonprofit organization to implement the program, you must submit a letter from the nonprofit organization as your sponsor. In addition, all leaders are required to sign a scope of use agreement regarding nonprofit use of the program only.
Have a firm commitment to starting a program in your community.
Experience and Credentials
Experience in providing community education or outreach and/or community connections would likely be beneficial, but there are no required credentials or experience for taking the Change Club training and leading a group.
If you will be leading a community walkabout or any other physical activities, we strongly suggest CPR training and certification as a best practice.
The Role of a StrongPeople Change Club Program Leader
- To generate interest in the program and recruit participants
- To conduct participant screening and complete enrollment forms
- To conduct an informational session for potential participants
- To thoroughly understand the principles of the program
- To instruct classes based on the sound nutrition principles outlined in the Leader Guide
- To be timely and organized for scheduled classes
- To provide ongoing feedback, assistance, and support to participants
- To provide leadership and inspiration to enhance compliance
Space & Equipment
To implement the StrongPeople Change Club Program safely and effectively, we recommend a minimum of 300 square feet for a class of 12 to 15 participants for delivering the program in-person. Preferably, a room the size of a large classroom will be available. The location should also have a safe place to walk in the surrounding neighborhood.
Program Investment
The initial investment to become a leader for those who qualify is $500 for the online training. If the Final Exam from the course is not passed on the first try, it is an additional $150 to retake the test as many times as needed. There may be scholarships available if these training costs are prohibitive.
To run the program, budget considerations include acquiring an appropriate location for program meetings, purchasing the Participant Guides for each participant, any printing and marketing costs, and any project-specific costs. For example, many groups will need to fundraise for their project, which may require some initial set-up costs.
Leaders may decide to charge participants a small fee for the program to help cover costs including their time, but this should be in line with the policies of the associated non-profit.
Sites Appropriate to Run a StrongPeople Change Club Program
The program is appropriate for urban, suburban, and rural community organizations, such as community centers, county NIFA (extension) offices, senior centers, older adult housing complexes, places of worship, or any other community site where people come together.
The Program Leader Training
Potential Program Leaders must complete an official StrongPeopleTM Change Club Program Leader Training and receive a Training Certificate before teaching a program. This training is offered in a self-paced online version or occasionally as a live virtual training. The training covers important background and research, program content and effective leadership. The training also provides guidance on how to schedule programs, space and equipment needs, and overview of all program resources.
Online Program Leader Training Courses
COMING SOON!
Please enter your information below to be notified when the Change Club Leader Training is available.