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What does an ACT for Caregivers workshop look like?

An ACT for Caregivers workshop is an experiential, group-based curriculum, presented by teams of caregivers and clinicians in partnership, that introduces the concepts of ACT (“Acceptance and Commitment Training”) to caregivers and family members of people with neurodevelopmental differences. Unlike most interventions for caregivers and families, the workshop is focussed not on their loved one, but on their own wellbeing.

The workshop can be presented in either of two formats:

A virtual (online) group that meets for either 5 or 6 weekly sessions of 2 hours each
An in-person group that meets 3 times: one evening, one full day, and one additional evening

Training, a Manual, and this Resource Portal are provided to support facilitators.

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What does “experiential” mean?

The ACT for Caregivers workshop is engaging, interactive, and requires participants to actively practice, reflect, and share with the group.

ACT processes are learned by doing, through a set of experiential exercises that illustrate how to apply ACT to the real-world circumstances of each individual. Participants are strongly encouraged to attend all sessions, and in a virtual group, are asked to keep their cameras on.

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How much will it cost?

Costs to run each ACT workshop include:

Compensation for caregiver facilitators who are not employed by the host organization ($600-700 per facilitator, depending upon training and preparation time). This includes the workshop itself (15-20 hours); debriefing and preparation time (6 to 18 hours depending on their level of experience).
Time for clinician facilitators, including the workshop itself (15-20 hours); debriefing and preparation time (6 to 18 hours); as well as recruiting, screening, and other administrative tasks (5 hours or more)
Printing, copying, and mailing materials (e.g. handouts) as needed ($200)
Optional: appreciation for participants (e.g. $300 to send an ACT related book to all participants)

Additional costs for an in-person workshop may include:

Room rental
Food, which may include 2 evening meals, breakfast, lunch and coffee breaks for full day
Childcare/respite ($750)

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How much time must be invested?

ACT for Caregiver workshops require significant time resources. Major time costs include:

Training (30 hours, one time). All facilitators (clinicians and caregivers) must be trained to deliver the workshop.

First, facilitators experience the workshop themselves (12 to 15 hours).

Then, each facilitator attends a facilitation course, typically spread over 6 to 10 weeks.

Screening (4 to 5 hours per workshop). Although some administrative tasks can be given to other staff, screening should be handled by a trained facilitator who is familiar with the workshop.

Workshop (21 hours per workshop). The workshop itself is 12 to 15 hours, plus up to 6 hours of preparation and debrief time.

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How many facilitators do we need?

Each workshop requires at least 2, and up to 4, facilitators. Every team requires at least one caregiver and at least one clinician. Learn more here

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How many families can we support in each group?

Each group can accommodate between 8 and 15 caregivers or family members, depending on the size of the facilitation team. Many agencies run two to three workshops per year. Learn more here

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How do I become trained as a facilitator?

All facilitators are trained through a two step process. Learn more here. After training, a Manual and Resource Portal are provided to support facilitators.

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Should we do a virtual or an in-person workshop?

The ACT for Caregivers workshop has both a virtual and an in-person curriculum. In both formats, the exercises have been specifically designed to nurture a safe, inclusive atmosphere in which participants feel deeply connected to one another.

There are advantages to both formats:

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Each agency can assess their client population to determine which format would be more appropriate. Some agencies choose to provide more than one workshop in a year, alternating between in person and virtual formats.

The Resource Portal and the Manual provide resources to ensure that facilitators can confidently provide an effective, engaging experience in either format.

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What are the Guiding Principles and best practices of our workshops?

Teams across Canada have been implementing ACT for Caregiver workshops in a variety of communities. Through their experiences, we have created a set of Guiding Principles and Best Practices that give each workshop the best chance of success.

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Guiding Principles and Best Practices for ACT for Caregiver Workshops‍

Agencies across Canada have offered ACT for Caregiver workshops to their local communities. The Guiding Principles and Best Practices capture key lessons from their experiences.

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‍Guiding Principles

These tenets underlie successful ACT for Caregiver workshops:

Family caregivers of people with neurodevelopmental differences deserve support for their own well-being

ACT is most impactful when delivered through a true partnership between clinicians working alongside caregivers with lived experience

Everyone is welcome at an ACT for Caregivers workshop

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Best Practices

Teams across Canada have found the following practices help ensure an ACT for Caregiver workshop is deeply impactful:

Secure sufficient agency resources - don’t work off the side of your desk

Build a strong and sustainable facilitation team

Consider equity, diversity, and inclusion before and during your workshop

Invest in recruiting and screening - it takes longer than you think

Start with your Manual and the annotated agendas as the roadmap for your workshop

Review the resources including Tips from Coaches and demonstration videos

Practice, and seek out coaching, to increase your confidence

Live ACT in your own life

Connect clinician facilitators with participants who need extra support

Research and evaluate to improve your process and advocate for future workshops

Continue learning by fostering ongoing connections, with families and with other facilitators

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More detailed information on implementing these Guiding Principles and Best Practices is available in the Resource Portal (available to trained facilitators).

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What is the evidence behind the workshops?

ACT for Caregiver workshops have been extensively researched, and show significant improvements to caregiver well being, including levels of stress, anxiety, and depression.

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