Steps

• Step one. Commitment. When starting a support group, you are making a commitment to lead and organize a group of individuals that hold similar interests. At the beginning, you must decide if you will be sharing this responsibility.
• Step two. Theme. What is going to be the overall theme of your meeting? Will they be formal structured meeting with an agenda or, informational no set agenda just a place to chat and vent? or both?
• Step three. Structure. When are the meeting going to be held? Where? How long?
  • Place. Many meetings are now being held virtually or in platforms such as meetup, Facebook, google meets, etc. However, you might choose to hold in person meetings at a neutral place like a coffee shop, restaurant, park or even at a school.
  • Schedule. Meetings are often recurring and usually once a month. Many platforms used for scheduling meetings offer calendars to share with members.
  • Time. Depending how often the meetings are held, the time can start from one hour to two hours. This is important to keep in mind if meeting is being held at a home, or coffee shop, school. You have to be mindful of time and respect others time as well.
• Step four. Rules. It is important to abide by basic curtesy rules and have rules in place for all members to abide by. Rules should be the starting point when starting a meeting. Rules can include: turn taking when speaking, appropriate and polite language, etc.
• Step five. Members expectations. When starting a support group are all members going to participate equally. Are all members expected to contribute in some shape or form.
• Step six. Recruitment. How are you going to recruit members? Are you inviting members from your immediate community? Who are your members? Parents of special needs children, parents with children on the autism spectrum, etc. Many parents invite other parents by word of mouth because they feel more comfortable starting with members that know each other and have common goals, interests, etc.