Application Process

Facilitators must be connected with an appropriate site to hold the group sessions. Sites that may endorse a facilitator are:

• Schools (preschool, grammar, high school, university, etc.)

• Libraries

• Faith-based organizations

• Local community or recreation centers

• Community organizations (YMCA, YWCA, Boy Scouts, Girl Scouts, etc.)

• Private practices of licensed mental health professionals

Once an application is accepted and a background check is passed, volunteers will be able to order the online training and facilitator manual. Each facilitator must have their own profile in order to receive their certificate of completion and to be able to facilitate groups.

Training

The online Facilitator Training is comprised of various learning methods, including interactive exercises, quizzes and videos. The training takes approximately 8 hours to complete, and facilitators will have 24/7 access to the training for as long as they are actively running groups. To receive certificate of completion, facilitator must attempt to answer all questions in the modules that have quizzes. After completing their training, facilitators will be granted access to the Facilitator Resource Center, where webinars, Facilitator forums, supplemental materials and other resource tools are available. Price: $180. Click here for an overview of Rainbows programs (PDF).

Curriculum

Rainbows Facilitators should use the Facilitator Manual to plan their group sessions. Facilitators may adjust lessons to groups as necessary. Facilitators may need to purchase additional supplies for their group(s). These materials can be purchased in our online store with a credit card, or Facilitators may find them elsewhere on their own.

Rainbows Facilitators must be able to promote and fill groups on their own. They may use our logo if they create a brochure or modify our own marketing materials. Facilitators may also use the Marketing Toolkit found in the online Facilitator Resource Center.

Time Commitment

We understand that as a volunteer, you are becoming a Facilitator out of a desire to help children in need. Your time is valuable, so we have broken down the approximate time commitment of running one Rainbows group:

• Online Facilitator Training: 8 hours
• Planning group sessions: up to 12–14 hours (1 hour of planning per week)
• Group sessions: up to 12–14 hours (up to 1 hour sessions per week)
• Assessments: 1–4 hours (depending on the size of your group)
• Total: 30–40 hours

Times may vary depending on the individual, group size, and group session run times.

NOTE: you only have to complete the training one time, so after the initial group, the time commitment is less.

CEUs

Rainbows for all Children is certified through IDFPR and ISBE to provide social workers and educators within the state of Illinois with 8 CEUs for completing our online training. For more information on this process contact paula.carter@rainbows.org .