About the course:

The course will equip its participants to implement the UPSIDES program in their workplace.

What is the UPSIDES Program?

The Upsides program was developed through international cooperation (involving 6 different countries, including Israel). Its goal is to implement peer support based on the effectiveness of experiential knowledge in mental health. Building on this accumulated knowledge, the program was created, accompanied by a workbook and tools designed to facilitate the acquisition of skills, experiences, and knowledge from individuals with lived experience in coping and recovery processes, thereby strengthening their unique ability to offer support through shared life experiences.

Among the topics studied: personal recovery and its application in daily life, peer support, communication skills, tools for managing disclosure, working with life stories, basic skills in facilitating peer groups, understanding the added value of experiential knowledge, creating a peer network, and connecting to the community.

How does it work? The program is implemented through peer support groups designed to develop and strengthen mental health services. The course will train facilitators to lead groups in rehabilitation settings throughout the course. The groups will consist of approximately 12 sessions, in which service recipients will participate.

During the course, all stages and contents of the program will be learned, from group initiation, implementation of various meetings, and group completion. Additionally, skills for group facilitation will be taught.

*** Successful course completers will receive an international certificate of recognition from the global UPSIDES project. 

Who is the course for:

Rehabilitation workers with experiential knowledge (rehabilitation counselors, support workers, mentors, care coordinators with experiential knowledge) in community rehabilitation and/or peer specialists, 

Individuals with one year or more of experience in the field, who are interested in developing peer support groups within their current service.

Employees must actively work within a community framework, and the framework's consent and readiness to support the process with internal guidance are required.

Registration for the course is for pairs of students from the same workplace. (This is to facilitate joint group guidance at their workplace).

Course Objectives:  

• Training students as facilitators for implementing peer-support-based interventions in various settings.
• Students will expand their knowledge of the recovery approach and its daily application, as well as peer support.
• Students will learn tools for managing exposure and working with life stories, acquire basic group facilitation skills, and understand the added value of experiential knowledge, peer networking, and community connection.
• Learning will be conducted both theoretically and practically, with ongoing guidance and support focused on facilitating the delivery of interventions throughout all stages of the course.

Course Structure:

The course will be divided into two stages.

First Stage: Three intensive workshop training sessions, once a week (six academic hours per session). During the training, theoretical and practical knowledge will be provided, and participants will gain hands-on experience and practice some of the materials.

Second Stage: Eight learning and guidance sessions (4 academic hours per session). During these sessions, participants will delve deeply into all parts of the program, practice skills for applying the topics, and receive group guidance on facilitating the group within the framework. The sessions will be held once every two weeks.

Please note: As an integral part of the course, each pair of facilitators must develop a group within their work framework approximately one month from the start of the course. Service recipients from the framework will be invited to participate in this group.

The Upsides group meets weekly as part of the service where course students are employed.

* The group will be guided by two facilitators, as part of their work (both are required to participate in the course).

Participants:

The course is designed for approximately 20 participants (who come in pairs from rehabilitation frameworks), rehabilitation professionals with experiential knowledge, peer experts, or family members, with at least one year of experience in community rehabilitation.

Course Requirements:

• Mandatory attendance in 90% of classes. Participants must attend workshops and training sessions regularly.
• Active participation in training sessions and study days
• Case presentation in the training workshop and writing a concluding reflection
• Submission of required exercises and assignments
• Commitment to implementing interventions throughout the course is required. Candidates must submit a declaration form, signed by their framework manager, confirming their intention to facilitate these interventions within their framework during the course. If a candidate is unable, for any reason, to commit to continuous facilitation from the start to the end of the interventions, they will not be accepted into the course.

Admission Requirements:

• Registration is based on a pair of experienced mentors (2 mentors from the program),
• Both have at least one year of experience in mental health rehabilitation.
• Interview received.
• Applicants must present written consent from the framework's director regarding the practical implementation of the group and the mentors' guidance, in addition to the group guidance provided within the course framework.
• The organization is willing to support the opening of at least one additional group after the course concludes.