Invitation to Change (ITC)

In an effort to identify and provide innovative resources to rural communities in Region 6, we are partnering with the CMC: Foundation for Change to expand the reach of their Invitation to Change groups in our region. The CMC: Foundation for Change describes the ITC Approach as a holistic helping framework based in science and kindness, designed for the families and loved ones of people affected by substance use, as well as the professionals who support them. The model (below) is made up of three main parts: helping with Understanding, helping with Awareness, and helping with Action. At the center of it all is Practice, because learning new behavior can’t happen without it.

As a part of our mission for this project, we are able to offer training to become an ITC Group facilitator at no cost to participants. In order to be eligible, you must be able to facilitate an ITC group in a rural community in Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma or Texas. The first step of the application process is to complete our interest survey by February 21st.  If you complete the interest survey, our team will reach out with additional instructions for the full application which is due by February 28th.

Who is this training for?

1. Can I earn CMEs for this training?

Yes, you can earn up to 14 Continuing Education Units (CEUs) for Part 1 of the training. However, no partial CE credits will be awarded. You are required to attend the entire training to earn CEUs. The training is approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for 14 CEUs. It is also approved by the National Association for Alcoholism and Drug Abuse Counselors (NAADAC) for 14 credit hours (provider approval number 272939). Find CE approvals by state here. 

2. Will I earn a certification for the training?

Yes! The CMC: Foundation for Change (CMC:FFC) offers a certification process to those attending the training. The ITC Level 1 Certification can be useful with employers, clients, colleagues, or others to show that you have spent enough time with the ITC Approach through training and supervision to effectively incorporate the model into your work. Level 1 Certification also indicates approval from the CMC:FFC for you to begin running an ITC group, which the CMC:FFC trainers will guide you through during the Level 1 Certification Protocol.

3. Is there a minimum educational degree required to become a facilitator of an ITC group?

There is no educational requirement to become a facilitator of an ITC group. This program is designed for caregivers, families, and loved ones of people who have been affected by substance use or addiction. This program has also been used by professionals who support caregivers, families and loved ones.

4. Can I attend the 28 hours of training virtually?

Yes, all training will be conducted virtually on Zoom. For Zoom trainings, your attendance will be tracked by downloading Zoom reports, so please ensure that your display name is your full name so your attendance can be properly marked. If you are going to share a computer with another participant, you are REQUIRED to inform CMC:FFC staff prior to the training.

5. What if I have to miss a session of the training?

Our hope is that everyone will be able to attend each training session live so they can make the most of the opportunity to ask questions and engage with the trainers. However, we recognize that many of you have professional lives with previously scheduled conflicts and also, sometimes life happens and you might have to miss unexpectedly. Each session will be recorded and can be made available to you as an opportunity to make up the missed session on a case by case basis. You must attend the majority of the sessions live in order to receive your certification. If you’re using this training for CEUs, please refer to the details about required attendance in that answer.

6. Will I be paid to facilitate ITC groups?

Your training and facilitation support from CMC: Foundation for Change will be fully funded through this project and we will provide all necessary materials and marketing support for your first ITC group implementation. We recognize that facilitating a 15-session group is a considerable time commitment, especially for individuals working outside of their professional role. We are able to offer financial support to assist facilitators in the successful implementation of their groups to a limited number of facilitators. This support can help offset costs related to facilitation, ensuring accessibility and sustainability.

7. Will I need to recruit participants for my ITC group?

Yes, as a facilitator, you will play a key role in recruiting participants for your ITC group. Since you serve as the local point of contact, this is a valuable opportunity to build rapport with future group members. Our team is available to support you by developing marketing materials (and printing if needed) and offering optional check-ins to discuss recruitment strategies, address any concerns, and ensure a smooth facilitation process.

8. Who should I recruit to participate in the groups that I will facilitate?

ITC groups are designed for caregivers, families, and loved ones of people with substance use disorder or addiction. In addition, ITC groups have been used by professionals who support caregivers, families, and loved ones. You can recruit any individual within one or more of these categories.

9. Can the ITC groups be facilitated virtually, or do they need to be facilitated in-person only?

ITC groups can be facilitated virtually if that is the best fit for you and your co-leader. The CMC:FFC team has created slides that group leaders can use during the virtual ITC groups if they choose to do so. Support can be provided by our team or the CMC:FFC team for group leaders running virtual groups.

10. How should I secure a location to facilitate an ITC group?

ITC groups can be held at a variety of places. Example locations used to facilitate an ITC group include outreach centers, schools, churches, and treatment facilities or you can host your ITC group virtually! If you have any community connections to some of the facilities listed above, this is a good starting place to secure a location if you prefer to lead an in-person group.

11. How many individuals do I need to recruit to facilitate an ITC group? (e.g., is there a minimum number of participants - 2,3,4,5?)

The ideal group size is between 8 and 12 individuals. We recommend over-recruiting to account for circumstances that lead to someone dropping out of the group.

12. How many sessions could I hold each week to complete the 15-session minimum requirement by September 29th, 2025?

There is no minimum number of sessions you can hold per week to complete the 15-session requirement. 

13. Do the co-leaders need to be trained, too?

The ITC model requires group leaders to work in pairs when facilitating a group. Ideally, both leaders should be trained in the ITC model; however, there may be opportunities for a certified individual to co-lead with someone who is not yet certified on a case by case basis.