What training, support, and staff are needed to implement support groups?
Those involved in support groups should receive training in breastfeeding and young child feeding as well as training in counseling skills and the dynamics of support groups. Training for the facilitator may take the form of an official, recognized training course or an apprenticeship. Training programs vary from 20 to 80 hours. Lessons spread over time allow for better assimilation of material as do participatory activities. Some form of accountability or simple record keeping by the facilitator is usually necessary, depending upon the funder or organizational regulations. This may include simple statistics such as when and where meetings were held or mothers were contacted, how many pregnant women/ mothers were helped, and common breastfeeding difficulties encountered. Those who are directly working with the mothers at the community level also need a support person to whom they have easy access and who can provide quick feedback. This can be an experienced person from within the supp
