Before your first group:

Sign Up for Voxer

• Voxer is a voice memo app that allows us to get a hold of each other quickly if needed!
• If you don't have voxer, please download the voxer app on your phone and sign up (it's free!)
• Please email your Voxer username to [email protected]
• If possible, please keep your Voxer notification on if you are leading a support group that day, so that we can get a hold of you if needed.

Chapter 1

Preparing for your First Call

• Shadow another call first! The best way to get ideas on how to lead your group is to attend other support groups to see how our other leaders host them.

• Recite blanket welcome statement to all members on the call. Be sure to also copy and paste the statement in the chat.

• Log on to your zoom call approximately 10 minutes before your start time to make sure that all technology is working correctly

• Be comfy! There is no need to dress up or be "professional" for these calls. Come just as you are.

• Make sure you are in a well lit, quiet space.

• Prepare some discussion points for the group (see "how to transition topics" below for some ideas!)

At the start of your support group calls, we suggest starting with a short introduction/reminder to our members could be helpful.

I would suggest starting the calls by:

• Encouraging everyone to introduce themselves in the chat box to save time. Perhaps ask them to share their name, when their surgery surgery was, and what they need support with right now
• Let them know they can mute themselves and keep their cameras on if they’d like to participate. Encourage them to unmute themselves when they’d like to speak. 
• Remind them that if they have already had an opportunity to share, to make sure we are being courteous and giving everyone an opportunity to speak.
• Remind them that this call is not meant to give advice, but rather, provide support and encouragement and that we are to be kind and respectful at all times.

You can say these things however you would like and put your own spin/personality on it! I think reiterating these “rules” about being respectful and making sure everyone gets to share will be helpful. 

Chapter 2

Logging into Calls

1. Join your call at least 5-10 minutes before the call starts using The Sleeved Dietitian Support zoom account information found in your calendar invite - Please be in a quiet, well-lit space if possible.
2. To join the call, you can navigate to the Meetings section of the menu and click "Start Meeting" for your specific group. Once signed into the Support Zoom account you can also click the "Join Zoom Meeting" link (which was sent to you via email and calendar invite at the start of the month)
3. The call should automatically start when you join and make you the Host

Chapter 3

Best Practices

How to kickoff your group

1. Start the call by introducing yourself. I usually say wait 1-3 minutes or so before you officially "start" the call, to give everyone a chance to log on and get situated.
2. Once you give everyone a minute or so to log on, thank them all for coming and let them know how excited you are to see them there.
3. Recite required blanket statement at the start of each call or workshop. Please also copy and paste the statement in the chat.
4. Ask everyone to shut their mics off and keep their cameras on if they are comfortable. Let them know that they are free to unmute themselves and join in to speak when ever they would like.
5. Remind them how important this community is and that we are here showing up for one another just as much as we are here showing up for ourselves. You may want to say something like "Not every conversation may apply to you tonight, but someone here tonight will need to hear these discussions and we are here to support on another fully."

Blanket Statement

• Support groups may include triggering content, such as weight loss numbers, discussion of food, discussion of emotional topics, etc. If you are triggered by this content during a support group, please take care of yourself! Know that it is okay to turn your camera off or leave the group at any time.
• Please raise your hand when you would like to speak, that way we can make sure everyone has a chance to share.
• Finally, please remember that the T.R.I.B.E. includes female and nonbinary identifying members, language such as "ladies" etc may exclude members who are on the call. Please don't assume anyone's gender and consider sharing your pronouns with the group as well.

How to make introductions

1. If it's a relatively small group you may want to go around and take a minute for introductions. Call on each person by name and ask them to introduce themselves, how far post op they are, etc.
2. If it's a large group, for the sake of time, you can ask them to head to the chat box and introduce themselves there.

How to transition topics

1. It's usually good to start with "who has something they would like to share?"
2. Some other ways to respond to people and transition topics include:
3. "Thank you for sharing that, that must have been really hard. Does anyone have anything they'd like to say to (name) or any suggestions?"
4. "Wow that's so helpful, thank you for sharing that! Does anyone else have something they would like to add?"
5. "That's a really good suggestion! Who else has a suggestion to add?"
6. "I'm really glad we've spent so much time discussing _____ tonight. I was also thinking we could talk about ______ (insert new topic) ______. Who is struggling with _____ (insert new topic) _____"
7. "Let's all go around the room and share a win from this week"
8. "Let's all go around the room and share our goals for this week"

How to wrap up your calls

1. Giving both a 10 and a 5 minute warning is usually a good strategy
2. At 10 minutes, you may want to say something like "We have 10 minutes left, who else has something they'd like to share tonight?"
3. At 5 minutes, you may want to say something like "Okay everyone we have 5 minutes left. I want to make sure everyone has an opportunity to speak tonight who'd like to. If you haven't share yet and would like to add something please feel free to unmute yourself."
4. It's very important that we keep these groups to 60 minutes. Please make sure that you are doing your very best to end on time. Especially if there is another group starting right after yours, the next leader will not be able to log on until everyone from your group as logged off.
5. Thank everyone for coming, let them know how proud you are of them for showing up. If you have another support group later that month you can remind them or encourage them to go to other leaders support groups.

Chapter 4

Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Training

How To Create Safer Spaces As a Team

• As leaders, it is our responsibility to make sure our T.R.I.B.E. is a safe space for all our members
• It is our responsibility to disrupt microaggressions, racism, homophobia, etc
• In order to create safer spaces, we want to ensure that the most marginalized person in the room/group feels comfortable, safe, and protected

How To Create Safer Spaces As an Individual Leader

• Focus on listening first and taking time to react to sensitive situations
• Prioritize inclusive language and be mindful of exclusive language
• Please see slide 27 of Simone's powerpoint for ways to use inclusive language
• Ongoing conversations  and discussions are happening on the backend of The Sleeved Dietitian, LLC Team in regards to the name of our community (The T.R.I.B.E.). Some of you may note that the word "Tribe" can be seen as cultural appropriation. As we continue to grow and do our best to become the most inclusive and safe space in the bariatric community, our team is doing our best to navigate this. If you have thoughts or feeling surrounding this conversation please make sure to let us know, as we are open to all opinions and feedback.
• Dropping the defensiveness
• Be sensitive to world events
• Disrupt microaggressions

Rules of Engagement to Maintain Safety of All People
In order to create a safe and inclusive environment it is up to us as T.R.I.B.E. leaders to make sure we are reinforcing our community standards, policies, and procedures. It the beginning of each call, as you give your introductions, you should also remind everyone that they must be kind and respectful at all times, and remind them that failure to do so may result in removal from both the group, and potentially the membership (We don't want to scare anyone, but a gentle reminder should be given).

Policies and Procedures IMPORTANT PLEASE READ
During support groups if someone makes an insensitive joke, comment, microagression, etc. below are the action steps you must take as a leader:

1. Disrupt the behavior with a gentle reminder
   Ex: A member misgenders another member in the group: remind them that that is not their correct pronoun, remind them of their preferred pronoun
2. Warning
   Ex: They continue to misgender another group member: let them know that this is their one and final warning, if they continue to misgender our member they will be removed from the group, and potentially lose T.R.I.B.E. privileges
3. Remove from the group
   Ex: They ignore the previous warning and continue to misgender/be disrespectful. Immediately remove from group (click on the three dots in the corner of their window in Zoom and click the option to remove them from the group)

Should you have to take any of these actions above, please be sure to email [email protected] with details of what was said, what correction took place, and which member was being unkind as well as which member was not safe. This is something Jamie and The Sleeved Dietitian Team need to be aware of.

During support groups if someone is every outwardly aggressive, making derogatory, racist, homophobic comments, remarks, etc. you have full permission to remove them immediately without warning.
Ex: If a T.R.I.B.E. member attacks another member or leader, uses and calls another member by a slur, etc. please remove them immediately without warning. Remind the rest of the group that such acts are not tolerated, then email [email protected] immediately following the group with all the details of what was said/done, who was involved, etc. In a situation such as this, the T.R.I.B.E. member will lose all T.R.I.B.E. privileges and be removed from the program immediately