Step 1: ACCESSING
Ask the Big Question: Are You Willing?
Your first step is to learn about Fresh Hope and receive sponsorship. We encourage you to first check out the online resources, and then CLICK HERE. We will send you the Sponsorship Form that needs to be submitted prior to ordering the Starter Kit.
Step 2: PREPARING
Determining Facilitators and Training
After you have submitted the Sponsorship Form, you can order the Starter Membership Kit, which includes:
Fresh Hope book (1) | Holding to Hope Book (1) | Electronic Training Manual (Download)| 1 Laminated Tenet Card | First 12 weeks Video Series (Downloads) | 1 set Topic Cards (Download) | 2 Posters | 5 Brochures | Invitation Business Card (Download) | Facilitator Training online access
Step 3: DOING
Promoting and Starting Your Group
Distribute reminders to media and/or area churches during the weeks leading up to your first meeting, especially the week prior.
Receive Coaching / Become a Coach.
A Hope Coach comes as a peer alongside someone who is going through a difficult situation, a crisis, or one of the many messes of life. The Hope Coach walks with them, listening empathetically, helping them process their pain, fears and frustrations, and speaking hope into their situation without it becoming toxic positivity, but rather a faith-filled hope based on Romans 8:28
Hope Coaching is a free faith-based Christian program offered by Fresh Hope for Mental Health.
The Starter Membership Kit is $99 AUD. Everything needed to start a group is included in the kit (see Step 2 above). The Starter Kit includes online training for up to 4 facilitators. If you have more than 4 wanting to train, the cost is $45 per individual. Additional books, brochures, posters, invitation cards, and meeting supplies may also be purchased in our online store. To get started, click here to order the Starter Kit.
Starting a group requires sponsorship either by a church or directly by the Fresh Hope Australia, or Fresh Hope International, if outside Australia.
In the case of the Group being sponsored by a Church, this means the Fresh Hope for Mental Health group becomes a ministry of the church, with oversight by the church leadership. Groups may meet in churches, ministry centers, health facilities, or correctional institutions. With approval of the sponsoring church, exceptions of meeting sites may be in private areas of public places (e.g. Public Library meeting room). We will provide you with several free resources to use in introducing Fresh Hope to your church leadership.
We expect each group to be accountable to Christ, to their sponsoring entity, and to the established model of Fresh Hope®. A church or organization may decide at its discretion to use the Fresh Hope® book and mix with other resources or programs. However, use of the Fresh Hope® name is prohibited without active membership (Certified Facilitators, using the Fresh Hope tenets, and following the Fresh Hope method).
In the case of the Group being sponsored by the Fresh Hope International Office, groups may meet online or in person at public places and other places approved by the office, except in a home.
Groups are peer-led and facilitated. In other words, the groups are not expected to be led by a professional mental healthcare person, especially qualified counselors or psychologists, which would be part of the medical model. Instead, our groups are led by peers and come from a wellness model; that is, with the belief that one can live a rich and full life in spite of a mental health diagnosis.
Groups are facilitated by teams of two to four people, preferably those who have a diagnosis, and loved ones, but not restricted to. Pastors and other lay leaders can also facilitate. Following the basis of Fresh Hope support groups being peer-led, we require that at least one of the facilitators has a mental health diagnosis. We encourage you to start your group with at least two trained facilitators, so that you have back-up in case one is unable to attend a meeting.
Facilitators are screened through an application process, trained and certified by the Fresh Hope staff. Training is offered in various ways (online or in person) and places. The training requires approximately 10 hours to complete.
Once training is completed, please contact the Fresh Hope office in Australia on email admin@freshhopeaustralia.org to schedule a post-training interview to complete your certification. Any questions, please contact admin@freshhopeaustralia.org
You’re excited about the possibility of your church offering this ministry, and you’re ready to introduce it to your church leaders. You know how busy they are, and you want to be sure to communicate the main points.
Download the Presenting Fresh Hope sheet. These step-by-step instructions show you how to present Fresh Hope to your church staff with clarity, conciseness, and passion.
Leave the Introducing Fresh Hope sheet with your pastor. It contains a summary of what you’ll have shared with him, plus instructions on where he can go to find more information.
Additional free promotional helps are available by download through the Fresh Hope Store.
The Fresh Hope® name and logo are registered trademarks. Permission to use the name and logo of Fresh Hope® is granted only to those groups with active membership.
Items produced for commercial sale using the Fresh Hope® name are strictly prohibited.
We expect each group to be accountable to Christ, to their sponsoring church or to Fresh Hope International Office, and to the established model of Fresh Hope®. A church or organization may decide at its discretion to use the Fresh Hope® book and mix with other resources or programs. HOWEVER, use of the Fresh Hope® name is prohibited without active membership (Certified Facilitators, using the Fresh Hope tenets, and following the Fresh Hope method).
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