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A Guide to Organizing a START Group

1. Introduction Begin Here!

About START, its history, and how you can use it.

2. How to Conduct a Standard 24-Session START Course

Everything you need to know to conduct a course.

2.A. Introduction

2.B. Preparing for a START Course

2.C. Democratic Group Process

2.D. Content Overview

2.E. Suggested Agendas

2.F. Descriptions of Agenda Items Common to Most Sessions

2.G. Descriptions of Agenda Items Specific to Particular Sessions

2.H. Descriptions of Exercises

3. Alternatives to a Standard START Course

Ways to adapt the START process to meet the needs of your group.

4. Underlying Principles of START

Seventeen principles that underly the design of the START process — good to understand, especially if you alter the course.

Ways to ensure that START empowers your group.

6. How to Organize a START Group

Tips on how to bring together a START group.

7. Developing New START Materials

Criteria for the reading materials selected for START.

Some additional useful resources on group process and community building.

9. START Stories

How START has succeeded in the past and might in the future.

Direct Links to Suggested Agendas

Session 1: Introduction

Session 2: Getting Started

Session 3: Another World Is Possible

Sessions 4-15:Understanding Problems and Identifying Solutions

Session 16: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity

Sessions 17-22: Strategies for Positive Change

Session 23: Exercises AND/OR Planning a Change Activity

Session 24: Next Steps

Other Quick Links

Group Process Roles and Tasks

Note that you can download and print a complete copy of the START Study Guide (pdf) in Adobe Acrobat Reader format (pdf).