A workbook was developed to accompany the Cooperative Living Training Program as an aid to facilitating the groups. With two leaders, as recommended, the primary facilitator can take charge of the curriculum as the co-facilitator maintains the workbook. Unlike the curriculum, the workbook is intended to be written in and the pages are torn out. Each workbook can be used for four groups before it needs to be replaced. The following components from the curriculum are included for each session: reminders to ask if participants had an opportunity to use the skills previously discussed, session summaries, and a prompt to remind participants to practice the skills discussed and to report back next session. As discussed below, the workbook also contains a space to make notes and comments about each session and four supplemental forms
Session Notes and Comments
A page is provided after each session where notes and reminders can be written. You may find it useful to take notes of issues to follow up on during the next session or areas that may need further emphasis at a later time. We have found it particularly useful to take note of any conflicts that the participants bring up during the sessions. These can then be easily recalled and used to individualize roleplay situations during the fourth module, Solving Problems and Conflicts You may also find these session notes helpful when generating individual or group reports
Supplemental Forms
We have found the following forms helpful in leading Cooperative Living Training groups. The four forms are provided at the end of each group in the Facilitator/Co-facilitator Workbook. You are encouraged to photocopy any of the supplemental forms in the workbook for personal or educational use
Chore Chart and How to Set Up Chore Chart
A system for chore sharing is discussed in Session 5. Individual chore assignments are best discussed within household groups, as opposed to larger groups containing individuals from different households. For this reason, a blank chore chart and instructions for its use are provided Participants who are interested in using this system should be given several copies of the chore chart and at least one set of instructions. Ideally, residential support staff will facilitate its use.
Certificate of Appreciation
We have typically awarded certificates to all participants at the end-of-group party. We have found this a nice way to recognize the efforts of the members. A blank certificate is provided that can be photocopied and then completed for each participant in your group.
Participant Report
You may find this report form helpful when summarizing the involvement of individual group members for their case files or for other purposes
CooLS
An assessment measure, the Cooperative Living Scale (CooLS), has been developed based on the curriculum and is provided for you to photocopy. This instrument is an 18-item multiple-choice format questionnaire that is administered by interview. We recommend administering the CooLS before and after participation in the curriculum. Assessing the cooperative living skills before the group can provide information regarding placement into the groups and can provide the facilitators with information about what elements of the curriculum might warrant more or less emphasis. Administering the instrument again at the end of the curriculum is one useful indication of what the participants learned from the group.