Abenaki Services
Facilitation

Facilitation for Public Process or Environmental Issues is not simply a matter of walking into the room and facilitating a meeting.  In order for such a process to be successful, a number of steps must occur:

Assessment

  • Identify the groups' goal and/or the scope of issues and/or problem(s)
  • Determine who must be included in the process for it to work
  • Determine what resources are necessary to support the process
  • Assess the parties' readiness to collaborate

Process Design

  • Determine meeting schedules
  • Work with the logistics
  • Gain agreement on how decisions will be made (i.e., consensus, voting or other methods of decision making)

    Meeting Facilitation 

  • Work with participants to identify all of the goals, issues, and/or problem(s)
  • Assist in developing a common understanding of the issues
  • Elicit and understand the interests of all parties
  • Provide opportunity for critical information to be brought into the process
  • Identify options for solutions
  • Test out options to create viable solutions
  • Help participants create a workable agreement

Evaluation and Follow-Up

  • Follow-up to determine how well the agreement is being implemented
  • Provide evaluation of process as necessary