Western States Youth Services Network
Group Facilitation and Participatory Strategic Planning
Western States Youth Services Network (WSYSN) now offers engaging, highly interactive group facilitation and a two day strategic planning process for Boards of Directors, agencies, coalitions, networks, and various community groups. We use facilitation methods derived from the Technology of Participation (ToP), created by the Institute of Cultural Affairs (ICA), and field tested for over three decades in communities around the world.
Group Facilitation Methods consist of three highly participatory group processes; a group discussion model, a workshop process for building consensus, and an action planning method that turns ideas into accomplishments.
Participatory Strategic Planning is a four-step strategic planning process that awakens the group's vision, identifies the barriers to actualizing that vision, develops strategies to set the group's direction, and creates an implementation plan that builds in accountability.
Session 1: Creating a Vision
Session 2: Grappling with the Barriers
Session 3: Setting Strategic Directions
Session 4: Planning and Charting the Action
WSYSN endorses ICA's philosophy because it acknowledges that hierarchical authority in government, corporations, organizations and communities is effectively being replaced by teamwork, where individuals at all levels share the responsibility for the outcome of their endeavors. ICA catalyzes that responsibility by demonstrating participatory approaches to leadership, planning and action.
WSYSN uses ICA's methods because they encourage creativity, minimize conflict, honor organizational culture, and demonstrate participatory approaches to planning, leadership and action.