Join a global network of people and organizations committed to empowering young siblings of children with support needs. Become a Certified Sibshops Facilitator to bring our signature sibling support program to your community!
Self-Paced Online Course
Become a certified Sibshop Facilitator through our self-paced online training. This course is designed for individuals who want to support school-age siblings of children with developmental and health concerns. Learn how to create fun, meaningful, and supportive Sibshops where young siblings can connect with each other and explore and celebrate their unique experiences.
Ideal for:
- Individuals who want to become certified as Sibshops Facilitators.
- Small groups of staff from the same organization who want to go through the training together.
Key information:
- Affiliation required: Facilitators must be affiliated with an organization that serves (or is prepared to serve) children and families. If you are not currently affiliated, we recommend reaching out to local providers in your community to partner in hosting a Sibshops program.
- Course length: 3 weeks, self-paced. Participants work independently on their own schedule, with suggested pacing, prompts, and interaction with the instructor and peers.
- Mandatory cohort meetings: Two 60-minute Zoom sessions with the full learning group:
- Welcome meeting: First day of training at 10:00 a.m. PT / 12:00 p.m. CT / 1:00 p.m. ET (UTC-08:00 Standard or UTC-07:00 Daylight).
- Closing meeting: Final day of training at the same time.
- Weekly time commitment: About 4 hours per week.
- Free preview available: You can explore the first two steps of Lesson 1 for free! Visit https://bit.ly/4hqCneN, then click “Preview” in the blue banner (below the “Join” button, between “About” and “Community”).
- Only people participating in the training should register. If you are paying for someone else from your organization to participate, please contact info@siblingsupport.org for instructions.
- Group discount: Available for groups of 3+ people. For details, contact info@siblingsupport.org.
What you’ll gain:
- Insight into the experiences of siblings of children with support needs.
- Effective support strategies for young siblings.
- Guidance from experienced facilitators and adult siblings.
- Concrete tools to plan and launch impactful Sibshops in your community.
Learn more about and register for our Sibshop Facilitator Training here! For information about our group discount for 3+ people contact info@siblingsupport.org.
Private Online Group Training Course
Our private online group training is designed for organizations that want to build and sustain a community of certified Sibshop Facilitators. It includes all the features of our individual self-paced training, plus the flexibility to set your own dates, duration, and cohort meeting schedule.
Ideal for:
- Organizations seeking a customized self-paced training for staff across different roles and locations.
- Agencies wanting to cultivate and strengthen a community of Sibshop Facilitators within their organization.
Key information:
- Specifically for organizations committed to supporting siblings and creating sustainable Sibshops programs.
- No limit on group size; tiered pricing with reasonable caps.
- Training tailored in collaboration with your team to match your needs.
- Flexible course length and Zoom meeting schedule, with options for post-training support.
What you’ll gain:
- Deeper insight into the experiences of siblings of children with support needs.
- Practical strategies to support young siblings effectively.
- Team building around sibling support.
- Guidance from experienced facilitators and adult siblings.
- Tools to design and lead impactful Sibshops in your community.
Request more information about hosting a private online group Sibshop Facilitator Training here!
Host an In-Person Sibshop Facilitator Training
Want to train a group of staff to become Sibshop Facilitators? Looking to host a community event that brings together staff, parents, siblings, and partners to learn how to support siblings across the lifespan? Our immersive two-day, in-person training comes to you—offering hands-on learning, expert guidance, and interactive discussions to equip your team with the skills needed to support siblings of children with developmental and health concerns.
Ideal for:
- Organizations seeking to host a two-day community event to train multiple Sibshop Facilitators.
- Agencies that want to engage staff, families, and community members in learning about siblings’ experiences and support strategies.
Key information:
- Community building: Designed for organizations that want to host a community-based event at their own location
- Beyond facilitator training: Parents, siblings, family members, individuals with support needs, and community professionals are welcome. Those not planning to lead Sibshops often attend just Day 1 to gain valuable insight into the sibling experience
- Engage local siblings: We will help you recruit adult siblings from your community for a live panel—an unforgettable highlight of Day 1
- Sibshop launch: On Day 2, your Sibshops program officially begins! Your first Sibshop takes place during training, with 10–20 children from your community participating. Our trainers lead while your team gains hands-on experience facilitating alongside them
What to Expect:
- Comprehensive, expert-led, two-day training
- Practical strategies to support siblings in everyday work and life
- Firsthand insights from adult siblings
- Step-by-step guidance to create engaging and meaningful Sibshops
- A full demonstration Sibshop that kicks off your program
- Certification for all participants upon completion
This training is especially valuable for disability service providers, hospitals, schools, community organizations, and other child- and family-serving agencies that want to establish or expand Sibshops.
Fill out our inquiry form today to learn more about hosting an in-person Sibshop Facilitator Training!