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TRAIN-THE-TRAINER PROGRAM

Expanding Educational Opportunities

The S-CAP Train-the-Trainer program is an excellent tool to facilitate the training of all communities in your state.  Certifying a team of individuals to conduct workshops in additional locations will enable your state to have a comprehensive planning effort at the local level.  We strongly encourage you to enroll State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainees to take advantage of this opportunity.

 Application Process

State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainee candidates shall be nominated by their state EDEN Point of Contact (POC) for certification in the S-CAP Train-the-Trainer program.  See the official State S-CAP Teaching Team Candidate Application Form to apply.  State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainee candidates must include with their applications a letter from their supervisor(s) indicating their support of that individual to conduct additional trainings in their state. 

Additional supporting information for the State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainee candidates may also be included with the application (e.g., a CV or resume indicating prior teaching experience, FEMA ICS training certificates, DHS training certificates).

Approved State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainees from states hosting an approved National S-CAP Workshop may be eligible to receive the following support to help offset the costs associated with certification:

• S-CAP State Teaching Trainees may be eligible for reimbursement of up to a maximum of $750 to cover mileage and/or airfare and motel room (receipts must be provided to the National S-CAP Project for reimbursement)

Please note - the financial support is for lodging and transportation (mileage and/or airfare) costs only.  Due to funding restrictions, meals, Internet access fees, baggage fees, parking, etc., cannot be reimbursed. 

Up to three eligible trainees in each state may receive financial support for their travel; additional trainees may be supported as funding allows.  We recommend states seek certification for a minimum of three State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainers to maximize effectiveness of educational presentations and share workshop responsibilities. 

Prerequisites

In order to be considered for S-CAP Train-the-Trainer program certification, State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainee candidates must meet the following requirements:

• Attend one S-CAP workshop as a participant (this can be a pilot workshop that has already been conducted, or one of the upcoming workshops)
  
• Satisfactorily present a portion of the workshop content (minimum 15 minutes) to the National S-CAP Teaching Team
  
• Receive in-person coaching during a Train-the-Trainer S-CAP Workshop (attending a pilot workshop does not satisfy this prerequisite, because the train-the-trainer program was not yet in place)
  
• Must be University Extension employees with comprehensive agricultural and/or emergency management expertise in the state (non-Extension personnel may be a minority portion of a state delivery team; however, if non-Extension personnel are a part of the State S-CAP Teaching Team, they must go through the same certification process but will not be reimbursed any expenses for certification by the National S-CAP Project)
  
• Must commit to be a State S-CAP Teaching Team member and present future S-CAP Workshops in their state
  
• Will not accept additional compensation (above and beyond the salary received from their employer and reimbursement for travel expenses) for teaching S-CAP Workshops (i.e., any fees collected above workshop expenses cannot be used to compensate State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainers)

In order to send representatives to become State S-CAP Teaching Trainees, states must host (or have hosted) at least one workshop conducted by the National S-CAP Teaching Team.

For an optimal learning experience and to maximize effectiveness of future workshop presentation, all State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainees are encouraged to attend a second workshop to conduct their sample presentation in front of a group of “real” workshop participants.  There is no substitute for the experience of being able to facilitate exercises, address challenges, and answer real world questions while in the company of colleagues who have extensive experience conducting the workshops.  Having the opportunity to see the workshop presented more than once before teaching independently is invaluable. 

We understand the issues of spending an extra week out of the office to receive training, so accommodations will be made for trainees wishing to complete their certification in one visit.  State S-CAP Teaching Team Trainees may conduct their sample presentation and receive their in-person coaching at the same workshop they attend as a participant (this would be done after-hours with the National S-CAP Teaching Team). 

Because the Train-the-Trainer Program was not yet in place when the pilot workshops were conducted, trainees that attended a pilot workshop in 2009 and wish to complete certification must attend a supplemental workshop to complete the prerequisites.  Travel support funds offered through the National S-CAP Project should help offset the expense associated with attending the extra workshop.

We recommend State S-CAP Teaching Team members complete the following FEMA online courses (or face-to-face and/or online equivalents offered by FEMA or USDA) prior to conducting their first S-CAP workshop:

• IS-100.a (Introduction to ICS)
• IS-200.a (ICS for Single Resources and Initial Action Incidents)
• IS-700.a (NIMS, An Introduction)
• IS-800.b (NRF, An Introduction)
• IS-811 (ESF #11 – Agriculture and Natural Resources Annex)
• ICS 300 – Incident Command System Training (this course is not available online; state emergency management, Extension, and/or department of agriculture may offer this training face-to-face)

Suggested additional reading material includes:

• FEMA’s Comprehensive Preparedness Guide (CPG 101) version 2 – Developing and Maintaining Emergency Operations Plans, November 2010

It is also imperative that all State S-CAP Teaching Team members become thoroughly familiar with the S-CAP Instructor Guide, including all of the Web Resources, Glossary, and Credits.  Comprehensive knowledge of all topics in the workshop is necessary for effective workshop presentation.

Data about Train-the-Trainers: 

 The S-CAP Train-the Trainer program began in February 2010. To date, 17 states enrolled trainees to become S-CAP Trainers within their state:

1. Alabama
2. Colorado
3. Hawaii
4. Indiana
5. Kansas
6. Kentucky
7. Michigan*
8. Montana
9. North Dakota
10. Nebraska
11. New Mexico
12. Oklahoma
13. Tennessee
14. Utah
15. Vermont
16. Washington
17. West Virginia

In addition to the list above, the S-CAP program has National Team members located in nine states:

1. Colorado*
2. Kentucky
3. Montana
4. Nebraska
5. New Mexico
6. South Carolina*
7. Tennessee
8. Texas*
9. Utah

* Retired or changed employment

Click here for a list of the Points of Contact.

Click here for a map of the Certified Train-the-Trainers in each state.