Become a Facilitator

Our Train-the-Trainer Program is for you if...

  • You connect well with both youth and adults and have experience facilitating groups or trainings.
  • You are passionate about youth wellbeing and community health.
  • You are committed to elevating the importance of youth autonomy and the role of the youth voice.
  • You are comfortable discussing topics like substance use and behavioral health.
  • You are committed to extending the reach of the Open Doors program in your community or organization to drive positive change.
  • You value equity, compassion, and inclusivity.
  • You are committed to ongoing learning and reflection.
  • You have completed the Open Doors Core Training.

Clinical degree NOT required.

Why Become a Facilitator?*

Expand the reach of Open Doors to more California adults who serve youth, while strengthening your own skill set:

Build Your Training Facilitation Competencies

Strengthen your ability to guide learning experiences that are:

  • engaging and interactive

  • trauma-responsive

  • supportive of diverse trainee needs and roles

  • relationship and community focused

Deepen Your Expertise in Engaging Youth

Increase your understanding of the Open Doors approach to applying the relationship principles of:

  • youth-centered engagement

  • Restorative Justice

  • Harm Reduction

  • Cultural Humility

  • community-informed training

Help Sustain and Scale Statewide Capacity

Join a network of skilled facilitators who:

  • increase equitable access to training

  • maintain a consistent, high-quality experience across training sites

  • align with statewide goals, including the California Youth Behavioral Health Initiative (CYBHI)

*The Open Doors "Train-the-Trainer" program intentionally uses the term, "Facilitator" as the title for those facilitating Open Doors training to reflect the program’s emphasis on community learning rather than expert-driven instruction. Facilitation centers shared knowledge, dialogue, and the creation of safe, inclusive spaces where participants and facilitators learn alongside one another. This aligns with our Open Doors approach which is rooted in restorative justice, cultural humility, and harm-reduction.

Train-the-Trainer Curriculum

You must have already completed (or be scheduled to complete) the Open Doors core training before starting this program.

Part 1: Asynchronous Training
Part 2: Live Training
Part 3: Certification
Teacher leading a diverse group of adults in an engaging classroom discussion

Your Commitment

Becoming an Open Doors Facilitator is a meaningful, ongoing partnership. Facilitators agree to:

  • Stay current
    on program updates and fidelity guidelines.
  • Communicate regularly
     with the Open Doors team and training participants.
  • Support evaluation
    by encouraging participant feedback and post-training surveys.

What You'll Gain

  • Access to high-quality, evidence-informed training materials
  • Ongoing mentorship and support from the Open Doors team
  • An Open Doors Facilitator Starter Kit complete with the materials you will need to facilitate your first training
  • Opportunities for professional growth and CEUs
  • Inclusion in a vibrant community of facilitators across the state
  • The satisfaction of helping others better support youth in their care

Train-the-Trainer is now available.

Here is the schedule for the first five regional sessions:

Cohort 3: Los Angeles County May 19 & 20
Cohort 4: Santa Clara County (Gilroy, CA) May 28 & 29
Cohort 5: Santa Cruz County June 22 & 23
Cohort 6: Santa Clara County July 13 & 14
Cohort 7: Lake County July 22 & 23
Cohort 8: San Mateo County August 6 & 7
Cohort 9: San Diego County August 26 & 27

Please submit an application form to learn more and begin the application process.
We look forward to connecting with you soon!

Apply Now
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Note: This project is not intended for any urgent medical or behavioral health needs.

All medical and behavioral health crises should be directed to your local emergency or crisis response services. The 988 Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals in the United States. If you are searching for referral resources, please visit our Resource page.