6 Steps to Become a Lay Leader

BCBH-SD Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) Lay Leader Training opportunities are available to adults (18+ years) and offered in communities across South Dakota as part of the Community Health Worker (CHW) Certificate Programs for enrolled students.

Step 1

Complete online registration

Step 2

Participate in a pre-screening call

BCBH-SD Program team members will facilitate the call where they’ll review trainee expectations, training and certification requirements, and address any questions.

Step 3

Complete SDSU Extension Requirements

Lay Leaders co-facilitate workshops and trainings as Volunteers or Sponsored Volunteers.

  1. Lay Leader Volunteers
    Not sponsored by an employer or organization; co-facilitates workshops and trainings outside of work time
    • Must complete SDSU Volunteer paperwork.
    • A background check is required by SDSU and may occur prior to or immediately after training.
  2. Sponsored Lay Leader Volunteers
    Sponsored by employer or organization; facilitates workshops and trainings on work time, as part of work-related responsibilities
    • A signed Memorandum of Agreement (MOA) is required prior to attending Lay Leader Training.
    • Liability protection for sponsored volunteers is covered by the employer or host organization that signs the MOA with SDSU.
    • Submit the $250 training fee.

Step 4

Attend BCBH-SD CDSMP Lay Leader Training

Training is provided by SDSU Extension. Available training formats include:

  • Video-Platform: 7 weeks, 2.5-hour sessions, twice weekly
  • In-person: 4 full days

Complete Post-Training Requirement 

Step 5

Co-lead one in-person or video-platform 6-week workshop

  • You must co-lead at least one 6-week workshop within six months from the last day of your training. This means co-leading all six 2.5-hour sessions.
  • Co-leading
  • 6 weeks of conference calls with participants using the mailed toolkit will NOT count toward completing certification the certification requirements to be come an Active Leader. See the Lay Leader Status section below for more on remaining active.

Receive active Lay Leader status after completion of 1st workshop

Lay Leader Status

To remain an Active Lay Leader after the initial 12 months:

You must co-lead at least one 6-week workshop within six months from the last day or your training. This means co-leading all six 2.5-hour sessions. Co-leading 6-weeks of conference calls with participants using the mailed toolkit will NOT count toward completing certification the certification requirements to be come an Active Leader.

Lapse of Active Status:

If a Lay Leader is unable to co-lead an in-person or video-platform workshop within a given 12 months, they may attend a Refresher Training, either in-person locally or online though the Self-Management Resource Center to remain active. Refreshes may not be used during the first 12 months after completing training, nor can a refresher be used 2 years in a row.

Inactive Status:

Inactive Lay Leaders must repeat a 4-day Lay Leader training or video-platform training over 7 weeks.