Some Thoughts on Hiring a MI Trainer

At the request of website visitors, we offer some questions that you may wish to pose to potential MI trainers before hiring them. These suggestions were submitted by MINT members Carolina Yahne and Denise Ernst.

1. Our audience will be composed of xx (substance abuse nurses; diabetes educators; probation officers; graduate students in psychology; HIV counselors; public health doctors; street outreach workers, etc). What experience do you have working with trainees such as ours and what are some of the issues you see related to training our type of group?
2. Our trainees primarily work with patients/people with X issues. What experience have you had with such issues?
3. In what ways can you tailor your training and materials for us? For example, can you train to a protocol that is already developed? Can you modify the materials to be focused on (diabetes, etc.)? How can you make the exercises relevant to our trainees?
4. If a trainee presented you with this kind of challenge (xx), how would you handle it?
5. Were you trained you to be a MI trainer or is this a training you have developed on your own? How can I verify this?
6. In addition to your training, have you written/published anything about MI or related issues? How may I get a copy?
7. Can you send us a sample of training objectives and an agenda?
8. Is there anyone who can provide a reference based on a past training you've provided?
9. If we are dissatisfied with your performance, to whom may we give feedback?
10. What languages do you train in? May I get a reference from someone whom you trained in X language?
11. How flexible are you about scheduling training? For example, if we are only able to make staff available during staff meetings once a month, what can you do?
12. What options do you provide for follow-up training if it is needed?
13. How do you go about making your training culturally, ethnically, and gender-sensitive?
14. What are your fees? What expenses do you anticipate?
15. What work do you do other than this training? Do you work in a health care setting, in research, or doing something else?