Lived Experience Engagement
What is Lived Experience?
Lived Experience (LEx) is the knowledge a person gains from their own life, background, and personal story. It comes from firsthand experiences—such as being part of systems like child welfare, mental health care, or education—rather than from formal training or professional roles.
Why Engage People with Lived Experience?
Engaging people with lived experience means involving them directly in shaping solutions to the challenges they know personally. Their insights add depth beyond data or professional expertise, helping organizations design programs and services that are more fair, practical, and effective.
Why are Lived Experience Advisory Groups Important?
Lived experience advisory groups provide a formal way for people with firsthand knowledge to guide organizations. By sharing what works and what needs to change, these groups ensure services are better aligned with community needs and build greater trust with the people served.
Tools and Tips for Starting an Advisory Group
- Review action steps for starting a Lived Experience (LEx) advisory council to create better services for the community.
- Check to see if the agency is ready to make sure staff and future group members are prepared.
- Have leadership buy-in to make sure the voices of people with lived experience (LEx) come first.
- Create clear roles and tasks to help people with lived experience take part in a meaningful way.
- Set fair pay for people with lived experience and have clear payment processes.
- Find ways to keep people engaged and involved.
- Create feedback loops to help build trust.
Advisory Group Member Recruitment, Onboarding, and Development
Use the resources below in order to welcome, support, and grow advisory group members with lived experience.
Reflecting
Visioning
Core Competencies Training for Advisory Group Members and Staff
Learning together helps staff and people with lived experience (LEx) work better as a team and stay involved. It also helps everyone grow both personally and in their jobs. Each training topic is a starting point that teams can change to fit what they need.
Core Training Skills for Staff
- How to Lead an Effective Advisory Meetings
- Important Ways to Keep People Engaged and Involved
- What is Co-Design
- LEx Readiness Checklist
- Asking Others to Share
- What’s In It For Me (WIIFM)
- Team Building Reflection Tool
- Cultural Responsiveness Checklist
- LEx Leadership Opportunities Assessment
- Trauma-Informed Agency Self-Assessment
