Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens Training Workshops in Northern BC

PROMOTING SENIORS WELL-BEING

Seniors Mental Health Policy Lens Training Workshops in Northern BC

Background of Application1. Context(a) Environment

(b) Why we were interested

“FIND US A SENIOR”

COMMUNITY MEETING

Background of Application1. Context(c) who was involved and

why them

2. Goal

1. Ourselves

2. City of Prince George

3. University of Northern BC

4. Local organizations / front-line service providers – Seniors Dialogues

5. Local organizations – Volunteer PG

“NO DECISIONS ABOUT US WITHOUT US!”

Application process1. Specific

process - OURSELVES

• Outreach Program evaluated by UNBC student• Development of new Seniors Peer Support Program Policies & Procedures• Wellness Wednesday drop-in Program evaluated by Program participants

Application process

1. Specific process – CITY PROGRAM MANAGERS

City Program Managers – INFORMAL APPROACH

City Manager – LETTER +

BROCHURE

City Social Policy

Facilitator -- FOLLOWUP

Application process1. Specific process – MANY FACES OF HEALTH RESEARCH

Application process

1. Specific process – PARTICIPANTS OF PREVIOUS SENIORS’ DIALOGUES

January 14, 2010•Elizabeth Fry Society•Crisis Line•Ministry of Housing & Social Development

January 21, 2010•Personal Support Centre•Alzheimer Society•BC Paraplegic Association•Canadian Diabetes Association•Brain Injured Group•Canadian Mental Health Association•Aimhi (PG Association for Community Living)•UNBC Community Care Centre

Application process1. Specific process - LOCAL ORGANIZATIONS THAT UTILIZE VOLUNTEERS

February 26, 2010•Carefree Society (HandiDart)•Northern HIV & Health Education Society•Railway Museum•Personal Supports Centre•PG Community Policing•Aimhi (PG Association for Community Living)•Nechako Rotary Club / Shelter Box Canada•Canadian Red Cross•Northern Health / Jubilee Lodge

Application process

1) Specific Process – OUR WORKSHOPS

Background & development of lens

Pilot projects - Prince George & beyond

Overview of website followed by closer look

Near Term Results

1) Was awareness changed or partnerships made?

2) Any potential implications of changes or partnerships?

SMHPL intro workshop

E Fry Society

Non-Profit Housing Society

Example of outward RIPPLE

Canadian Mental Health Association

IMSS

Near Term Results2) Deliverables created - •BROCHURE•POWERPOINT PRESENTATION

Lessons Learned

1) What Worked Best

•Discussion arising from questions

“Thank you … I look forward

to using the website.”

•User-friendly website

•Group analysis of a specific local program or service

Lessons Learned

2) Challenges, obstacles, and what didn’t work

“ Our agency doesn’t provide services for the mentally ill.”

“Our programs aren’t designed for seniors.”

“Sorry, I’m just too busy

to attend your workshop.”

Lessons LearnedRecommendations o “This tool may be helpful in

writing an evaluation for my manager … I will try it out and see.”

o “Yes, I can see utilizing this tool within a couple of our different committees to evaluate our organization’s user-friendliness.”

“I think the wording of many of the questions

could be better … seemed over-complicated.”

“Answer categories could be broader, not just yes / no .”

Future HopesWhere would follow-up be most useful?

• revisiting workshop participants• analyzing outward ripples• learning how lens has been utilized