Stroke Recovery Association of BC Community Reintegration

STROKE RECOVERY ASSOCIATION OF BRITISH COLUMBIA Mission Statement “ Through its local Stroke Recovery Branches, the Association is committed to assisting stroke survivors and their caregivers throughout the Province to improve their overall quality of life.”

Who We Are SRABC is a non-profit society, incorporated under the Society Act of British Columbia. The Executive Director, acts as the chief operating officer for SRABC Executive Board of Directors Provincial Office Team Community Branch Coordinators

Objectives Manage and support Branches throughout BC Distribute Branches in underserved communities and create capacity Disseminating educational and informational materials to the local Stroke Recovery branches, and community Providing a branch network and forum for the exchange of information and ideas across the organization

39 Branches throughout BC A Branch of the Stroke Recovery Association is a post-hospital, peer support group for stroke survivors and their families. Activities are designed to enable stroke survivors to live independently at home. Philosophy – Persons affected by stroke should “thrive” not simply “survive”.

Stroke Recovery Branches offer: Speech Maintenance Exercise Programs Education – Stroke Prevention, Stroke Care Social & Recreational Activities Caregiver Support Programs to improve memory skills

Exercise Programming Exercise class taught by a physiotherapist or exercise trainer Exercise class taught by a volunteer or the Coordinator Functional-based and Team Activities such as Bocce, Horseshoes, Baseball, Hockey, etc…

Speech Maintenance Programming One to one speech therapy offered by a speech-language pathologist Communication program offered by a speech language pathologist Computer Communication program offered by volunteers ( Bungalow)

Caregiver Support Caregiver’s Support Group One to one with caregivers by volunteers and/or Coordinator Encourage caregivers to use Branch days as respite

Additional Programs & Activities Outreach Programs Peer Mentoring Program – Pilot 10 mentors Outreach – Hospital Visitation programs Music Therapy led by Music Therapists Social Activities - Entertainment, Picnics Annual Strides for Strokes Walk Arts & Crafts- Joint Branch events

Partnerships Heart and Stroke Foundation of BC and Yukon Provincial Stroke Strategy Regional Stroke Strategies Provincial Health Services Authority Regional Health Authorities Gaming Commission

Branch Outreach Evaluation Goal –Review Branch Outreach Programs ; awareness strategies to obtain baseline information, –identify strengths of outreach, gaps in service, barriers to providing outreach programs and recommendations for change.

Branch Outreach Evaluation Approach –Literature review on outreach and Peer Support programs –Focus groups and one-to-one telephone interviews with Branch Coordinators and Directors. –Primarily qualitative data

Branch Outreach Evaluation Expected Outcomes –Deliver a best practice model of outreach for stroke recovery branches. –Provide a process for branches to implement outreach programs –Clear understanding of barriers and ways to overcome them. –Evaluation framework to measure impact of outreach, both qualitative and quantitative

Accomplishments Membership Heart & Stroke Foundation support Provincial Stroke Strategy Strategic Plan

Challenges Case Management for Stroke Survivors in the community Post Stroke linkages to physicians, hospital and rehabilitation providers and community agencies Community Development

Next Steps Strategic Plan Better Structure Expansion Plan Move

PROVINCIAL OFFICE Hours of Operation: Monday to Friday 9am- 4pm. Phone: Toll Free: Fax: Address: # Broadway Vancouver, BC V6B 1S5