MINDING OUR BODIES PROJECT CMHA – Thunder Bay Branch

WHAT WAS THE MINDING OUR BODIES PILOT PROJECT? Pilot project was an initiative of CMHA, ON in partnership with YMCA ON and York University’s Faculty of Health with the support of Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion through the Communities in Action Fund Pilot project was an initiative of CMHA, ON in partnership with YMCA ON and York University’s Faculty of Health with the support of Ontario Ministry of Health Promotion through the Communities in Action Fund MOB was a 2 year project (ending Mar. 2010) MOB was a 2 year project (ending Mar. 2010) Goal of MOB – promote active living, create opportunities for people with serious mental illness to support recovery Goal of MOB – promote active living, create opportunities for people with serious mental illness to support recovery

ENERGIZE YOUR MIND BODY AND SPIRIT – CMHA Thunder Bay Branch Focus Group organized in Jan. / 09 Focus Group organized in Jan. / 09 8 members attended the focus group 8 members attended the focus group Identified barriers to physical activity, benefits of engaging in physical activity and identified preferred activities Identified barriers to physical activity, benefits of engaging in physical activity and identified preferred activities

CMHA Thunder Bay Proposal To offer a variety of physical activity programs through structured time blocks To offer a variety of physical activity programs through structured time blocks To offer monthly health and wellness / educational sessions on a variety of topics To offer monthly health and wellness / educational sessions on a variety of topics To actively involve consumer leaders in program planning and implementation To actively involve consumer leaders in program planning and implementation To plan for sustainability of physical activity programs upon project completion To plan for sustainability of physical activity programs upon project completion

CMHA Thunder Bay Branch receives funding for the MINDING OUR BODIES PROJECT May – October 2009

“MOBATS” or the Minding Our Bodies Action Team 2011  3 CONSUMER LEADERS  5 STAFF  REC LEADERSHIP INTERN STUDENT – CONFEDERATION COLLEGE, JAN. – APRIL 2011

SKILLS DEVELOPMENT SERVICES Our Vision: A community where people are empowered to achieve healthy and meaningful lives. A community where people are empowered to achieve healthy and meaningful lives. Working Together To Discover Your Hopes and Dreams By taking an active leadership role in your recovery you can and will regain hope for a brighter future. By taking an active leadership role in your recovery you can and will regain hope for a brighter future.

Member’s Information Board

PARTICIPACTION MESSAGE FROM THUNDER BAY

MOB ACTIVITIES OFFERRED Weekly walks Weekly walks Bowling Bowling Hatha yoga Hatha yoga Baseball Baseball Gym activities (floor hockey / basketball) Gym activities (floor hockey / basketball) Marina sports (bocce, croquet, frisbee and badminton) Marina sports (bocce, croquet, frisbee and badminton) Horseshoes Horseshoes Complex Aquabics and Dry Land Activities Complex Aquabics and Dry Land Activities

Educational Sessions Offered Diabetes Session Diabetes Session Nutritional Meal Planning Nutritional Meal Planning Healthy Body / Healthy Heart Healthy Body / Healthy Heart Safe Food Handling Safe Food Handling Smoking Cessation Smoking Cessation Arthritis Management Arthritis Management Intro to Wii Intro to Wii Intro to Tai Chi Intro to Tai Chi Monthly Fruit / Vegie Educational (2011) Monthly Fruit / Vegie Educational (2011)

TO OFFER A VARIETY OF PROGRAMMING TO OFFER PEER SUPPORT TO ACCOMODATE FOR MEMBERS’ SPECIAL NEEDS TO MEET AT ACCESSIBLE LOCATIONS TO OFFER REGULAR / CONSISTENT PROGRAMMING TO UTILIZE A VARIETY OF PROMOTIONAL STRATEGIES TO OFFER BACKUP PROGRAMMING IN THE EVENT OF PROGRAMMING CANCELLATION SUSTAINABILITY PLAN :

SUCCESSES OF PROJECT TO DATE: MOB has become part of the Skills Development culture and “meaningful day activity” service programming MOB has become part of the Skills Development culture and “meaningful day activity” service programming Consumers are transitioning into fulfilling leadership roles and developing leadership skills Consumers are transitioning into fulfilling leadership roles and developing leadership skills Members have developed physical activity skills within their comfort level and physical ability Members have developed physical activity skills within their comfort level and physical ability Members’ physical health awareness has increased Members’ physical health awareness has increased

(SUCCESSES CONT’D) Members have participated in two focus groups – Healthy Communities and development of the Eating Well for Mental Health proposal Members have participated in two focus groups – Healthy Communities and development of the Eating Well for Mental Health proposal A Nutrition Education Component was adopted into the MOB programming Jan. / 11 A Nutrition Education Component was adopted into the MOB programming Jan. / 11 Community partnerships have been maintained Community partnerships have been maintained The Minding Our Bodies Action Team continues to meet post project with most of the original members The Minding Our Bodies Action Team continues to meet post project with most of the original members

(SUCCESSES CONT’D) MOB has adopted an intake and orientation process MOB has adopted an intake and orientation process MOB member registrations have grown MOB member registrations have grown MOBATs are looking to the future to continue growing / sustaining opportunities for the members of CMHA Thunder Bay MOBATs are looking to the future to continue growing / sustaining opportunities for the members of CMHA Thunder Bay

Members registered (Oct. / 09) = 45 Members registered (Mar. / 11) = 66 (Members do not need to register to attend educational sessions.) REGISTERED MEMBERS FOR THE PHYSICAL ACTIVITY PROGRAMS

CMHA Thunder Bay Branch MINDING OUR BODIES MOVING FORWARD

(MOVING FORWARD) We are in the process of completing program descriptions with defined goals / objectives and outcome measures. We will consider more leadership opportunities in peer support. We will re-engage past members in the physical activity programming through a variety of strategies. We will continue to be creative in developing new low cost / no cost programs in the future. We will participate in the City of Thunder Bay, Quality of Life consumer focus group May / 11.