Community Public Health Strategy 2009-2010 - CAMI

1. Community Public Health Strategy 2009-2010 - CAMI “A FAMILY AFFAIR!” When history repeats itself

2. History • The generational transmission prevention program “A Family Affair!” was developed by Master’s student, Line Caron in 2003 and was produced by the Régie regionale de la sante et des services sociaux de la Cote-Nord in Baie-Comeau and has been translated to English.

3. Developmental Phase • Following the call for proposals, CAMI organized a meeting with the CSSS des Iles, particularly with the Director of Public Health and the Program Manager • We informed them that we had access to funds to be used to work in partnership with the public health system with a goal of improving access to programming in English • Rather than promoting our ideas, WE ASKED FOR THEIR IDEAS. We asked them to chose an existing program being offered in the French community that may be adapted and potentially offered in English • Being aware that drug and alcohol addiction is a major issue for the ESC of the Islands, both suggested that we collaborate to implement “A Family Affair!”

4. Program Objective • To enable members of families with functioning difficulties to recognize the phenomenon of generational transmission and ultimately assist them in carrying out specific actions to counter it.

5. Target Audience • The program “A Family Affair!” is intended for adult members of families in which a functioning problem (violence, alcoholism / drug addiction, depression, suicide, etc...) exists in the present or preceding generations (grandparents, parents, spouses, children). • An adult clientele is targeted because participants must possess the knowledge of their present family dynamic as well as that of their families of origin. Children and adolescents do not have this type of comprehension nor the life experience to apprehend the impact of a generational relational dynamic on their lives. • The goal of the program being to break the transmission of functioning problems to children, the clientele is composed of parents, or at least adults who play a significant role in the lives of children, notably grandparents who have an important influence on the family. However, any individuals who wish to liberate themselves from their pasts and are interested in the process can be easily integrated into the group.

6. Program Description • For most people, looking back at the past is a difficult and painful exercise which requires assistance from others • The program “A Family Affair!” seeks to identify a search process for one’s true self, the emotional knowledge of one’s history, with a view to breaking the vicious circle of repeating alienating behaviours for oneself and the following generation • It is a supervised process that gradually and gently leads one toward an awareness of the pain experienced in childhood and the present-day implications for oneself and one’s children • The group dynamic and climate of security generated by a competent animator will permit participants to access their childhood realities – freely and at each one’s own pace – and, more particularly, to use the knowledge to live instead of just to survive.

7. Description Cont’d • The program consists of eight three-hour workshops animated by a CSSS Social Worker with support from a Coordinator employed by CAMI. These workshops are held bi-weekly. • An active and dynamic instructional approach based on different educational methods is used. The emotional implication of the participants, who are well supervised by a trained animator, is one of the conditions for a successful program • The activities are varied and leave room for the participants to reflect on their experiences by way of: • simulation exercises • practical exercises • questionnaires • group discussions • exposés followed by discussion periods • experimentation in everyday life between meetings

8. Recruitment Strategy • The recruitment of participants may be carried out with the help of a promotional folder including a description of the series of meetings. A number of groups or institutions can be contacted using this tool which may include: • self-help and support groups; • pastoral groups; • personnel in charge of employee assistance programs; • community groups / organizations • health and social service organizations • Participants may also be reached with support from your local media or via internet: • Radio Stations • Newspaper Ads • Mass-mailing or mass e-mailing • Facebook • Reaching target audiences will vary from one community to another

9. Evaluation • The evaluation of the meetings is an important stage for the animator. It permits stepping back to take a look at what one wanted to accomplish (that is, the initial objectives), what actually took place and the results. The evaluation apprises the animator not only of the participants’ appreciation of the meetings, but also of the attainment of objectives, resistance on the part of the participants and suggestions they may have to improve the product. • The goal is to adjust the program according to the participants’ comments. Information is gathered after each of the meetings with the help of a form that groups together the following three indicators: content, climate and animation. Another evaluation form is given to the participants at the end of the program to assess their global perception of the series of meetings.

10. THANK YOU!