SENIORS

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Collective Community Services, Almage Senior Community Centre, Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc.

Partners: Centre des aînés Hochelaga/Maisonneuve, Centre des aînés Saint-Michel/Rosemont, North Golden Age, Centre de santé et des services sociaux-CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île, CSSS Lucille-Teasdale, CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel, CSSS d’Ahuntsic et Montréal-Nord

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

SIRA: Soutien aux initiatives visant le respect des aînés (SIRA) is a seniors’ activity program involving four East Island neighbourhoods targeting six Québec priorities for seniors, in partnership with the Centres de santé et des services sociaux Ahuntsic/Montréal-Nord, Saint-Léonard/Saint-Michel, Pointe-de-l’Île and Lucille-Teasdale. The program was developed by Almage 50+ Community Center, the Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec-ICCSQ and REISA. The goal of the satellite groups is to improve the quality of life of seniors who live independently, promoting a senior helping senior approach, and organising activities that enhance their dignity, support their independence and encourage their community involvement.

The satellite groups function as their own entities, meeting in Church basements, Community Centres, and local coffee shops in Hochelaga-Maisonneuve, Rivière-des-Prairies, Montréal-Nord and Anjou. The satellite groups organize weekly recreational and educational activities. The East Island satellite groups have grown to include over 70 members.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., Collective Community Services, Almage Senior Community Centre, McGill School of Social Work

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

Jog Your Mind is a ten-week program of prevention-promotion in health and aging developed by the CSSS Cavendish. In March 2012, REISA recruited a Volunteer Ambassador at the Rivière-des-Prairies senior satellite group to partake in the training of the Jog Your Mind program. The Ambassador animated the program to the R-D-P senior group during the summer of 2012.

In the Fall of 2012, a McGill Social Work student placed at the Italian-Canadian Community Services of Quebec – ICCSQ through REISA’s McGill Training and Retention of Health Professionals Project was trained by the Ambassador to animate the sessions at a second senior’s group in Montreal North.

The model developed by REISA of creating community placement sites for McGill interns has led to the delivery of a new service to seniors. Interns at the Almage Senior Community Centre animate the Jog Your Mind sessions on a yearly basis.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux-CIUSSS de l’Est-de-l’Île de Montréal, Almage Senior Community Centre

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

Pilot project aiming to provide better access to front-line health services expertise for English-speaking vulnerable seniors in Montreal’s East End.

Since March 2015, REISA is managing a pilot project funded l’Agence de santé et des services sociaux de Montréal, in partnership with the Almage Community Center for the Elderly and the CLSC Mercier-Est/Anjou. The project aims to increase access to frontline health and social services for the vulnerable minority English-speaking senior community of the East Island of Montreal. The project aims to support the CLSC in identifying and implementing processes for greater linguistic accessibility for English-speaking seniors on their territory. In addition, the project promotes awareness of the public and community health services available to the population. An assessment will be carried out in March 2016 and will determine the continuation of the project for two additional years. The ultimate goal is to ensure the sustainability of the process by creating robust tools that will support the implementation of the access program and will eventually be transferred to other CLSCs.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA, Leonardo Da Vinci Centre

Partners: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc.

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

In 2011, REISA supported the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre in their application to l’Arrondissement Saint-Léonard for l’Entente administrative de développement social et de la lutte contre la pauvreté et l’exclusion sociale. Their project Matinées des aînés aims to better the quality of life, maintain good health and break isolation for men and women over the age of 65, with reduced mobility and economically-underprivileged.

In May 2012, the LDVC was granted funding for the project. REISA, the LDVC, the ICCSQ and a fitness trainer collaborated in the recruitment of participants and calendar of activities. 18 recruits between the ages of 60 and 72 have participated in 4 courses/week during 6 weeks, totalling 24 sessions. Most participants were recruited through contacts with day centres and senior centres in the East Island.

Participants are happy with the physical results that they have achieved, as well as the professionalism of the instructors and LDVC facilities. Participants particularly appreciated the pre-test examining their health status and comfort level with the different activities. During project planning, REISA insisted that the LDVC use official forms to ensure the security of the participants.

The participants requested that the program continue after the pilot project. They have continued to attend the courses at a minimal fee.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Almage Senior Community Centre

Partners: Centre de santé de des services sociaux de la Pointe-de-l’Île

REISA’s Role: Support

 

The Stand Up! Program was designed by l’Agence de santé et des services sociaux for autonomous seniors aged 65 years or older who are having a loss of balance that could result in serious injury, difficulty in carrying out everyday activities, or a loss of autonomy. The program was brought to the Almage Senior Centre, the only senior centre offering services in English in the East Island of Montreal, where members benefitted from group exercises and information on healthy lifestyles, safe behaviour and fall prevention techniques.

Almage and the local CLSC are in communication when either party has evidence of a need to reanimate the program at the Centre.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: McGill Centre for Studies in Aging, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre

REISA’s Role: Manage and Support

The goal of the Brainy Boomers Lecture Series 2011 and 2012 is to suggest practical steps to improve and maintain brain health, as well as to promote healthy lifestyle choices amongst the most populous generation in history, the Baby Boomers. Members of the community at large were invited to attend the free lectures, which were offered in English.

REISA, the McGill Center for Studies in Aging-MCSA and the Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Center organized four (4) lectures in the Spring of 2012 and six (6) lectures in the Spring of 2011 at the Community Learning Center in January and February 2011. NPI’s and CLC’s across the province of Québec were able to connect to the lectures via videoconference.

The following lectures were presented:

  • “Aging and Memory”, Speaker: Dr. Dolly Dastoor, PhD
  • “Legal Issues for Brainy Boomers and Beyond”, Speaker: Kelly Woodford, Notary
  • “Coping strategies for caregivers and family members of dementia patients”, Speaker: Dr. Loraine Mazzella, MD, FCCP (C)
  • “How is Your Hearing?”, Speaker: André Sirois, Audiologist, Le Groupe Forget
  • “Your Smile Healthy for Life!”, Speaker: Dr. Michael Wiseman, DDS
  • “Eat Your Age! – Nutrition for Successful Aging”, Speaker: Amy Pronovost, P.Dt.
  • “Building Your Retirement Pay Cheque”, Speaker: Nelson Vallacorba, Investment Advisor
  • “Securing Your Financial Future: An Introduction to Investing for Women”, Speaker: Nelson Vallacorba, Investment Advisor
  • “Un Mode de Vie Sain”, Speaker : Marie-Carole Arsenault, ND. A Inf., Membre des Naturopathes Agréés du Québec, Membre de l’Institut de Médecine Fonctionnelle
  • “Estate Planning and Importance of Wills”, Speaker: Elizabeth Da Silva, Notary

Networking and Community Development

Management: HelpAge Canada

Partners: REISA, Almage Senior Community Centre, Collective Community Services, Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., Centre de santé et des services sociaux de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The objective of the consultation is threefold:

  • Firstly, the consultation aims to document the needs of seniors with a focus on health and social services in the East Island of Montreal;
  • Secondly, the consultation aims to increase awareness of access problems and obstacles to citizen action among seniors;
  • Lastly, the consultation aims to promote community involvement among seniors and ensure sustainability for ongoing seniors’ projects.

The collaboration of health and community resources in bringing to light and documenting problems specific to seniors of the East Island of Montreal will help direct future investments supporting locally-determined solutions for citizen involvement, harmonious community development, and improved quality of life.

The consultation was organized by HelpAge Canada in partnership with CCS Community Services, the Italian-Canadian Community Services of Quebec Inc.-ICCSQ, The East Island Network for English Language Services-REISA, Almage 50+ Center and le Centre de santé et de services sociaux de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel. The consultation took place on Tuesday March 22, 2011 from 8:30 am to 12:00pm, at le CLSC Saint-Michel.

YOUTH

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: English Montreal School Board-EMSB

Partners: REISA, Various educational institutions of the EMSB      

REISA’s Role: Support

Promotion of careers in health and social services to over 1500 students from high school and adult centres.

REISA has participated in the Annual English Montreal School Board Career Fair since the fall of 2012. Every year, 1500-2000 students in secondary 5 and adults students, as well as parents and the general public visit kiosks representing universities, cegeps and vocational schools across the island of Montreal. REISA’s kiosk informs youth about career possibilities in the field of health and social services, through the McGill Retention of Health Professionals Project.

In 2012, REISA developed a partnership with the Agence de santé et des services sociaux de Montréal and Jeunes Explorateurs d’un jour-JEUJ. JEUJ were funded by l’Agence under the McGill project to promote careers in health and social services by offering students in high school and college a day in the life of a professional of their choice. Previously, JEUJ had only partnered with schools in the French sector. REISA served as a gateway to the English-speaking community and led to a partnership and future collaborations with the EMSB.

Every year, REISA translates updated information on careers in health and social services most in demand in Québec, obtained by le Ministère de la Santé et des Services Sociaux.  In 2015, REISA will be showcasing a list of 43 careers, along with new information regarding the community field placement partnerships that have been established by REISA. These partnerships have increased the opportunities of placement in numerous community organizations in the East end of Montreal.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: English Montreal School Board, la Commission Scolaire de la Pointe-de-l’Île, le Collectif Jeunesse de Saint-Léonard, Centre de santé et des services sociaux-CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel

Partners: REISA, la Ville de Saint-Léonard, Dante Elementary School, Lambert-Closse Elementary School, various other partners

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

In 2011, the EMSB, la Commission Scolaire PDI, le Collectif Jeunesse Saint-Léonard and le CSSS Saint-Léonard/Saint-Michel formed a committee to look at the needs of children ages 6 to 12. Le comité des besoins 6-12 ans invited public and community partners to a roundtable to discuss program development and provision of services for this population. Three subcommittees emerged: le comité santé et hygiène de vie, le comité violence et intimidation, and le comité immigrants et nouveaux arrivants. REISA is a member of the first of the subcommittee for physical health and well-being.

In 2012, REISA participated in monthly meetings for the development of the Ensemble on a du ‘fun’ pilot project. The project consisted of 8 Saturday mornings of physical exercise, sports, games and animated workshops for two elementary schools in Saint-Léonard, Dante elementary school (English-speaking) and Lambert-Closse elementary school (French-speaking). A closing fair was held at the end of March 2013, where the students and their friends and families were also welcome.  The 3 subcommittees presented the results of their pilot projects at a meeting in May 2013.

Contributors of the initiative continue to meet with their respective subcommittee partners for development and implementation of youth projects throughout the school year.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: La table de Concertation de Saint-Léonard

Partners: REISA, Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., la Table Ronde de Saint-Léonard, La Concertation en sécurité alimentaire de Saint-Léonard

REISA’s Role: Support

The Marché Ambulant program has as mission to provide fruits and vegetables at a reduced price to the underpriviledged community of Saint-Léonard. Moreover, the program offers information, animation of educational activities and an opportunity for members of the community to socialize at 5 chosen locations in the neighbourhood.

In 2011, REISA facilitated the development of a partnership between la Table de Concertation de Saint-Léonard and the Italian-Canadian Community Services in Québec -ICCSQ. In 2012, the ICCSQ provided a Dietician and Dietician intern who developed workshops on nutrition education for families participating in the program.

The ICCSQ is consulted and available for support to the project when needed.

Networking and Community Development

Management: REISA

Partners: English Montreal School Board, Dawson College (potential partner), Vanier College, Concordia University, McGill University

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

English-speaking minorities experience a limitation in their access to English health and social services due to prevalent language barriers within the province of Quebec. In response to this noted language barrier, REISA’s role in the McGill Retention Project Initiative is to promote and support the retention of health and social service professionals in the East End of Montréal to ensure that East Island English-speaking minority communities have access to services in their own language.

REISA seeks to create and support partnerships with English-speaking community networks and educational institutions to promote internship opportunities in the East End for students at various levels of study who are pursuing careers in health and social services. To date, the McGill Retention Project Coordinator has met with student interns completing their field placement at East Island community organizations. This experience has shown to provide a firsthand glance at the needs of Montreal’s East End English-speaking minority demographic. Collaborating with student interns and community organizations on a one-on-one basis has also allowed for the production of a resource pamphlet. This resource pamphlet is a tool for students from various levels and fields of study to engage their mind and gain practical experience with organizations specializing in health and social services.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: English Montreal School Board

Partners: Leading English Education and Resource Network-LEARN (MELS), Community Health and Social Services Network

REISA’s Role: Support

In 2011, a Community Learning Centre was created at Gerald McShane Elementary School in Montreal North. A partnership was developed between REISA and the Gerald McShane CLC; REISA sits on the CLC partnership table and the CLC has become a network partner of REISA.

The Gerald McShane CLC offers a platform where community groups and HSS partners create partnerships and work together in the development of community-school projects. REISA has supported the CLC in the organisation and promotion of workshops for children, parents and the general public. REISA also supported the CLC in the planning of their Community Conversation in December 2012.

In 2013, REISA participated in Gerald McShane’s first annual Lève toi et bouge event for the promotion of an active lifestyle for children. Also in 2013, the Gerald McShane CLC developed a 2013-2014 action plan with partners. The CLC has highlighted different activities that are planned, several of which will be supported by REISA.

In 2014, REISA met with l’Équipe Quartier, a team of four community social workers and nurses from the CLSC Montréal-Nord, who shed the light on the complex health issues faced by the English-speaking community on their territory. The profiles of CSSS d’Ahuntsic et Montréal-Nord were highlighted and presented to the Director of public health in charge of English services at a meeting in November.

Description to come.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Black Community Resource Network

REISA’s Role: Develop

With funds from the CHSSN, REISA supported the Black Community Resource Centre in the adaptation of their Expressin’ Life program for boys. Expressin’ Life is a program encouraging critical thinking and strengthening capacity for problem-solving and decision-making amongst high school girls.

The main objectives of the Expressin’ Life program are:

  1. To develop positive self-esteem and cohesive self-identity;
  2. To facilitate critical thinking and strengthen cognitive and emotional capacity to formulate and understand their individual and collective problems;
  3. To encourage independent thinking and reliance on self- judgment;
  4. To be able to identify social support networks;
  5. To identify, review and implement appropriate coping strategies.

Prevention activities are two-fold:

  1. To create a set of multi-media and print materials for dissemination to educators at the secondary level, to help them to recognize signs of risky behavior;
  2. To know how to intervene or support young girls or boys who need to be removed from the sexual exploitation of gang culture and to introduce teacher resources (with exercises and essay suggestions and pedagogical aids) to facilitate the introduction of these concepts in their classrooms.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre

Partners: REISA

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

The Chefs and Nonnas project consisted of interactive cooking sessions given by a dietician and a professional or locally-renowned cook to adolescents at Laurier Macdonald high school. One of the goals of the project was to encourage healthy diet choices amongst youth, adults and seniors, all while reintroducing and appreciating traditional Italian culinary dishes. Furthermore, the healthy choices adopted during the sessions would aid in diabetes prevention.

COMMUNITY

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., REISA

Partners: Community Health and Social Services Network, English Montreal School Board, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre, Leonardo Da Vinci Centre

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The 5-30 Health and Wellness Challenge promotes an active lifestyle and a healthy diet by encouraging participants to eat 5 fruits or vegetables and exercise for 30 minutes every day for a period of six weeks. The wellness component involves targeting an objective to improve a participant’s wellness, for example, communicating better or maintaining good relationships.

In 2010 and 2011, a Dietician at REISA promoted the challenge within a daycare, two high schools, a senior’s center, several senior satellite groups, a community center and a fitness center. Weekly newsletters were created and sent to registered participants. The newsletters contained general information on nutrition, quizzes, healthy recipes and tips on how to reach different goals.

Weekly lunchtime activities at Laurier Macdonald high school allowed students to learn more about healthy eating and have a chance to win movie tickets and amusement park passes. The following are examples of these activities:

  1. Word Search: The participants will be given a sheet with a word search on it (word search is strictly about fruits and vegetables); to be eligible for the raffle they will have to guess a minimum of 10 words in 1 minute.
  2. Unscramble the scrambled words: Each participant will be given a list of scrambled words about fruits and vegetables. On this list there will be 9 scrambled words separated into three groups based on their difficulty (the green group is worth 5 points, the yellow/orange group is worth 10 points and the red group is worth 20 points); the participant will have to accumulate a total of 30-40 points to participate in the raffle.
  3. Fruits and Vegetables Mastermind: Participants will have to guess the correct fruit and color combination that has been chosen by the mastermind. There will be four choices of four different fruits and vegetables each coded with four different colors (mandarins, grapes, limes and tomatoes each of which will be labelled with different colors green, yellow, blue and red). The participant will have to select through trial and error the same 2 fruits or vegetables picked by the mastermind. The participant will have 6 trials before his/her game is over.
  4. Fruits and Vegetables Target: The participant will have to aim at a target divided into 5 sections colored in 5 different colors (each color is associated with a food color – red, blue/purple, green, white, yellow/orange); depending on where the pebble lands the participant will have to name 3 examples of fruits or vegetables belonging to that specific color group. The target has been made in such a way that if the person is able to throw the pebble in the center he/she will be automatically registered to the raffle.
  5. Fruits and Vegetables Riddle Game: The participant will pick from a box a piece of paper. The paper will have either a riddle about fruits and vegetables or a picture of an exotic fruit or vegetable (below each picture there will be a word hint). In order to participate to the raffle the student will have to guess correctly the fruits or vegetable in question.

In 2012, REISA promoted the challenge amongst several populations including at-risk, youth, seniors and the general public. A Dietician engaged a group of patients at a local pharmacy to register for weekly walks in collaboration with a community nurse. Information on the health challenge was disseminated to all high schools and elementary schools of the English Montreal School Board. Moreover, REISA visited seniors groups to explain the challenge and register participants; REISA followed up with participant questions and concern throughout the duration of the challenge. Lastly, REISA sent information about the challenge to network members, included an article in REISA’s quarterly newsletter, sent material to 3 CSSS’ for deposit in the waiting rooms of their respective CLSC’s, promoted the challenge at a hospital and long-term care facility in Saint-Leonard and through QUESCREN and COCo.

In 2013, REISA promoted the challenge within two schools, Laurier Macdonald high school and Gerald McShane elementary school in partnership with the 2 CLC Coordinators. Activities included: dissemination of material to teachers and students on the topic of healthy eating; a workshop on healthy snacks presented to teachers and staff at Gerald McShane; two lunchtime quiz sessions on exotic fruits and nutrition for students at Laurier Macdonald; an evening lecture for the general population presented at the Laurier Macdonald CLC; production of a poster and quizzes for a health fair bringing together children from Lambert-Closse (French-speaking) and Dante (English-speaking ) elementary schools.

In 2014, REISA continued participating in the planning and implementation of the health and wellness challenge at Laurier MacDonald High school in collaboration with the CLC. REISA also disseminated information on the challenge to the larger network, including organizations catering to adults, families and seniors.  In 2015, two Master level Dietetics students animated kiosques at the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging and Almage Senior Community Centre.

Networking and Community Development

Management: REISA

Partners: Black Community Resource Centre, the Gerald McShane Community Learning Centre, Various organisations in Montreal North

REISA’s Role: Support

In 2012, REISA conducted a needs analysis and developed a portrait of the English-speaking minority community in Montreal North. The needs analysis was conducted through membership to the Gerald McShane Community Learning Centre as well as surveying the community groups and population of the neighbourhood.

The Gerald McShane Community Learning Centre offers a platform where community groups and HSS partners create partnerships and work together in the development of community-school projects. In May 2013, REISA participated in the Lève-toi et Bouge event, organized by Gerald McShane in conjunction with le Grand défi Pierre Lavoie and the Mayor of Montreal North. Several community organizations including REISA as well as parents and members of the community supported the school in the planning and animation of activities. Other support was granted by the local Police Department, CSSS, the municipality and numerous private businesses.

In 2014, REISA met with l’Équipe Quartier, a team of four community social workers and nurses from the CLSC Montréal-Nord, who shed the light on the complex health issues faced by the English-speaking community on their territory. The profiles of CSSS d’Ahuntsic et Montréal-Nord were highlighted and presented to the Director of public health in charge of English services at a meeting in November.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Éco-Quartier de Saint-Léonard

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

Initiative to bring environmental awareness to the general population through various workshops.

REISA organised a booth promoting reusable water bottles on the main floor of the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre in Saint-Léonard during la semaine de récuperation des déchets au Québec, in October 2011. The booth was visited by seniors, adults and youth partaking in different activities of the Centre. Approximately 15 staff and tenants of the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre participated in a composting workshop in 2012. Important information on the methods of composting was presented and take-home material was handed out for free.

In early 2013, REISA organised a second booth promoting bottled water awareness at the LDV Centre. Over 30 persons participated in a water test, drinking samples of three types of bottled water and one sample of tap water, and identifying which of the 4 they enjoyed the most. Participants were then told which of the 4 was tap water and given information on the healthy process by which tap water in Québec is filtered and the benefits of drinking tap water versus bottled water for ourselves and the environment.

In 2014, REISA continued to disseminate newsletters, invitations to events organised by the Éco-Quartier de St-Léonard and important information regarding the environment to network partners on the island of Montreal. For the second year, REISA organised a booth at the Leonardo Da Vinci Centre promoting bottled water awareness. REISA also organised a meeting with the Éco-Quartier in September to discuss possibilities of collaboration on awareness campaigns in schools.

Networking and Community Development

Management: Community Health and Social Services Network

Partners: Members of the steering committee

REISA’s Role: Support

Coordination of regional dialogue with community and public representatives for improving access to English-language health and social services on the Montreal Island.

In March 2010, the CHSSN and REISA hosted a MCRI Project Forum and Workshop. Janet Forsyth, REISA Consultant in community organizing, presented funding strategies as well as strategies of partnership-building and effective methods of planning and reporting. The African Canadian Development and Prevention Network (ACDPN) presented their community based model for development of best practice prevention approaches. AGAPE, CCS and the NDG Senior Citizens’ Council presented on poverty amongst the populations that they serve. Other groups such as COCo, AMI-Québec and the Black Community Resource Center presented statistics about different cultural communities and existing health programs.

The Montreal-Laval-South Shore Community Network Table (formerly the Montreal Community Resource Initiative) hosted a Community Network Forum in October 2011: Addressing Mental Health Issues: An Emerging Challenge for Community Resources. The forum focused on challenges facing community resources serving English-speaking people experiencing psychological distress and mental health issues. A report was compiled and disseminated by REISA to approximately 50 participants in early 2012.

In March 2013, the Community Network Table organised a forum on Mental Health: Enhancing Resiliency to Overcome the Challenges of Work and Personal Stress. The forum aimed to continue the dialogue started in October 2011 among community organisations on methods of supporting vulnerable members of the community. Participants explored resiliency approaches and tools for targeted action to turn strengths into strategies to restore and maintain health for themselves and for the people they serve.  Dr. Robert Savage of McGill University presented an evaluation of the Friends for Life pilot done in Laval in partnership with AGAPE. Catherine Austin and AnnMarie Churchill of Austin Resilience Development Inc. presented resiliency strategies for adults.

REISA is also supporting the Community Network Table in addressing the needs of the South Asian population. In March 2013, REISA organised an initial meeting with 12 leaders from the English-speaking South Asian communities of Greater Montreal and the CHSSN. Joanne Pocock presented data from the Socio-economic profile of the English speaking visible minority produced by the CHSSN in 2012. Data included: low-income cut-off, labour force activity, education levels. Discussions shed light on health and social services issues these communities deal with.

In 2014, REISA assisted in the organisation of the Annual Community Network Table Planning Day held in July. REISA supported the table in the organizing of the yearly Forum: A community in Movement, in collaboration with the Verdun Anglo-Family Council and CCS. The forum was attended by over 60 participants.

The Annual Planning Day was held on July 3rd, 2015, and the yearly forum: Community Partnerships for Sustainability, on March 25, 2015.  The 52 attendees represented the community and public sectors. The forum provided a great networking opportunity. Presentations were made on three programs: REISA-CSSS partnership pilot project; Batshaw Youth and Family Centres and ACDPN Empowering parents and their families program; AMI-Québec, Youth Employment Services and Cummings Centre Best-Practice Model of Resiliency. A visit to the Almage Senior Community Centre for tea and exchange with the East end seniors followed.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: English Montreal School Board

Partners: Leading English Education and Resource Network (Ministère de l’Éducation, Loisir et Sport), Community Health and Social Services Network

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

REISA supports the Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre by sharing resources of the Montreal area with isolated minority English-speaking communities across the province of Québec via videoconference. Programs such as Friends For Life have been imported to regions across the province due to REISA’s access to partners’ expertise.

REISA sits on the steering committee of the Laurier Macdonald CLC. REISA has been instrumental in creating opportunities for the CLC to establish collaborative partnerships allowing for access to health and social service programs for the community. Community and public partners AMI-Québec, Éducaloi, Consensus Mediation, the Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec and the McGill Centre for Studies in Aging offer workshops on different issues relevant to youth, adults and seniors throughout the year. Topics include legal information, peer pressure, cyber-bullying, anxiety and depression, body image, eating disorders, and mental health in general. Participants could either attend conferences in the centre, or connect through other CLC’s via videoconference.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Ministère de santé et des services sociaux

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The Air Quality Health Index-AQHI is a public information tool that helps Canadians protect their health from the negative effects of air pollution. This tool has been developed by Health Canada and Environment Canada, in collaboration with the provinces and key health and environment stakeholders.

People suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular problems are more likely to experience health effects from air pollution than people without. Even short-term exposure to air pollution can trigger or aggravate existing health conditions.

This index pays particular attention to these types of people and provides them with advice on how to protect their health during air quality levels associated with low, moderate, high and very high health risks. The health risk scale is a scale from 1 to 10, where 1 indicates low risk, and a low air pollution level, and 10 indicates high risk, and a very high pollution level.

There are three ways to find out what the AQHI is in your community:

1. Website

The AQHI is calculated hourly at www.coteairsante.qc.ca. Forecasted AQHI’s will also be available below the current index. Health tips to protect you from air pollution are also provided. These tips help you plan outdoor activities.

2. Toll-free phone line

The second way to find out the AQHI or for health tips is by calling the toll-free phone line at 1 866 688-3810, available 24 hours/day and 7 days/week.

3. Free phone alert service

The third way to find out the AQHI values is to register to the free phone alert service. When poor air quality has the potential to affect your health, you will receive a phone call with a recording that will give you advice.

REISA promoted the AQHI to the CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel, CSSS Lucille-Teasdale, CSSS d’Ahuntsic et Montréal-Nord, CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île and CSSS Cavendish. REISA also promoted the tool to local network public and community partners and regional NPI’s. Furthermore, REISA promoted the tool to nine senior day centres and senior groups and presented the tool to four of these groups.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Community Health and Social Services Network, Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec

Partners: REISA, Table de Concertation Saint-Léonard, Centre de santé et des services sociaux de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The Community Development project is managed by the Community Health and Social Services Network-CHSSN and l’Institut National de Santé Publique du Québec-INSPQ. The CHSSN and the INSPQ will be developing portraits of six English-speaking communities across the province of Québec. REISA selected the community of Saint-Léonard within REISA’s East Island territory for the portrait.

REISA’s role will be the liaison between the INSPQ and persons of the community. These persons will include representatives of local associations, representatives of various community organizations, volunteer groups, religious institutions and school boards, and representatives of public institutions, l’Agence de Santé et des Services Sociaux, and Saint-Léonard elected officials of the three levels of government. REISA will organize a consultation grouping these individuals aimed to collect qualitative information about Saint-Léonard, including the community’s assets, environment, economy, the personal health and well-being of its citizens, etc.

The community portrait has proven useful when raising awareness about the state of the community, developing fitting local projects and shedding light on matters that may have not been well understood in the past.

Networking and Community Development

Management: Community Health and Social Services Network, Quebec Community Groups Network

Partners:  REISA, community members

REISA’s Role: Support

Health Canada’s Road Map for Canada’s Linguistic Duality has generated investments until 2013 to support Quebec’s initiatives to improve access to health and services in English.  The QCGN was invited to conduct a series of consultations in selected English-speaking communities.

REISA was selected to participate in the organization of three focus groups. The needs of different population groups were addressed, such as families with children, older adults, and those with particular health issues.

A discussion document on health priorities was produced for comment and opinions of community stakeholders as well as the public network through the Quebec Ministry of Health and Social Services. Health Canada and the federal government used this document along with other tools to build a solid basis for renewing its financial contribution to Quebec’s initiatives to improve access to health and social services in English in collaboration with English-speaking communities.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc.

Partners: McGill dietetics, McGill stages, Community Health and Social Services Network, REISA, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre, Committee for Anglophone Social Action, Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders, Coasters Association, Vision Gaspé-Percé Now

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The Diabetes distance telemonitoring project involves NPI’s across the province of Quebec and their local CSSS’. During two eight-week periods, diabetic patients transmit their blood glucose levels, food intake and energy levels three times a day to nurses from local CSSS’ and NPI project coordinators via loaned blackberrys. Dr. Antonia Arnaert, Associate Professor at McGill University School of Nursing, measures the acquisition of self-management skills. Hired dieticians answer dietary questions that patients had throughout the duration of the project and present information via videoconference to the group of patients. The dieticians evaluate the patients’ dietary knowledge before and after the trials.

This particular project differs from other projects involving telemonitoring because of its community support component. It targets individuals who are on-the-go, students, working adults, as well as home-bound patients. The project allows patients to improve their quality of life and avoid preventable visits to the hospital because of unmonitored blood glucose levels. An underlying consequence of such a project would be the decrease in costs for public institutions like hospitals and CSSS’. The ultimate goal of the project would be for public institutions to adopt this method of telemonitoring for diabetes amongst other diseases.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc.

Partners: McGill dietetics, McGill school of nursing, REISA, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre, Committee for Anglophone Social Action, Council for Anglophone Magdalen Islanders, Townshippers Association, Outaouais Health and Social Services Network, Lower North Shore, Vision Gaspé-Percé Now

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The Diabetes Prevention and Management program consisted of educating the population on the disease via several methods:

  1. Producing new material adapted to the needs of the local English-speaking communities and gathered information about services for diabetics in English across the province of Québec in partnership with eight regional NPI’s;
  2. Collecting and distributing educational materials in English on Diabetes previously-produced by local communities;
  3. Organizing lectures for the general public on the disease; four health professionals spoke on diabetes. Furthermore, two undergraduate dietetics students and one Master’s student presented information and diabetes learning kits to groups of seniors and high school students.

Networking and Community Development

Management: Accès Bénévolat

Partners: REISA 

REISA’s Role: Support

In 2009, Accès Bénévolat (formerly Le Service bénévole de l’Est de Montréal) brought together various partners to organize an event to celebrate International Volunteers’ Day. Le comité ‘le bénévolat, une participation citoyenne et inclusive au service de la communauté montréalaise’ has as mission to bring together diverse groups of people in order to promote volunteering across the island of Montreal.​

On December 6 2010, over 500 volunteers and 80 organizations participated in La Chaîne des bénévoles d’ici et d’ailleurs in celebration of International Volunteers’ Day at le Complexe Desjardins. REISA sat on the steering committee for the organisation of and participation in meetings and events for several years.

ADDICTION

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: English Montreal School Board, Toxico-Stop

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The Drug Prevention and Awareness program entails sessions explaining the facts and effects of drugs on health, on a social, physical and mental level, and incorporates interesting methods of interaction and discussion.

Vanier College Special Care Counsellor Janice Clarini and Toxico-Stop Addictions Counsellor Gerry Tullio have developed two unique styles of presenting facts and explaining consequences of drug abuse to elementary and high school students. The drug prevention and awareness program sessions were offered to students of Laurier Macdonald high school and John Paul junior high school. In the summer of 2009, the program was introduced to the Leonardo Da Vinci and Camp Allegria summer camps, including a group of campers with special needs. In February 2010, Ms Clarini presented her program at a Drug and Alcohol Conference organized by the Coasters Association.

In 2011, Addictions Counsellor Gerry Tullio was hired by three East Island high schools of the English Montreal School Board. REISA continues to offer support to M. Tullio in the different drug addiction initiatives that he has introduced to the high schools over the years, including the Quebec Students Against Destructive Decisions project. REISA also assists in seeking and securing funding for drug prevention and awareness projects.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Substance Abuse Counsellor Germain Tullio, Special Education Technician Maria Vertullo, English Montreal School Board

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

Program designed to provide at risk adolescents with life skill tools to decrease the likelihood of maladaptive or risky behaviours, in a safe and accepting environment.

Substance Abuse Counsellor Germain Tullio and Special Education Technician Maria Vertullo have designed the New Horizons program with the goal of providing at risk adolescents with life skill tools to decrease the likelihood of maladaptive or risky behaviours, in a safe and accepting environment. These life tools include the ability to deal with peer pressure, communicate with peers and parents, along with cope with their anger, stress and time management, and be empowered in their decision-making process. Tools acquired will prove to be useful as they carry on into adulthood.

REISA has hired the two experts to develop the eight-week program and plans to deliver it to two pilot high schools in the Fall of 2015.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: English Montreal School Board, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre, Toxico-Stop, Laurier Macdonald High School, John F. Kennedy High School

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The objective of Quebec Students Against Impaired Driving is to provide leadership training and programs to motivate teenagers to make proactive and responsible choices in their lives so they can prevent injuries and save lives caused by impaired driving.

The two major goals of the project are youth empowerment and inspiration of teen volunteer development. The project also aims to unite the youth of the province of Québec in the stand against impaired driving. Impaired driving is still predominant in today’s society; by uniting youth, the project aims to eliminate the number one criminal cause of death. Furthermore, it is envisioned that the QSAID chapter work together with already-existing chapters in other Canadian provinces, exchanging ideas for activities, fundraising and awareness campaigns. Finally, the project entails building partnerships with government agencies, community groups and private businesses in order to work together toward a common goal.

In Québec, young drivers aged 16 to 24 are overrepresented in road accidents. Although they constituted only 10% of driver’s license holders, young drivers in Quebec were involved in 25% of accidents resulting in bodily injury in 2009. The main causes are inexperience and recklessness, speed, drugs, alcohol, texting and not wearing a seat belt.

Young drivers are much more frequently involved in accidents where speed is a factor. They commit the highest number of speeding offences at speeds in excess of 45 km/h over the posted speed limit. From 2005 to 2009, speed was a factor in 50% of accidents involving drivers aged 16 to 24. (Source SAAQ)

In 2010, REISA introduced the QSAID program at Laurier Macdonald high school.

Examples of Activities:

  1. White Out Day: The activity involves dressing a different student in a garbage bag every twenty-three minutes to symbolize how often people are killed due to impaired driving. For the remainder of the day, the students dressed in garbage bags represent the number of people who are killed due to impaired driving in one day. The activity involves the cooperation of the entire staff and student body since students will be roll-called at random to the front office during a regular school day.
  2. Contract for Life: The contract is an agreement between two persons: person A agrees to call person B rather than drive while impaired or ride with someone who is impaired. Person B agrees to pick up person A, regardless of time, providing that the incident will be discussed the next day or when emotions or impairment have been slept off.
  3. No Phone Zone Pledge: A pledge that a student takes promising that his/her car will always be a phone-free zone.
  4. Ribbon Campaign: Organizers hand out ribbons to the community at gas stations, police stations, shopping malls, coffee shops, etc. Members of the community tie the ribbons on their car antennas to raise awareness on impaired driving.

In 2012, REISA altered the QSAID program, renaming it Quebec Students Against Destructive Decisions, including the theme of bullying and other major issues that high school students may be faced with. REISA introduced the program to a second school, John F. Kennedy high school. The project was supported by the governing board and administration at Laurier Macdonald High School; 5 members of the student council participated and 50 contracts for life were filled out by students promising to make responsible choices. The project received the support of the administration at John F. Kennedy High School; the Spiritual Counsellor assisted in the organisation of several activities and 2 student committees were involved.

REISA assisted a McGill University Social Work intern at the Italian-Canadian Community Services in the organisation of presentations on bullying and in the accompaniment of the Addictions Counsellor at the two high schools.

REISA applied for funding from the Heritage Canada Exchanged Canada Program, in partnership with the Laurier Macdonald administration and the EMSB. Activities planned were the following: the creation of student-run QSADD committees in the two schools; their participation in the Annual Canadian Youth Against Impaired Driving Conference; the development of a transferable QSADD committee model for the eventual creation of a Quebec-wide chapter in partnership with other NPI’s. Heritage Canada funds for CYAID were not granted as funding parameters required that the application be submitted directly by those organising the conference. Recommendations for the upcoming year from the QSADD steering committee were the following: ownership of the project by the High School Principals, support from the CLC Coordinator and appointment of a student or teacher as project leader.

REISA continues to seek funding for drug prevention and awareness projects like QSADD, with the collaboration of Substance Abuse Counsellor Germain Tullio and Laurier Macdonald high school.

Networking and Community Development

Management: Toxico-Stop

Partners: REISA, Centre for Community Organizations

REISA’s Role: Support

Accreditation of the detoxification and reinsertion centres allows for recognition and partnership with the public sector and eligibility for charity status and numerous sources of funding in order to better serve the community.

In the Fall of 2010, REISA signed a service agreement with Toxico-Stop for support in their accreditation application, increasing the organization’s capacity and access to grants and formal partnerships with the public sector. Toxico-Stop is the East-Island’s only detoxification center offering services in English, and providing programming for the prevention and addiction in youth, dealing with a school population of over 12,000 students. REISA assisted in the writing and revision of the applications for their detoxification and reinsertion centres.

REISA congratulated Toxico-Stop for being accredited at their AGM in 2011. REISA continues to provide support to the organization by chairing their AGM’s, providing office space for their board meetings, providing human resources in the form of interns via the McGill Retention project and assisting them in seeking funding for different services.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Toxico-Stop

Partners: Pavillon Foster, Centre de santé et des services sociaux-CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île, CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel, Don Bosco Youth Leadership Centre, English Montreal School Board, Vanier College, Concordia University

REISA’s Role: Support

Toxico-Stop Addictions Counsellor Gerry Tullio and Vanier College Special Care Counsellor Janice Clarini developed an Addiction Prevention program that was integrated into East end English Montreal School Board high schools. The first element of the program focused on drug prevention and awareness. The addictions counsellors presented to classrooms and at times the entire student assembly on the topic, varying from informational presentations explaining facts about effects of drugs on health, short and long term physical, social and psychological damages, to interactive sessions where discussion was open, during which some students freely discussed using drugs.

The presentations were followed by interaction with students, and requests from students and parents for information referrals. Anonymous questionnaires were filled by the school populations, and handouts were prepared providing early detection tools.

A database was created for the collection of data, which was broken down into categories according to sex, age, estimation of potential for drug use, and recommendations for in-depth evaluation by guidance counsellors. The reports were presented to the administrations of each high school. The reports were then presented to Public Health directors and agents of the four CSSS partners of the East Island Network, and community partners including the English Montreal School Board.

Networking and Community Development

Management: Pavillon Foster, English Montreal School Board, Centre de santé et des services sociaux-CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel

Partners: CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île, CSSS d’Ahuntsic et Montréal-Nord, CSSS Lucille-Teasdale

REISA’s Role: Develop

Therapy and monitoring for drug addiction , alcoholism and compulsive gambling.

REISA aided in the development of a partnership between Pavillon Foster, the English Montreal School Board and the CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel, allowing therapy and follow-up for addiction and compulsive gambling to be exported to the East Island of Montreal at the CSSS and in several schools.

MENTAL HEALTH

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Consensus Mediation, Éducaloi

Partners: Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre

REISA’s Role: Support

The Families in Transition program consists of family mediation, counselling, parenting coordination, seminars, groups and training. In 2009, Consensus Mediation Director Dominic D’Abate and a second social worker began offering family mediation services from REISA’s office at a sliding scale, in order to accommodate the English-speaking minority community living in the East Island of Montreal.

Consensus Mediation remains a partner of the Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre. Yearly workshops on family mediation are held at the CLC and presented to the general public and available via videoconference across the province of Québec.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: Members of the community

Partners: AMI-Québec, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre, REISA

REISA’s Role: Support

Facilitating logistics for support group formed by community members in the East end of Montreal.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: AMI-Québec

Partners: REISA

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

Telephone conferences providing support to families dealing with a mental health problem.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: AMI-Québec

Partners: REISA

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

Telephone conferences providing support to families dealing with a mental health problem.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA, Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre

Partners: Leading English Education and Resource Network (Ministère de l’Éducation, Loisir et Sport), Third Story Window

REISA’s Role: Develop, Manage and Support

The purpose of the dramatic comedy was to bring awareness on anxiety and depression to Quebec’s minority English-speaking communities, and more specifically, to use the CRAZY play as a demystifying tool for parents, teachers and community workers who are or may be dealing with this phenomenon among their community. The comedy was shown via videoconference to ten Community Learning Centres across the province, with experts for a question-answer period.​

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA, AMI-Québec, English Montreal School Board

Partners: Laurier Macdonald Community Learning Centre

REISA’s Role: Develop and Support

FRIENDS for Life is a program that builds resilience and self esteem in children by teaching cognitive, behavioral, and emotional skills in a simple, well-designed and structured format. Resilient children have been found to cope better with feelings of fear, worry, depression and anxiety. They are better equipped to deal with emotional distress and less likely to develop psychological disorders. A recent Quebec study conducted with 1,759 mothers over six years found that 15% of preschoolers have atypically high levels of depression and anxiety. The FRIENDS program is one response to this wake-up call.

Based on more than 10 years of comprehensive research and evaluation, FRIENDS for Life was developed in Australia by Dr. Paula Barrett, a clinical child psychologist.  It is currently being used in eleven countries worldwide including Canada.

As a result of a collaboration between AMI-Québec, the English Montreal School Board-EMSB and REISA, the program was piloted in General Vanier and Gerald McShane Elementary schools in East Montréal, for the first time in the province in Québec, in January 2010.

Teacher feedback recorded at launch:

  • Teachers see a lot of anxiety and depression in the students; signs are obvious
  • Students cannot hide their emotions, e.g. stomach ache, headache, sadness, etc.; even though they do not vocalize or know themselves how/why they are feeling a certain way
  • Fun Friends method is interesting and creative
  • Workbooks are easy to use, step-by-step instruction manual for teachers
  • Easy implementation: curriculum is flexible therefore program can be easily integrated
  • Ethics and Religion Class teaches about feelings, emotions, etc. therefore Fun Friends can be integrated into it
  • High expectation of parent involvement and cooperation because of the age of the children
  • Pre- and post evaluation sheets for the teachers are easy and quick to fill out

Evaluation conducted by Dr. Bill Bukowski, Psychology Department, Concordia University:

The children participating in the intervention were rated by their parents and their teachers on a measure known as the Strength and Difficulties Questionnaire.  The 25 items in this measure are intended to measure five domains of functioning.  They are Prosocial Behavior, Emotional Well-Being, Conduct Disorder, Hyperactivity, and Peer Problems.

The ratings were made using a three point scale (0, 1, 2) in which higher ratings indicated a stronger presence of the concept being evaluated.  Ratings were made just prior to the intervention (Time 1) and four months after it was completed (Time 2).

Differences between the Time 1 and the Time 2 ratings were examined and three differences were observed.  With the teacher assessments, a decrease was observed in the measure of Peer Problems and an increase was seen in the measure of Conduct Disorder.  With the parent assessments, a decrease was observed in the measure of Peer Problems.

In the Winter of 2010, REISA and AMI-Québec presented a videoconference to inform regional English-speaking communities of the program. The program was imported to several regions across the province of Québec, including Laval. Furthermore, REISA introduced the program to the French local school board in 2011.

A working group was formed aimed at influencing the development of policy regarding enhancing resiliency in children.

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Centre de santé et des services sociaux-CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel, CSSS Lucille-Teasdale, CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île, Almage Senior Community Centre, Italian-Canadian Community Services of Québec Inc., Toxico-Stop

REISA’s Role: Manage

Le Réseau Sentinelles en prévention de suicide de l’Est de Montréal is a program developed by le CSSS Lucille-Teasdale, le CSSS de Saint-Léonard et Saint-Michel and le CSSS de la Pointe-de-l’Île. The objective of the program is to spot individuals who have suicidal thoughts or tendencies and bring them to the health services available within the system.

Sentinels are trained to be sensitive to others. A sentinel is an adult who voluntarily engages him or herself to act as an intermediary between suicidal persons and the resources available for them. Sentinels are trained to understand their role and limits, develop abilities in aid relationship, develop an ease in talking about suicide, recognize the precursory signs of suicide and be aware of the resources out there.

Training sessions are free and offered to groups comprised of 5 to12 individuals. It is necessary to create a network in the community that keeps a link to the sentinels in order to keep them active; each network needs to correspond to the individuality of the community.

REISA organized two one-day trainings for community organizations in the East Island of Montreal in April and May 2011. REISA is exploring the possibility of the program being offered to staff and teachers of the English Montreal School Board.

SPECIAL NEEDS

Ongoing Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Drama Therapist Jennifer Furlong, Centre for Dreams and Hopes

REISA’s Role: Manage and Support

Pilot project aimed toward developing meaningful recreational activities for youth with developmental disabilities in order to foster self-esteem and well-being.

In the Spring of 2015, REISA hired Drama Therapist Jennifer Furlong for an eight-week health promotion pilot project in collaboration with the Center for Dreams and Hopes. The objective of this project is to develop meaningful recreational activities for youth with developmental disabilities in order to foster self-esteem and well-being. This project involves drama games which include improvisation, playful, interactive exercises, and structured theatre games that allow for emotional expression and self-disclosure, and music therapy which involves singing and playing musical instruments. At the end of the sessions, the group created a concert for their friends and family. This activity proved to increase self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment and well-being for each of the members who participated.

Josie Primiani, President of the CDH, has expressed extreme delight in the results of this therapy and would like for this project to continue long into the future. CDH is looking at all possibilities of funding to introduce the drama therapy program in the regular curriculum. Ms. Furlong has agreed to carry on with the project on a voluntary basis for the moment, until other funds are acquired.

Past Projects

Adapting Services and Addressing Health Determinants

Management: REISA

Partners: Drama Therapist Jennifer Furlong, Centre for Dreams and Hopes

REISA’s Role: Manage and Support

Pilot project aimed toward developing meaningful recreational activities for youth with developmental disabilities in order to foster self-esteem and well-being.

In the Spring of 2015, REISA hired Drama Therapist Jennifer Furlong for an eight-week health promotion pilot project in collaboration with the Center for Dreams and Hopes. The objective of this project is to develop meaningful recreational activities for youth with developmental disabilities in order to foster self-esteem and well-being. This project involves drama games which include improvisation, playful, interactive exercises, and structured theatre games that allow for emotional expression and self-disclosure, and music therapy which involves singing and playing musical instruments. At the end of the sessions, the group created a concert for their friends and family. This activity proved to increase self-esteem, a sense of accomplishment and well-being for each of the members who participated.

Josie Primiani, President of the CDH, has expressed extreme delight in the results of this therapy and would like for this project to continue long into the future. CDH is looking at all possibilities of funding to introduce the drama therapy program in the regular curriculum. Ms. Furlong has agreed to carry on with the project on a voluntary basis for the moment, until other funds are acquired.

Networking and Community Development

Management: East Foundation

Partners: English Montreal School Board

REISA’s Role: Develop

Initiating partnerships between the local school board and the East Foundation.