Peer Support in Northeastern Ontario Annual Report 2011-2012
Lived Experience & Recovery Network
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What is LERN? The Lived Experience & Recovery Network is a
networking body linking, supporting and educating all
consumer/survivor and family organizations in the Northeast Region.
Our network serves peer organizations and programs operating in
over 20 communities across the northeast We also network and
advocate for our members at regional and provincial levels We offer
mental health promotion programming throughout the region
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Why a regional network? Mandated as part of our funding
agreement Connect CSIs/FIs, bridge geographic distances, reduce the
feelings of isolation Provide resources, support and knowledge
exchange Enhance the effectiveness of CSI/FI programs and services
Build capacity within CSIs/FIs and peer programs Provide a unified
voice at various planning tables
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LERN Programs & Services Charter of Peer Support Mental
Health First Aid training WRAP training NOW Strategy Organizational
development and support Knowledge Exchange Network, SPARK training
CSI/FI and Peer Support advocacy Peer support for the peer
supporters Responding to member requests and needs
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New WRAP Facilitators LERN funded the training of 10 new WRAP
facilitators from across the region. These folks can now offer WRAP
groups as well as train others in WRAP one-to-one!
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WRAP one-to-one LERN can offer and/or arrange for WRAP
one-to-one training for staff and volunteers of member
organizations.
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Regional Networking Events LERN organizes and sponsors three to
four regional networking events per year. These offer participants
opportunities to meet other members, share information and
learn.
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Fun and safe learning environment! LERN promotes safe,
supportive and inclusive environments for members to learn, grow
and share.
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Team Building Integrated in all our programming and events is
the element of team building. Not just within each organization,
but with members from across the network.
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NOW Strategy Funded through Healthy Communities grant Addresses
physical activity and healthy eating practices Teaches basics of
mental health promotion Provides resources to offer PA an HE
programs On-site training available for members at no cost
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Getting active with Zumba! At all of our events we incorporate
the principles and practices of our Northeast Ontario Wellness
Strategy, which are to include physical activity and healthy
eating!
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Laughter Yoga Leaders LERN has sponsored the training of
Laughter Yoga Leaders and can offer assistance in setting up
Laughter Yoga clubs in the community or in member
organizations.
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Nutrition and Wellness Specialist Training 10 folks from across
the northeast received training through Can Fit Pro Canada as
Nutrition and Wellness Specialists in June 2012. They will be
writing their certification exams July 19 th. Good Luck!!
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The Big Gym Bag Everything you need to run nutrition and
physical activity programs; from the tools to the handouts to the
program plans!
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Charter of Peer Support promote peer support as a cost
effective and integral part of the mental health and addiction
system promote the involvement and empowerment of people with lived
experience and family members showcase the validity and value of
peer support as a method of service delivery encourage various
stakeholders, partners and government agencies to invest in,
recognize and appreciate the power of peer support to reduce
incidence of use of services as well as to increase over-all
well-being and self-reliance of people
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Stamp Out Stigma Launch of Canada Posts new mental health
awareness stamp. Proceeds from the sales of these stamps will be
directed to grass-roots efforts to reduce stigma.
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Getting Involved! Our members sit on a variety of local,
regional, provincial planning tables, committees and working groups
Keep in touch make use of social networking sites and communication
technologies Volunteer! Although we advocate for peers to have paid
employment opportunities, volunteering is a great place to start
Letter writing if issues about mental health and/or addictions are
important to you, take the time to write to your local, provincial
or federal government officials
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Getting Involved! Show up! We are here for you, if people dont
show up it could affect our programs/services in the future Let us
know what you need! Our programs/services are designed with your
input to meet your needs! Get educated! There are lots of great
learning opportunities, many of them are free or inexpensive,
knowledge is a powerful tool Be a supporter! Peer support is a
mutual relationship. It feels good to give as well as receive!
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Recognizing Peer Support Leadership & Excellence Last year,
in partnership with PEPs Peer Support Week activities, we created
and gave out our first award of recognition for a regional peer
support leader!
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Supporting our local talent! Whenever possible, LERN supports
and promotes the talents of our members. The Freedom band playing
at one of our AGMs, a highly talented group of peers!
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Supported Employment We are active members of a regional
Employment Advisory Committee Over 40 people, including those with
lived experience, have received training and a university
certificate in Supported Employment Hosted a full-to-capacity
workshop for employers and service providers Currently working to
deliver workshops and information sessions about supported
employment and social enterprise
https://sites.google.com/site/neontarioemploymentadvisory/
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Celebrating CSIs! This year marks our official 10 year
anniversary!
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LERN now offers MHFA training! For members/associate members
the only cost associated with this training is that of the manuals.
LERN sponsors the rest of the training. LERN can also offer MHFA to
non-members on a fee-for-service basis.
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Mental Health First Aid MHFA teaches participants to help
someone showing signs of a mental health problem or experiencing a
MH crisis. The course aims to teach people to: Identify when a
person may be a danger to themselves or to others and take steps to
preserve life Recognize the early signs of MH problems and provide
help to prevent more serious problems from developing Provide
comfort to someone with a MH problem and support them in the
recovery of their MH Guide a person towards the appropriate
professional help
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MHFA in Elliot Lake July 3-4 travelled to Elliot Lake to teach
MHFA Basic course This course was open to members of the Bee Hive
13 people completed the course! Comments on the evaluations were
all very positive, folks found the course materials, the
presentation and the course itself as beneficial for peer
supporters and some are planning to recommend this training for
other community organizations
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MHFA across the region Will offered MHFA in Sundridge to
employees of Employment North, regular fee is $225 per person, but
we are offering a 15% group discount Currently working with NISA to
schedule MHFA in Sudbury
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SPARK Training Taking a break near the Tall Ship from
Indonesia
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St. Johns NFLD Newfoundland and Labrador Dog monument
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SPARK Training Our Mentor: John Garcia, Associate Professor,
School of Public Health and Health Systems, university of Waterloo
We were one of two representing Peer Support Engaging Stakeholders
Getting Started with KT Design, implementation and Evaluation
Knowledge Translation Tools Our next steps: Complete planning
template and learning event summary
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ST. Johns NFLD Queens Battery, Signal Hill National Park
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St. Johns NFLD East end of the harbour
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News and Activities Across the Region Expansion of the WARM
Line Algoma MH&A Integration Regional recovery homes project
Peer support navigators in the NBRHC emergency department
Employment Advisory Committee, supported employment conference and
social enterprise CSIs providing source of peer support workers for
other organizations WRAP facilitator network NE LHIN Regional MH
& A Consultation Group Realignment plans for Cochrane Hub Area
and Temiskaming District
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On the Horizon Educational program in development to train
12-15 master trainers/facilitators of WRAP, MHFA, ASIST and more
Provincial and National partnerships in development to take the
TBGB to the northwest and across Canada! Marketing of the TBGB and
NOW resource guide to outside agencies to raise programming funds
Working with CAMH to develop and deliver an anti-stigma
presentation in hospital emergency departments and community
agencies Research projects: Peer-staffed Regional Recovery Homes
and Peer Support Workers in NE Ontario, Challenges and
Opportunities Chronic disease self management master training
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What our members have to say ...they do everything possible.
They give good tools, they're always there to debrief - they do
almost everything over the last year LERN has been wonderful at
working with us to make sure our needs have been met ...fantastic
all the way through. I'm impressed with their energy and
intelligence "LERN (NEON) has built a vibrant and proactive
presence in our region and is truly speaking into (and working
into) pressing issues."
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For more information and regular network updates visit us
online at: www.livedexperience.org You can also find us on
Facebook