Strengthening the Peer Support Program - 2008/2009

Key Objective: Peer supports will be available to 100% of Albertans living with SCI and their families.


The provincial peer support program is an initiative of CPA AB. The program is referred to as the “Odyssey Peer Program – Embrace the Journey”. Program delivery capacity has significantly increased this year with the allocation of resources which allow for two full time program coordinators – one based in Calgary and one based in Edmonton. In the past, program coordination was shared by the client service coordinators and thus the scope of the program activities and outcomes were more limited and based out of Calgary and Edmonton. This year with the support of the coordinators, elements of the Peer Program have expanded to the regional offices with positive impact on clients in those communities. The program aims to connect individuals with SCI, particularly those who are newly injured, with a network of their peers from whom they can obtain support and advice. CPA AB accomplishes this through a variety of activities that facilitate peer connections and peer mentorship, such as group events and the client video profiles on the web site. Twenty new videos were created this past year which profile client success stories in overcoming barriers to their goals for living and participating in the community. New clients were also matched with peer mentors based on requests for this opportunity. A future goal for the program is to include peer mentorship into every new client service plan proactively. Currently the majority of requests for mentorship come in as a result of a client or family member viewing one of the client videos. This past year, more than 20,000 visitors viewed client profiles on the CPA website. Feedback around the positive impact of the videos has been received from persons with SCI around the world.

Peer Program Activities:

Calgary

• Held 10 peer events between April 1, 2008 and March 31, 2009. There were a total of 262 participants.
• This year’s Peer Events included: Wills, Skin Care, Family Fun Day, Chili Cook-Off, Sailing, Christmas Dinner, Pot Luck & Movie Night, Disabled Film Festival, Wheelchair Fencing, and Disability Tax. Introduced Wheelchair Fencing. It was a success, with clients wanting to do more and even wanting to join the club. The fencing event will be repeated in the fall because of the positive feedback received from the group who attended.
• An evaluation of the peer program was conducted under the direction of two graduate students from the U of C during the winter academic semester. A comprehensive report was produced in March 2009 and the recommendations will guide program expansion in the future.
• CPA AB did not have a Calgary Peer Conference or Car Rally because of staff changes in the fall of 2008 but planning has taken place for a Car Rally on September 12, 2009 and a Peer Conference in the spring of 2010.
• An empowerment training pilot project – “Discovering the Power in Me” was hosted in Calgary in November with 20 participants. The workshop was hosted by CPA AB with facilitators from The Pacific Institute.
  

Edmonton

• Monthly Peer Events and Family support group meetings took place between April 2008 – March 2009.
• Held ten peer evenings, including one entitled “A Night of Love” with media coverage.
• The “Rockin’ Reunion” in September saw about 110 participants and was enjoyed by all. Attendance at the Family support evening has decreased, so it was moved from the CPA AB office to the Glenrose Rehabilitation Hospital, on the first Wednesday of the month to coincide with the Peer Learning Evening.
• A one-day Peer Conference in Edmonton is being planned for September 2009.
• A two day “Discovering the Power in Me” Workshop was hosted in Edmonton by CPA (AB) with 16 participants. Feedback was very positive. Client service coordinators will follow-up to support participants to practice their strategies for behavior change.
  

Regional

• Held the first Peer Conference in Grande Prairie (Sept. 2008) with a theme of CPA AB awareness. The conference provided members and community with information about CPA AB services, Alberta Regional Health Authority Services, and other municipal and local NGO services. The keynote address was a workshop on “Understanding the Trauma of SCI.”
• Peer conferences were planned for Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, and Red Deer (Spring 2009).
• Quarterly Aboriginal peer events are now being hosted in Edmonton and Calgary. This commenced in January 09. These events have attracted persons from outside the cities.
• A “Discovering the Power in Me” personal empowerment workshop for people with SCI, was planned for May 2009 in Grande Prairie. 

You can get involved:
If you are interested in becoming involved in the Peer Programs offered through the Canadian Paraplegic Association, please visit their website or call the Edmonton Office at 780-424-6312, or the Calgary office at 403-228-3001.  Check out the Odyssey Peer Program Videos here.