The St. James’ Post

VMIAC acknowledges the Victorian Government's announcement of an integrated Parkville Youth Mental Health and Wellbeing Service https://bit.ly/4aTLv9j.   Young people deserve quality, rights-based, and lived experience co-developed and lived experience-led care. This announcement ahead of the May 2024 budget reflects a financial investment to implement recommendations from the Royal Commission. VMIAC is concerned to ensure that consumer leadership and human rights are formally embedded in the governance and legal structures of this new service.   Given the significant financial investment in this service, VMIAC expects that budget announcements on 7 May 2024 will implement Recommendation 29 to establish Our Agency - a lived experience agency aimed at supporting lived experience leadership. The sector remains eager for this promise to be kept. #vmiac #LivedExperience #MentalHealthReform #LivedExperienceLeadership #ConsumerLeadership #FundOurAgency

Young people deserve services designed by them. If this is done well, it will be a service that has clearly embedded consumer leadership and human rights into its governance, design and operations. This is also a reminder of why Recommendation 29 is so crucial to mental health reforms. A small investment, Recommendation 29 would ensure many other parts of the system, such as this, have the benefit of organised lived experience innovation and leadership.

My article, "Inclusion of People With Disabilities in Community Health Needs Assessments in Florida, United States," has officially been published in Health Promotion Practice! I want to thank Tyler G. James, PhD, MCHES for his invaluable guidance and expertise throughout this research journey. https://lnkd.in/eeq68P58

We love to see the burgeoning recognition of arts and culture as essential to our well-being, a concept brilliantly explored by Christina Caron in last week's The New York Times article on "social prescriptions" (see link in the comments). The article presents compelling U.S.-based initiatives where cultural engagements are being prescribed and explored to improve holistic health outcomes: 1️⃣ Horizon Blue Cross Blue Shield of New Jersey is participating in a study examining whether an arts prescription program will improve patients’ quality of life and reduce health disparities. Further down the road, the company will find out whether the prescriptions can also save money by lessening patients’ reliance on the E.R. for ordinary health care needs. 2️⃣ In January, Stanford University and Rutgers University began prescribing arts and cultural activities to students as an expansion of the schools’ mental health services. 3️⃣ Federal Reserve Bank of New York’s community development teams bringing together experts over the course of the next year to discuss how social prescriptions can help improve well-being. We've always believed in the transformative impact of culture, and it's exciting to see these ideas gaining mainstream traction. We are committed to fostering this movement and will continue to explore these themes in our upcoming blog series. Stay tuned as well for some exciting announcements regarding new products and features designed to enhance your cultural experiences. Join us in redefining wellness and embracing the arts as a path to a healthier life. 🌎🎨🎭 #EmployeeWellness #EmployeeEngagement #SocialPrescription #ArtsInHealth #CulturalWellness #MentalHealth #WellnessThroughCulture

At a recent The Aspen Institute Ascend event, I was describing the work of Advancing Communities for Equity with a new connection, Kat Kaufmann of The Bridgespan Group. She is a passionate early childhood advocate who had wonderful questions about our work. The one that I continue to reflect on is this: "Who is community?" My answer at the time was that we combine quantitative data (census tracts, enrollment data, community surveys, eligibility information, and the like) with what we learn in conversation. Who are the individuals and organizations in the community who are trusted by children and families? Where do they turn for resources, help, and guidance? Sometimes this starts with one or two names. Our goal is that by the end of our work, we have weaved together connections between systems and trusted community partners, to enhance collaboration and build communication that leads to stronger families. At the same time as this mixer, I began a re-read of @bell hooks' "Belonging: A culture of place" and I know that my description of community is too narrow. Community is where families feel safe and cared for, rejuvenated and seen, supported and whole. Healed. The supports offered by systems are by their very nature bureaucratic in administration and delivery. Through community partnerships, systems can tap into what works for families. This will require widening the table, sharing resources, reconsidering how power is operating, and doing things differently than we have in existing systems. What might we accomplish if people were more connected to each other and to the resources intended to support them? That is the the work of Advancing Communities for Equity. I am excited to share more about our work on this page. Thanks for the follow.

Join us Monday afternoon 4:30pm in the Multicultural Student Services Center at URI for a virtual engagement with Migrant Justice, a New England based organization that brings together the farmworker community to discuss and analyze shared problems and to envision collective solutions. Through their ongoing investment in leadership development, members deepen their skills in community education and organizing for long-term systemic change. From this basis their members have defined community problems as a denial of rights and dignity and have prioritized building a movement to secure these fundamental human rights to 1) Dignified Work and Quality Housing; 2) Freedom of Movement and Access to Transportation; 3) Freedom from discrimination; 4) Access to Health Care.

Mission Statement: Bridging Gaps for Community Needs   We are dedicated to the pursuit of a more inclusive and empowered society. Our mission is to systematically identify gaps within institutions, companies, organizations, agencies, and government bodies. Our commitment is to bridge these gaps by offering comprehensive solutions that address the unique needs of each entity.   Central to our vision is the empowerment of our community members. We strive to provide the essential tools, skills, training, and education required to thrive in today's dynamic workforce and diverse economy. Our focus extends beyond traditional barriers, as we actively work to facilitate access to education and training opportunities. We recognize and address the challenges faced by individuals grappling with learning disabilities, mental health issues, and obstacles related to drug addiction.   Through collaborative efforts we aim to create a supportive environment where everyone has the opportunity to reach their full potential. By championing access to education, fostering skill development, and breaking down barriers, we aspire to contribute to a society where individuals can overcome challenges and actively participate in the flourishing landscape of our interconnected world.   Our mission is not just to identify gaps but to build bridges, empowering individuals, and institutions alike.

Do you all know what "civic health" is? RWJF's 2024 County Health Rankings is zeroing in on this: "Evidence shows that participating in our communities, whether through volunteering or joining neighborhood groups, strengthens our social connections and sense of belonging which in turn, benefits our physical and mental health" and highlighting the importance of public spaces that facilitate civic engagement and social cohesion. Yet another way that we can plan and design for community health! https://lnkd.in/gtvp7zDB

In the latest in our blog series reflecting on the learning from the Supported Living Improvement Coalition, Stefan Kallee, Senior Specialist for People with a learning disability and autistic people, looks at the first of four key factors that affect quality in supported living. Read the blog, and share your thoughts on our online participation platform. Citizen Lab: https://buff.ly/3HpZIO5

Millions of Americans experience Long COVID symptoms. The health effects include new, ongoing, and returning COVID-19 symptoms and more. For some people, these symptoms cause activity limitations. We are conducting focus groups to learn about the experiences of people living and working with Long COVID and disabilities. Join us for an hour-long focus group and get paid to help us find answers. Fill out this survey and we will be in touch - https://ow.ly/IUnY50QIIC3 #longcovid #disability #disabilities