ICYMI – October 2019 Event Highlights

Oct 30, 2019 - PAONE AGM and Social Prescribing: Models of Community Engagement

Spotlight on a partnership between the Art Gallery of Ontario (AGO) & South Riverdale Community Health Centre (SRCHC)

The PAONE membership gathered at Meridian Arts Centre for our annual general meeting (AGM) and professional development session on social prescribing.

After our AGM, which included a fond farewell to Katherine Semcesen (who is leaving the board after 9 years of service) and the approval of five new board members, we moved along to an engaging presentation and Q & A session. This session focused on the partnership between the AGO and the SRCHC to deliver a peer-based program founded in the principles of social prescription. Social prescribing is a broad term that looks at non-medical interventions to holistically address the social determinants of health.

Melissa Smith (AGO) and Surkhab Peerzada (SRCHC) presented on their collaboration to deliver a peer-led program.  This initiative includes guided gallery visits and art making workshops through facilitated access to the AGO.  In their program, peer leaders are selected based on their pre-existing connections to the SRCHC.

In their presentation, Melissa and Surkhab highlighted three essential elements of a successful partnership, which included:

1.    Co-design: The importance of institutions working with community members who share the lived experience of the participants. Co-Design ensures the experience meets their needs.

2.    Data tracking: The importance of thorough and robust data collection and tracking to support program development, impact, and/or reporting.

3.    Concrete referral to social goods: The ability to clearly articulate the benefits to the participants.

Attendees at the talk were provided with a wealth of information, leading to a multitude of questions.  Melissa and Surkhab ended with a call to action for the group: How can wellbeing exist at your site?

Here is a link to their powerpoint presentation.

Thanks again to Melissa and Surkhab for celebrating their successes and discussing their challenges so openly!