Professional Learning Event Review
By Venice Elestrio and Dibyadyuti “Dee” Sarkar, Student Placements with the Social Prescribing Team at the Alliance for Healthier Communities
The 2025 Social Prescribing & Health Promotion Professional Learning Event (PLE) drew a full house of attendees to Richmond Hill. Thank you to all those who participated and contributed their valuable feedback on our efforts.
Here is a summary of the day.
Keynote Presentation: The Spark of Change: Health Promotion Driven by Data - Dr. Jennifer Rayner and Sara Bhatti
The day began with the keynote presentation by Alliance for Healthier Community’s very own Sara Bhatti and Dr. Jennifer Rayner. The two teamed up to discuss ongoing initiatives within the Alliance for Healthier Communities, updates around health promotion in the sector and to give an overview of changes taking place in Ontario’s health system. The presentation began with a reminder of the differences between primary care and primary health care: this being primary care is often an individualistic and clinical approach, whilst primary health care focuses on the social determinants of health and health equity, and includes health promotion and community development. They also discussed the differences between health equity and equality. These concepts served as the key points not only for the rest of this presentation, but for the rest of the day.
The following part of the presentation focused on the importance of data collection in order to demonstrate the impact of our sector's work on health promotion and community development. The ongoing health promotion evaluation project has thus far shown an increase in learning (how to manage chronic disease), self-confidence to manage one's chronic disease, community/sense of belonging and improvement in overall health, particularly mental health and pain for participants in health promotion programming. Sara also introduced the new and exciting tool for documenting and reporting on community initiatives which are health promotion programs focused on improving collective community health: Community Initiatives Data Entry Manual
Dr. Jennifer Rayner concluded the presentation by introducing the Neighborhood Health Home Model. Neighbourhood Health Homes entails the integration of primary care with social and community services, as well as increasing resource-sharing and collaboration. This model is being promoted to address accessibility challenges and reduce barriers that prevent individuals – especially the 2.3 million people without primary care – from receiving the care they need and being attached to comprehensive primary health care.
ACEs & Promoting Resilience Presentation - The Community Resilience Coalition of Guelph & Wellington - Caroline Folkman & Dr. Melanie Bluhm
“Think of something that made you happy this week.” This is how our second speakers, Caroline Folkman and Dr. Melanie Bluhm, began their presentation. If that ‘something’ was actually someone, our speakers have got you all figured out. The crucial piece of information they shared is that relationships are essential. This is especially true for children and youth, who were one of the main focuses of this keynote presentation.
ACEs, short for adverse childhood experiences, are exactly as they sound and can include abuse, neglect, substance abuse in the household. At a young and impressionable age, these experiences can significantly alter the structure of the brain, making it more sensitized to stress. Without the appropriate protective factors in place, ACEs lead to maladaptive behaviours in adulthood. According to Folkman and Dr. Bluhm, trauma-informed care is the key to caring for clients who have experienced ACEs or any sort of trauma. Trauma-informed care is about awareness and recognizing that behaviour is communication.
Dr. Bluhm shared a particularly touching story. She was working with a client who had a substance use disorder and had left rehab several times without completing it. Dr. Bluhm had almost accepted that her client would never change, but she took a chance and wrote a letter to the patient. The letter conveyed her belief in the patient and represented the trust she had in her patient’s ability to make healthy choices despite a difficult past. The next time Dr. Bluhm saw her, she learned that the patient had mustered up the strength and courage to last 5 more days in rehab than her previous attempt. The client shared that no one in her life, up to that point, had ever believed in her.
Apart from making every attendee in the room tear up, this simple and touching story showed us all the importance of relationships – not just the ones we have with our loved ones, but also those with our healthcare providers. Dr. Bluhm’s words reminded us to never underestimate the impact of our efforts, no matter how small. Treatment can only be successful when a patient trusts you; they can only trust you when they feel safe, and they can only feel safe when they feel heard. Developing trusting, collaborative, and trauma-informed relationships with our clients is the key to improving their health.
Experiential Activities - Social Prescribing On-Site
Line Dancing with Carolyn Jurek
With over 20 years of experience teaching line dancing, Carolyn Jurek was a no-brainer to lead our sweatiest experiential activity. Anybody walking past the line dancing breakout room could hear exactly how much joy and energy this activity contributed to the day. Jurek taught attendees deceptively simple steps effortlessly, but she did not forget to emphasize the benefits of line dancing as a part of your social prescription. Line dancing is not only good for the body, with its repetitive and energetic steps that increase your heart rate and get your sweat glands going, but as a group-based activity, it is also good for the mind and soul. There is nothing like seeing a group of your friends, family, or coworkers dance, laugh, and trip over their own feet to make you feel healthier and happier.
Laughter Yoga with Mandy McConkey
Laughter Yoga was a unique experience for the participants – it brought them together through something simple yet powerful. This unique exercise lifted moods and fostered great connections. Laughter yoga reduces stress and offers a way to heal and reconnect without medication or clinical treatments. It started with awkward laughs and uncomfortable giggles, but the instructor, Amanda, was able to foster a calm and safe environment for participants as they laughed throughout their exercise. It’s a gentle, uplifting approach that supports both emotional and physical health while building a stronger sense of community.
Nature Prescribing Mandala Making - Lauren Jeffrey and Kat Shand
The Nature Prescribing Mandala making activity had participants connecting with nature while staying indoors. Using moss, sticks, flowers, and more, Lauren and Kat beautifully connected nature and creativity. Participants created art using the tools around them. Participants were able to take into account the beauty of nature and incorporate it into their own personal art without limitations or barriers. Together, they shared this moment with one another, inspire one another, and create connections through creativity.
Conversation Tables - Share & Tell
Our conversation tables had a variety of topics, a wealth of knowledge and sharing of obstacles and solutions. Here is a quick highlight of a few of the stations.
- Opportunities & Challenges of Engaging Volunteers
Volunteers serve as an excellent way to satisfy the mandate for community involvement. It is important to have policies to support your volunteer program.
- Black Focused Social Prescribing
Black Focused Social Prescribing is about an intergenerational approach that celebrates the nuances of Black culture, and although this is not new, the widespread advocacy and funding certainly are, and we all need to be doing all we can to continue and sustain advocacy for Black Health.
- Sustainability & Funding, Advocating as a sector & as a centre
Funding is a common concern for all. It is time to look outside of traditional asks, explore alternative and unexpected sources of funding, and look into what makes your unique organization stand out as a more sustainable and worthy recipient for funding.
- Essential Medicines Program
GreenShield is serving the many Canadians without prescription coverage for essential medicines through simple referrals and application forms, resulting in high adherence and pharmaceutical equity.
The conversation tables were a true success. Every table was jam-packed with experts and community members ready to share their struggles and successes and help each other navigate a variety of unique concerns. Our only notes: more tables, more chairs, and more time!
Indigenous Cultural Safety - Journal Yourself a Prescription for Wellness - Dr. Lisa Boivin
To conclude the eventful day, the PLE ended with a presentation from Dr. Lisa Boivin, an Indigenous educator from the Deninu Kųę́ First Nation in Denendeh (Northwest Territories). Dr. Boivin presented on the importance of art making as a way to incorporate Indigenous ways of thinking and seeing. Attendees were provided with journal materials such as a notebook, scissors, glue, and plenty of nature-based and other creative images. With these tools in hand, attendees were urged to cut and paste the images provided to create a self-portrait. Dr. Boivin informed attendees of the Indigenous cultural teachings around the animals provided in the image packages – the fox, squirrel, and raccoon. Amongst these animals, attendees could choose whichever animal they most identified with and were encouraged to share their creations and thought processes after the presentation ended. Dr. Boivin shared stories and teachings from her personal and professional life to reinforce applications of Indigenous cultural safety and anti-oppression in health care. Overall, Boivin’s presentation was a beautiful way to end the day feeling more connected to our peers, ourselves, and the world around us.
In conclusion, the Alliance’s PLE was an astounding success. Attendees felt a sense of community, belonging, and fellowship. They were able to take a break from their work serving clients and engage with their colleagues in person! Once again, a big thank you to the PLE Organizing Committee and Alliance staff who coordinated and organized this beautiful event, as well as our presenters for eloquently engaging our clients throughout your presentations, and lastly, our experiential activity coordinators who allowed all of our clients/attendees to express themselves through so many different ways of art and movement. Everyone’s involvement is truly appreciated! And a special thank you to our supervisor, Natasha Beaudin!
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