Start recording the webinar. Welcome. Everyone I see. Additional people are.
Joining us my name is, um, I am going to be covering the virtual coach health matters program um, informational webinar on, um,
the program application that we're having for the start of February 2023. thousand and twenty three
We're here to answer your questions, and just kind of go over the application process and see if you have any questions or any comments. Um.
I am joined by benchmarks. She's the project Co, director of the health matters program. Both of us are located at the University of Illinois Chicago.
And then Jean, the jordan's has joined us as well. She's our virtual coach assistant, and she's located in Albuquerque, Beth and gene. Would you like to say a few words?
Sure jumping. Hello everyone Thank you for joining us. We're excited that you're interested in the health matters program and look forward to working with you all.
Gene, hi, everybody I am.
I live in Albuquerque and I've, I've done this program for many years with a large provider agency here in in Albuquerque and I.
I'm a virtual coach assistant, so, with any of you ever have any questions or challenges either with the content, or the activities that that are on the program.
Please send me a shoot me a, a question on on, do this last part do this last section of the curriculum you, you'll see each curriculum at the end will.
Have something that you can put comments or anything on that, and I'm here to help you out and whatever, whatever questions you might have and please,
I enjoy navigating and brainstorming.
Challenges or celebrations with you.
Thanks gene, and I'll explain jean's role a little bit as we get get through the presentation further. So what are the goals for today?
Um, describe and introduced the virtual coach health matters program and how to access application instructions in online application.
We're going to describe the components of the virtual coach identify who can participate, describe the application requirements.
Um, talk about the timeline and important dates and then answer any questions that you have feel free to put any of your questions in chat or question and answer box. And we'll get to them.
Um, so, where to find application instruction and instructions in Beth, you can, you can, uh, put everything in it the, the links in a chat box.
Um, for for the most part most of you have probably looked at our website and found the links. Um, we will share this, uh, this, um, uh, presentation as well and the recording so you can share it with others.
After today.
We also have an op online application link. Everything is essentially done through an online application.
That 1 thing to remember is the deadline is January 13rd and we after. We receive the present the applications. We start moving, rather quickly.
So, the decision and approval of of who's who has been accepted.
Um, the approved organizations will be contacted by January 20th, and then we kind of get moving with, um, with the program shortly thereafter.
So, what is virtual coach health matters program?
Um, we are evidence based administration and community living, approved, health promotion program designed, specifically for and by people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, there are 3 components to the program.
It is a free program for 12 months, and we're funded by the Centers for Disease Control and prevention.
Um, the actual program, um, goes for 12 weeks with additional um, you can extend it by, uh, 2022 additional lessons. additional lessons
Since we started training and doing community, um, sort of, community, health, promotion implementation in 2008.
We have reached over 12,000 people with intellectual disability. We have certified almost 3000 instructors in over 300 community, based organizations, 42 States and 9 countries.
1 of the country, Sweden has actually translated our curriculum into Swedish language and was able to, um, offer it to their population.
Um, Additionally, um, the program is being or the curriculum is being translated into Portuguese and Dutch.
Um, when we added, we added the virtual coach components to the 12 week health matters program during covid pandemic. And and that was in the beginning.
Um, we, we, in in April 2020, we were able to transfer. able to transfer
36 lessons of the curriculum into virtual environment and, um, we piloted over the summer and then we're able to, um, officially start doing the trainings in that November of 2020.
so, since November 2020, we have reached over 2000 people with intellectual disabilities that have gone through the program. We've worked with 113 community based organizations, trained over 300 staff members in.
and thirteen community based organizations trained over three hundred staff members in
2 States and, uh, 3 countries so it's been pretty, um, accelerated process, um, with, uh, with, uh, the move to the virtual environment.
So, what will you get with the virtual coach? Health matters program?
You will receive a training for staff or caregivers it's a 3 hour webinar training for support staff.
And that becomes your, um, the health matters program team we do require, at least 2 to 3 staff per organization to go through the program. So, you can build that capacity.
So, if something happens in 1 staff, either gets reassigned, or they're no longer with the.
Organization you still have a couple of other staff members who can carry on the program until we're able to offer the training again for you.
And you would learn how to do the following access online virtual coach, health matters program and we use Google classroom for that use the paper help matters curriculum, develop a program plan for your virtual coach.
Program and obtain strategies and resources to improve health behaviors and health status of people with intellectual disability.
Um, you will receive a certificate of completion, um, after you complete your 3 hour webinar training.
Complete your program plan and teach lesson 1. um, and that counts as additional 3 hours.
So, it works so 6, total hours and for those of you who need continuing education credits units, we do offer those. And the, the list is in the bottom of the of the power of this slide.
Um, there is a cost of 15 dollars to receive these.
Paper curriculum, you will receive, um, since we are grand funded, we are able to usually give you enough copies. So each staff person can have their own copy.
So you will receive a free copy of the paper curriculum curriculum, which mirrors Google classroom. So the paper curriculum has exactly the same information as the Google classroom, but the Google classroom has.
Additional infographics videos, um, sort of exercise, video suggestions and those things that,
that we do not necessarily have ability to have in the app static, um, paper copy of the curriculum.
Um, the curriculum contains 36 interactive lessons +23 additional lifelong learning lessons. So you, uh, essentially can teach 15, 9 classes.
36 is for the the 1st, 12 weeks, and then you can extend it expand your your program.
And the goals of these lessons are to, for individuals with intellectual disability, to understand attitudes towards health exercise and nutrition.
It is focused on general, health, promotion, exercise, physical activity and nutrition, identify, current behaviors, develop clear exercise and nutrition goals, and stick to them gain skills.
And knowledge about exercising and eating nutritious foods and then the social supports.
Support each other during and after class, the program is a group based so it it does touch upon that social support within the group.
And then, but if you can, you can click, um, you can use the link to view table of contents, but if you can put it up there, that would be great. Thanks in the chat.
Um, as I've mentioned, you will also have an access to Google classroom on, um, and this is an online classroom that has materials it is a single access point to 36 lessons, resources and support,
which allows for for an interact. interact
Communication feedback and collaborative learning. So this is where gene really comes in gene for the most part, monitors the classroom.
So if there are any questions or comments, she she does tend to any of your questions and comments and post some additional resources. I also do some of the, um.
Um, resource sharing as well on the Google classroom stream. Um, each lesson contains a couple of different sections. There's activities 1 or 2 activities, which are health education activities.
And then there's a, let's move section that has an exercise video.
Um, that's suggested and then, uh, do this last section, which is an evaluation section where, um, staff leads and participants with disabilities can give us feedback.
How would they, if they like the lesson or not? Or if they have any questions, they would put them in that section and we, we are able to then contact you or.
Or post.
Answers and different resources, um, the 12 week program is recommended to be run 3 times per week.
So each session is about 60 to 90 minutes, it depends on, you know, the topic that you're teaching, and also on your group, if you need additional supports in the group,
things may be a little bit slower. Um, so you need more time.
In the total for the 12 week program is 4 to 6 hours per week total so for, um, just for sort of your scheduling and planning purposes.
So now sometimes people tell me well, we're not able to, um, run the program 3 times per week. So, can we go down to 2 times and then extend the program? And our answer is yes, you can do that.
However, we can't guarantee that you will.
The same results in that fitness or physical activity components, um, as we did in, in our 12 week program with having, uh, participants. Um.
Do the program for 3 times per week and exercise 3 times per week. So there's kind of, um.
Um, a little bit of give give or take, and also, if you have programming that you already have, um, that you're already, um.
Is scheduled for example, sometimes, organizations already have, um, some exercise classes. You can fold in the health matters curriculum in health matters program into those exercise classes.
So you're just enriching it by providing some health education as well. So, there's, we really are trying to be flexible and meet you where you where you're at and kind of be able to accommodate the needs of, um.
Participants with disabilities and how you do the programming within your organization.
And then, as I've mentioned, the virtual coach assistant is Jean.
You like like I said, we monitor the classroom daily so we're, we're just an email or or like, a little post away.
And then I've mentioned previously, the health matters virtual coach, Google classroom mirrors the paper copy of the curriculum.
So, who can participate? Um, we are looking for a 10.
Organizations that may participate in this, um, um, this round these are these include, but are not limited to the following.
So, community based organizations that include schools and recreational centers, who provide services to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities. Um, so they residential programs.
Those are our kind of standard, uh, participating organizations also project, search, insights and school to work.
Transition sites we worked with many project search sites, managed care organizations, special Olympics, et cetera.
Um, age participants with intellectual disability, um, the 12 week program was tested with adults.
But the program has been used in schools, not formally tested, but many many states have used it in schools. So, um, with that said, we recommend the program that program can be taught.
From middle school and up, and then considerations in order to, um, participate couple of things.
Um, there is a brief online application so we need you to complete that. We need you to obtain support from your executive director to ensure buy in and pro program continuity.
Um, that way, there is sort of everyone is getting the memo about the new program. You have to identify.
A team coordinator, a team coordinator is a person that, um, I will be communicating with, um, and then a team coordinator is in charge of communicating the rest of the things to, um, the rest of the team.
We do want 1 application per organization. You may have multiple sites and teams.
Sometimes you may even have multiple team coordinator coordinators and that's fine but we just want 1 application per organization and that kind of ensures, uh, again that you are, you are kind of.
Uh, working together and organizing things together within your organization.
And then, um, think about participants with intellectual disability, and who can participate. So who would be your participants?
Like I said, we do do this program as a, in a group, um, it has been done, especially when a virtual environment it has been done on an individual level with, for example,
um, homes, um, homes, staff, support the individuals with disabilities to get.
1 line, um.
Would you recommend.
For just usually 6 to 84 to 8 participants per group at a time.
You may run multiple groups at a time.
If you have staffing and obviously technology capacities, so you can have multiple groups, and then think about, um, enrolling and consenting participants with disabilities, you would follow your organizational policy.
And I get into these details more when we do the training. So this is something down the line.
And then would staff capacity, we want you to build a team of of at least 2 to 3 staff members.
And then devote 6 to 10 hours for initial planning and training and this includes an application development, and then be able to devote 4 to 6 hours per week for 12 at least 12 weeks to deliver the program.
And in these 4 to 6 hours, this includes some preparation time on staff. Um.
Uh, there's a question, if we want to participate, but are unable to meet the 12 week, our recommendations, or extend the program with our current class, would we still be able to participate?
So I would need a little bit more information of what you had in mind. Um, to be able to answer that, um.
The next technology capacity, so, for the most part, um, many organizations since covid.
Yeah, thanks, Michelle. Yes, please contact me directly. And we can, we can talk offline, um, computers, tablets, iPad for each team or site that will participate.
Access to the Internet ability to view Google classroom and YouTube.
And then you would need to set up a Gmail email account. Um, each team will need to set up a Gmail account. For example, if you have multiple houses, um, we want you to have Gmail, account per house.
So, it depends on how you, if you have, like, multiple sites or teams, um, we want them separate and then to protect privacy.
Um, we do not accept the use of, um, personal Gmail accounts because this Gmail account allows, you.
To enter the Google classroom, and then that account is shared with the rest of your staff team, uh, to be able to access the, um, um, the classroom.
And then supply space and equipment capacity, um, just thinking about what space do you have for exercise? We do, we do recommend, um, exercise videos.
And for the most part, you don't need, um, very sophisticated equipment for that. Sometimes we say, you need a chair or even some lightweight, but those lightweights could be jars or cans of food or water bottles.
So you don't need anything. Um, you don't need to.
Purchase anything, um, and then, um, just thinking about exercise equipment if you have some exercise band or anything, you could use it, but it's not necessary to participate in the program.
And 1 thing thing that would be helpful is to have a printer to either print the handouts. Um, sometimes.
Sometimes teams decide to print handouts for participants with disabilities.
And this is this is, um, kind of more.
Physical and tangible for participants, and they want them in a in a little 3 ring binder or, um, if you don't have that capacity, all activities are online. So that's not a problem.
You can do everything online.
And then 1 thing to print out is the, uh, certificate of achievement ones, participants, complete there. Um, 12 weeks.
Um, progress reporting for the most part, um, we don't ask too much of you, we do ask you to report in a number of participants with disabilities that are participating, and or have completed the 12 week program.
Other than that, we, we don't, it's not a research study so we, we do not collect any data on anything else.
Um, we do hold health matters heroes meetings and these are, um, monthly meetings. Um, we usually do about 2 or 3 when once we train participants, train in.
So we can make sure that everyone is kind of, um, getting on the right track. Um, and and, um, as needed, we may continue, um, MA monthly, but usually we just do it for the 1st, 3 months.
Um, of of the program, these are optional, so anyone is invited. So, um, staff and participants with disabilities are more than welcome to attend the meetings.
And really the goal is to build community and brainstorm together.
Um, we also would love to, um, uh, do feature a program or or a participant, for example, or even a staff member. Um, and we.
Call it hero focus so it's a nice way to share a success story or share a story of your organization with the rest of the community.
And then, lastly, um, timelines and important dates. Um, like I said, this, this PowerPoint.
Will be available, um, after today, so you don't have to write these down. These are also on our website and in our in the PDFs. Um, so, um, you don't have to write anything down.
Um, January 13rd is the application deadline. You will hear back from us by January 20th. th
Um, on January 27th, we want you to register by that date for the, for the training and this is a hard deadline.
Um, anyone who tries to register after the 27th will not be, and they will be postponed for the for the next 6 months months. Um, the reason why we have this hard deadline is because we have to mail out all the curriculum.
out all the curriculum
And we don't have a huge staff to do that. So, um, we, we have to make sure we, we cut it off, um, to allow ample time for the mail out to the curriculum.
So, you have them for the training dates and then, um, accepted organizations will be invited to, uh, a welcome webinar on February 7th. Um, all of this will be repeated again.
So, uh, you don't have to worry about it. The, the most important.
The thing is that the training dates, there's 2 options for the training dates, February 15th and the 16th and these are 3 hour live webinar trainings.
Um, we want to make sure you can attend 1 of these dates. We do not record these webinars so you will not be able to go back and listen to them.
And then the program, it runs free, um.
And I'm sorry, this was a typo from February 2023 to February 24. um, we are funded through September 2025.
so, if you choose to continue with it, you can the, the program will be open to you, um, through September of 2025 and then we will see what happens. of two thousand and twenty five and then we will see what happens
And then, um, in June of 2023, we reopen the applications because we have, um, additional trainings in September of 2023.
so, for example, if you've if you want to expand or add additional staff members, you can do that.
Um, and, um, and so we have the training every 6 months for to be able to train in additional staff members. be able to train in additional staff members
Um, again, when do you attend health matters virtual instructors certification? Um, the dates are here. Um.
And I always, I have to stress this, you have to have your Gmail account to register for the webinars. And this, this Gmail is for the entire team.
And then, um, we mail the, the paper copy of the health of the health matters curriculum to the team coordinator and then a team coordinator is responsible, um, to, um,
ensure that you have materials for the webinar training. Uh, presentation slides are also, we will give you access to the slides ahead of time and, um, you can print them out or you can have them.
However, you like to have your.
Notes, but all of the materials that you need for the training will be available before the training.
And then, like, I mentioned in the beginning, um, we really want to work with the organizations to make it work to fit the needs of each organization and your participants, or people with disabilities that you support. Um.
And, um, we will work with you to adapt health matters program to, um, to your site.
So different environment may need a different way to approach the program delivery and then really thinking about how can you enrich your existing programming with, with, with health matters program. Really?
Do not reinvent the wheel, but this is supposed to kind of build capacity of your health promotion within your organization for.
You there.
And then we also like to create the touch base points throughout the program, to make sure things are going well um, we like Gene has mentioned,
we do ask for feedback from staff and participants immediately following the lessons.
So, this really helps us, um, troubleshoot in real time and be able to get you the resources and answer the questions that.
You have and then be able to even go deeper into the topic.
All right, I am finished with my part of the presentation if you have any questions, or if you even want to unmute yourself, um, or you can raise your hand I can unmute you um,
if you have any questions, please let let me know.
Um, otherwise.
Um, I look forward to your applications, um, thank you so much. I see, Erin. I'm going to unmute too.
Erin, can you hear me? Okay? Yes, thank you. Okay. Um, if.
All of your staff is not able to attend the same training session.
Would it be probably not ideal, but possible to have the staff attend, you know, as long as they attend 1 or the other training sessions yes. It's not ideal, but it's it's fine. Yes. That's why we give you 2.
um.
2 dates to make sure that you can kind of. Especially now when.
Staffing is quite a bit of an issue. We, we, you can, you would have to stagger staff, so that's totally fine.
Any other questions, how adaptable are the exercise components for people who use a wheelchairs and walkers?
We do have a whole, um, in the in the, um, Google classroom. We have a exercise video library, and we have a whole slew of exercises that can be done in a seated position.
And then gene, and if it's not if he, if that's not enough gene, and I will seek out further, uh, resources to get you more, um, exercise, um,
sort of videos and, um, um.
Samples that's an excellent question, because we, we have received questions like that, and depending on the participant in the needs,
we have you and I will navigate possible equipment.
I try to keep things really simple and trying to accommodate and adapt.
You know, to the needs of the individual, and, as Yasmin said, we have put in a bunch of different ideas in the library because of responses,
questions like that. And thank you.
Any other questions.
All right we're gonna Jean Beth, and I are going to stick around for a few more minutes to see if there are any other questions feel free to sign off. Thank you so much for spending, um, this hour with us.
And, uh, we look forward to your applications, thank you.