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Eyes Wide Open…Learning More about Peer Support from Around the World
Last fall, over 50 participants from at least 20 countries came together in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia to understand and advance peer support for health. We formed a learning community of co-experts across various content (e.g., diabetes, cancer, HIV, maternal and child health, mental health) and contexts (e.g., rural populations, women, ethnic minorities), and discussed peer support interventions, their effects, dissemination, and sustainability. In this issue, we want to highlight the Meeting Report from Diabetes, Peer Support, and Global Programs: Looking Forward with Peers for Progress and Broader Research Partners, as well as feature an attendee’s organization, MoPo Tsyo Patient Information Centre in Cambodia, by looking into its innovations in terms of sustaining a program in a low-resource setting.
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Program Spotlights
Striving against the Challenges in Cambodia-The MoPo Tsyo’s Solution
How to maximize impact, and sustain and scale-up successful interventions while facing limited resources and various contextual constraints are key challenges for many peer support programs and especially now, more than ever, due to the recent economic downturn. The MoPo Tsyo’s Peer Educator Networks (PEN) in Cambodia show how innovations can provide new answers in the struggle to provide accessible and affordable care and support for people with diabetes in a low-resource setting. [Read more]
Stay tuned for the upcoming discussion in July from Maurits van Pelt, Director of the MoPo Tsyo Patient Information Centre, to share his insight to their challenges related to scaling-up, sustainability and institutionalization, and several important, opportunistic next steps to address them.
MoPoTsyo Video from 2010 PfP Global Conference
The OASIS Institute’s 2010 Annual Report
The OASIS Institute joined the Peers for Progress Network of Peer Support Organizations this Spring. It is a national education organization designed to enrich the lives of adults age 50 plus through programs in the arts, humanities, health, technology and volunteer service, and has monthly peer‐led discussion groups using trained volunteers to connect older adults to resources, information and social contacts that can help them better cope with life's transitions. Check out OASIS’ 2010 annual report to learn more about what they do and their impact. [Read the report][Visit OASIS website]
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Program Resources
Meeting Report from Diabetes, Peer Support, and Global Programs: Looking Forward with Peers for Progress and Broader Research Partners
This report highlights cross-cutting points and key themes that emerged from this Meeting, and frames them as considerations for strengthening peer support as a key part of health, health care, and prevention around the world. It is organized around four domains: (a) Program Development, (b) Evidence and Evaluation, (c) Sustainability and Institutionalization, and (d) Generalizeability and Advocacy. [Read more]
Seminar Video - Recruiting, Training and Evaluating Peer Supporters: The Peers for Progress Network
Drawing on the collective knowledge and experience of the Peers for Progress network, Peers for Progress grantees in Alabama, California and Michigan presented a seminar at the 2011 annual meeting of the Society of Behavioral Medicine on how to design, implement and evaluate effective peer support programs. The presentation is now available in a video/slide synced format. [Watch the video] [View the presentation slides only]
Photovoice
The Community Tool Box offers new materials for implementing Photovoice in your community- a great tool for documenting your community experiences with photos or videos and depicting the needs and niche of peer support in the community. These resources emphasize how and when to use Photovoice. [Read more]
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Research Briefs
Online support for mental health issues
Reynolds et al. discuss e-health resources for anxiety and depression offered by Australian providers and how online support could complement primary care by providing patients high quality information, symptom prevention, peer support and more. (Australian Family Physician, Jun 2011)[Full abstract]
Protocol for a RCT peer coaching intervention for low-income patients with diabetes
Ghorob et al. detail the study design of a Peers for Progress grantee project that aims to investigate the impact of peer coaches providing self management support and education to low-income patients with poorly controlled diabetes. (BMC Public Health, Apr 20110) [Full abstract] [Full article]
Peer health workers help tackle treatment fatigue in AIDS care in Uganda
Results from a mixed methods, clustered-randomized trial in Uganda support the use of peer health workers (PHWs) in providing adherence monitoring and support to fellow patients and find PHWs could help sustain ART. (AIDS Patient Care and STDs, Mar 2011)[Full abstract][Full article]
The Alzheimer's Australia Vic peer support model for those with dementia
An evaluation by Dow et al. found the Alzheimer's Australia Vic Memory Lane Café model - providing social and educational services and support to people living with dementia and their care givers & loved ones-helps improve the participants’ social & emotional well-being. (International Psychogeriatrics, Mar 2011) [Full abstract][Presentation slides]
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Funding, Training & Abstract Opportunities
Translational Research Project Grants
DEADLINE: July 1, 2011
Heart Research UK is seeking proposals for translational research in the field of chronic heart disease. Research can address issues ranging from prevention to rehabilitation. [More info]
NIH/PEPFAR’s Grants for Implementation Science Projects on AIDS
DEADLINE: July 7, 2011
The NIH, in collaboration with the Office of the Global AIDS Coordinator, is soliciting applications for support for implementation science projects that will inform the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief (PEPFAR) as they develop more efficient and cost-effective methods to deliver HIV prevention, treatment, and care on a large scale. Priority research areas offer opportunities for studying how peer support may change or sustain behaviors, as well as integration of primary care and peer support. [More info]
AHA’s Grants for Mid-Career Investigators
DEADLINE: July 8, 2011
These American Heart Association 5-year awards aim to support mid-career investigators committed to cardiovascular or cerebrovascular science. The focus of the proposals can also be on research related to multidisciplinary efforts (e.g., behavioral, community interventions) which offer opportunities for developing peer support interventions. [More info]
ADA’s Junior Faculty Awards
DEADLINE: July 15, 2011
The American Diabetes Association’s Junior Faculty Awards aim to support new investigators in conducting diabetes-related research. Awards are up to $120,000 per year for up to 3 years. [More info]
ADA’s Career Development Awards
DEADLINE: July 15, 2011
The American Diabetes Association's Career Development Awards are designed to assist outstanding Assistant Professor level faculty investigators in conducting diabetes-related research. Awards are $150,000 per year for up to five years. [More info]
National Science Foundation Research Grants
DEADLINE: July 15, 2011
The Social Psychology Program at the US National Science Foundation (NSF) is calling for research proposals focusing on human social behavior, with an emphasis on the role of culture and the life course perspective. Past research proposals have focused on issues such as group dynamics, social influence, and the physiological correlates of social behavior. Proposed research topics should be theoretically grounded with empirical backing. [More info]
Call for Abstract- Lay Health Promoters/Community Health Workers
DEADLINE: August 2, 2011
The journal Family & Community Health will produce an issue on lay health promoters/community health workers (CHW) also known as lay health workers, village health workers, promotoras, etc. The Issue Co-Editors are Elizabeth Reifsnider, Elnora (Nonie) P. Mendias, and Yolanda R. Davila, at the University of Texas Medical Branch School of Nursing in Galveston, Texas. [More info]
Electronic submission to nmendias@utmb.edu
and yrdavila@utmb.edu
Visit Peers for Progress Funding Opportunities for a complete listing of current funding & training opportunities
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Video from Kuala Lumpur Meetings
MoPoTsyo Patient Information Centre
Maurits van Pelt, MSc LLM Not "One-Size-Fits-All"... Generalizability of Peer Support Programs Across Cultural, Orgnaizational, National, and Setting Features
View the Presentation Slides | |
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