Peers for Progress Newsletter Archive - September 28 2011 Newsletter Copy

Peers for Progress e-News

September 28, 2011

In early July, 2011, Peers for Progress attended and presented at the 1st Asia-Pacific Congress of Diabetes Education (APCDE) hosted by the Taiwanese Association of Diabetes Educators (TADE) in Taipei, Taiwan. In collaboration with TADE, Peers for Progress was able to meet with leaders and representatives of organizations actively sponsoring and/or managing peer support programs after the conference. In this issue, we would like to highlight key lessons learned and reflections, as well as share several presentations by the organizations visited with. [Read more]

Program Spotlight

Taiwanese Models for Peer Support

Building upon solid foundation of very impressive self-management programs focusing on patient empowerment and psychosocial approaches, Taiwan has various well-developed peer support group models. Notably, the Taiwanese government has taken a proactive role in encouraging this type of intervention for chronic disease prevention and management. This includes supporting groups with a strong linkage to primary care through public health centers, as well as sponsoring a network of peer support organizations for diabetes. This report shares what we have learned about Taiwanese models for peer support. [Read the report]

Program Resources

Peer Navigator Support for Military Families

A Mental Health America’s webinar by Dr. Robinson Beale and colleagues presents the behavioral health needs and challenges of serving military families and highlights the work of University of Medicine and Dentistry's Vet2Vet and Vets4Warriors programs as models for addressing the behavioral health needs of military families. [Download the slides] [Replay the Recording] For more webinar and presentations on peer support for mental health, please visit http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net

2011 World Bank Report on NCDs in China

This report was prepared in coordination with the Chinese Ministry of Health and the World Health Organization, based on assessments conducted by the World Bank in 2008-2010. It presents evidence on the economic and social consequences of explosive increases in NCDs and proposes a range of policies and strategies to confront and prevent them. On page 20, it also shares some positive findings on peer support and education in China. [Read the report]

Network Development

Peers for Progress China Network

It is with great pleasure that we announce the development of a China Network of Peers for Progress. It will focus on facilitating exchange among programs in China so that program leaders can learn from each other, share methods and evaluations, and, together, build models of peer support that can earn regular support and incorporation into the health care system. Dr. Zhong Xuefeng of the CDC in Anhui Province will be its China Coordinator. Working closely with her will be Muchieh “Maggy” Coufal, MA, M.P.H., from Peers for Progress in the U.S. In addition to diabetes, there are other areas that the China Network may explore, including extensions to cardiovascular disease prevention and management, depression and other mental health problems, as well as prevention objectives such as smoking cessation. For more information about this China Network, please contact us at peersforprogress@aafp.org.

Research Briefs

Online Peer Coaches for Bipolar Disorder

Simon et al. investigated whether adding a peer coach can increase participation in an online program to promote self-management of bipolar disorder. Half of the participants were offered online coaching by a trained peer supporter Participants receiving coaching were more likely to return to the program after registration (71% versus 44%, p=.005) and to continue using the program after three weeks (38% versus 9%, p<.001). (Journal of Psychiatry Services, June, 2011) [Full Abtract]

Pregnant South African Mothers to Receive Peer Mentors

The Philani Plus program led by Dr. Mary Jane Rotheram- Borus ( PI of a Peers for Progress Demonstration grantee project) will provide a mentor mother to mothers at risk (MAR) for alcohol, and/or nutritional problems in 24 neighborhoods and townships in Cape Town, South Africa. "Mentor Mothers" will be community health workers (CHWs) recruited from the township neighborhoods and trained to deliver four antenatal and four postnatal home visits that address HIV, alcohol, nutrition, depression, health care regimens for the family, caretaking and bonding, and securing government-provided child grants. (Society for Preventive Research, August 2011) [Full Abstract]

Benefits for Peer Supporters with Mental Illness

Moran et al. examined how working as a peer provider can enhance personal recovery. Face-to-face semi structured interviews were conducted with mental health peer providers that were battling mental illness themselves. Analysis revealed a wide range of recovery benefits for the peer providers including foundational, emotional, spiritual, social, and occupational wellness. Implications for peer training, job development, and workplace supports are discussed. (Qualitative Health Research, September 2011) [Full Abstract]

Peer Support Promotoras for Mexican Americans with Type 2 Diabetes

Philis-Tsimikas et al examined the impact of a peer-led diabetes program with 207 high risk Mexican Americans. Participants were randomly assigned to the Project Dulce peer intervention or continuation of standard diabetes care. Project Dulce consisted of 8 weekly 2 hour sessions led by trained promotoras with diabetes. The intervention participants showed improved glucose and metabolic control at the end of 4 months. (Diabetes Care, September 2011) [Full Abstract]

Integrating Community Health Workers into Primary Care Teams

Herman discusses the community health workers (CHWs) can take on a more integrated role as part of primary health care teams and identifying characteristics of effective CHWs, including strong ties to the community, having clear supervision within the health care system, having clearly defined roles and having a defined system for advancing their education system within the health care system.

(Journal of Ambulatory Care Management, Oct-Dec, 2011) [Full Abstract]

Age-based Comparisons for Women with Cancers Using Online Peer Support

Seckin assessed whether participation in cancer peer support groups impacted older and younger women differently. Online support participation was found to increase positive coping affect for both age groups, but was more pronounced among older women. Online peer support services may help improve the patients' outlook on fighting cancer and help them feel more in control of their health.

(Journal of Psychosocial Oncology, September, 2011) [Full Abstract]

Funding, Job & Abstract Opportunities

NIH Grants for Innovative Research on Chronic Disease Self management in Children

DEADLINE: October 5, 2011

The National Institutes of Health is seeking research that would improve quality of life and self management skills among children and adolescents with chronic diseases (however, chronic mental illnesses are beyond the scope of this grant). Special emphasis is placed on the family-community dynamic in promoting self care activities. Only citizens of the US are eligible to apply. [More info]

Comic Relief Grant for the Elderly

DEADLINE: October 7, 2011

Comic Relief of the UK is seeking proposals for activities that engage the older population (aged 65 and older) to encourage them to be more active within their communities. Proposals must demonstrate clear evidence that the older population will be actively engaged in the planning and implementation of the program by assuming roles such as peer supporters or mentors. [More info]

NIH Pioneer Award Program for Innovative Behavioral Research

DEADLINE: October 7, 2011

The NIH is seeking US based behavioral scientists for the Director’s Pioneer Award Program. The goal of the program is to promote innovative research in biomedicine and behavioral science, with an emphasis on sustainability. Recipients of the grant must dedicate the majority of their time to their research (51%). [More info]

AHA’s Award for Hospital-based Patient Centered Innovations

DEADLINE: October 9, 2011

The American Hospital Association (AHA) award will honor a hospital that has demonstrated commitment to quality care, with an emphasis on patient-centered care and quality improvement. This would be a good opportunity for hospital based peer support programs to demonstrate their effectiveness in meeting quality improvement and continuity of care needs. The award is open to all U.S.-based hospitals. [More info]

Job Opening at Public Health - Seattle & King County

DEADLINE: October 10, 2011

A Peers for Progress network member, Public Health-Seattle & King County, is seeking a Community Health Worker Unit Manager. The position is responsible for the management of multiple federally funded research grants that develop and evaluate community health worker home visits providing self-management support to people with asthma or diabetes. The primary function of this position is to manage the daily operations of these projects in close coordination with the project Principal Investigator. Roles include assuring grant deliverables are met; monitoring project processes and outcomes; developing and maintaining project systems and infrastructure; providing development, coaching, and mentoring to staff to assure quality program outcomes; acting as a liaison to community coalitions and partners; participating in data review and interpretation; assisting and supporting grant-writing efforts; and supporting policy and systems change to increase the use of community health workers and home visits. The Unit is located in the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Section. [More info]

For questions about the application process, please contact Reeshema Lewis at Reeshema.Lewis@kingcounty.gov or (206) 263-8413.

NIH Career Development Awards for Behavioral Scientists

DEADLINE: October 31, 2011

The National Institute of Health Institutional Research and Academic Career Development Awards (IRACDA) is seeking highly trained behavioral scientists to work on NIH funded projects in conjunction with biomedical scientists. [More info]

Call for Abstracts-The 5th Annual NIH Conference on Dissemination and Implementation

DEADLINE: November 10, 2011

The 5th Annual NIH Conference on Dissemination and Implementation is calling for proposals. The Priority will be given to abstracts that address the overall conference theme, Research at the Crossroads, and that present high-quality data (quantitative/qualitative/mixed-methods) to support abstract conclusions. [More info]

Visit Peers for Progress Funding Opportunities for a complete listing of current funding & training opportunities