Program Overview

1
Welcome!

• Program Overview

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The Design Team

• Marg Taylor, Program Director, YWCA Hamilton
• Vicki Edwards, Public Health Nutritionist, Public
  Health and Community Services
• Marni McFadden, Dietitian, North Hamilton
  Community Health Centre
• Maria Carreiro, Public Health Nurse, Public
  Health and Community Services
• Marilyn Kennedy, Public Health Nurse, Public
  Health and Community Services

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Agenda 1100 am 1230 pm

• Background information
• Overview of the CPAA position
• Overview of the training program
• Application process
• Certification process
• First 18 months of CPAA program activity
• Lesson learned
• Questions

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Topic Objectives

• By the end of this session you will understand
• The purpose of the program.
• The role played by CPAAs and how it contributes
  to the overall program mission.
• How CPAAs are trained, certified, and what they
  do.
• What CPAAs are not responsible for doing.
• How the program is administered.
• The successes and lessons learned to date.

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CPAA Program Introduction

• First of its kind in the region.
• Spearheaded by the Women and Families Work Group
  of Healthy Living Hamilton (formerly Heart Health
  Hamilton Wentworth). (www.doitwell.com)
• Includes representation from a variety of
  organizations.

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Program Rationale

• Community interest and media attention.
• Increased awareness of the health risks of
  sedentary living.
• Lack of consistent messaging regarding the amount
  and type of activity required for health.
• Lack of understanding of the difference between
  health benefits and fitness-related health
  benefits of various types/intensities of
  activity.

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CPAA Program Mission

• Encourage Hamiltonians to make healthier active
  lifestyle choices by providing accurate and
  consistent education about physical activity and
  its benefits using a trained volunteer base. This
  will be accomplished through forums such as
  community presentations, workshops, exhibits, and
  energizers.

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CPAA Program is Committed to

• Providing excellence in its training and
  certification program for its volunteers
• Being a high quality program
• Providing accurate, reliable and current
  information
• Meeting community needs
• Working in partnerships
• Developing and involving volunteers
• Developing the leadership skills of individuals
  and groups.

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Volunteer Peer Education

• Peer educators can be effective than
  professionals because
• Their familiarity with life situations can make
  them empathetic and understanding of the needs of
  a particular target group.
• They can be a powerful role model for behaviour
  change.
• They understand their community and often know
  what strategies will be most effective.
• They have a broad outreach, which means more
  people can benefit from the services they offer.

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Who? CPAA Qualifications

• An interest and an ability to learn and share
  information about physical activity and its
  benefits.
• Physically active on a regular basis a good
  role model.
• Basic knowledge about maintaining a healthy and
  active lifestyle.
• An ability to assist individuals and groups
  learn.
• Time to participate in the program.
• Ability to read and speak English. Speaking a
  second language is an asset.
• Experience in community work, leadership, or as a
  volunteer is an asset.
• CPR/First Aid training is an asset.

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Who? - Position Commitments

• Becoming a certified Community Physical Activity
  Advisor by attending an initial 10 week, 20 hour
  training program and successfully completing its
  written and practical testing components.
• Attending CPAA group meetings.
• Completing periodic refresher training and
  testing.
• Facilitating two volunteer placements per year.

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What? Position Placements

• Deliver Presentations/Workshops
• Deliver Energizers
• Attend Exhibits at Various Health Events/Fairs

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Physical Activity Generalists

• CPAAs are physical activity generalists not
  personal trainers or specialists.
• CPAAs provide general recommendations to the
  public based largely on the recommendations in
  Canadas Physical Activity Guide to Healthy
  Active Living.

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When? Timing of Placements

• Based on personal availability and requests
  received from the community.
• Take part in a minimum of two placements over one
  year term.
• A central resource person accepts requests and
  circulates to the CPAAs.

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Where? Location of Placements

• Placements will occur in a variety of settings
  within the City of Hamilton, including
• workplaces,
• conferences,
• meetings,
• group homes and
• health events/ fairs.

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Audiences

• Will vary from setting to setting.
• In general, CPAAs present to adults who are not
  currently living active lifestyles.
• This may include groups that are in need such as
  some immigrants and refugees.

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How? Available Resources

• A central resource person responsible for
  receiving and assigning consumer requests to
  specific CPAAs.
• Various information resources, including Canadas
  Physical Activity Guide to Healthy Active Living,
  and the CPAA Handbook (with associated
  instructional material and templates).
• Tools and materials needed to facilitate
  presentations (e.g. handouts, exhibits).
• The Women and Families Work Group of Healthy
  Living Hamilton.

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Why? Key Results

• The CPAA helps to achieve the overall goals of
  the program by
• Increasing awareness of physical activity and its
  benefits amongst consumers.
• Increasing awareness and access to physical
  activity information resources.
• Increasing awareness of Healthy Living Hamilton
  and its activities.
• Producing informative and enjoyable sessions.
• Encouraging consumers to be more active.
• Helping to increase the number of people
  volunteering to be CPAAs.

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CPAA Certification

• 50 Orientation Program Participation/ Home
  Assignment Completion
• 30 Tests for Part I and Part II of the
  Training (where 80 is a passing grade)
• 20 Practice Placement (to take place following
  orientation)

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Volunteer Agreement

• Once certified, each CPAA must sign a volunteer
  agreement.
• This signifies formal recognition of the position
  parameters and commitments.
• A copy is included in the CPAA Handbook.

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Training Program Details

• Twenty hours spread over ten sessions.
• 2 hour sessions with a 15-minute break.
• Pilot project March June 2004.

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CPAA Program Mission

• Provide participants in the Community Physical
  Activity Advisor Program with the information,
  skills and tools they will need to effectively
  carry out their placements in the community.

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Program Agenda

• An Introduction to the Program
• Exploring Active Living
• Canadas Physical Activity Guide to Healthy
  Active Living
• Transtheoretical Model of Change
• Adult Learning Principles
• Preparing Effective Presentations
• Preparing Effective Workshops
• Preparing an Energizer
• Understanding Exhibits and Transitioning to the
  Community

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Training Format

• A variety of training methods were utilized
  throughout the course, including
• lecture,
• large and small group work,
• group discussion,
• brainstorming,
• games and
• case studies.

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Application Package

• CPAA position description
• Application form
• Volunteer agreement

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Application Process

• Complete Application Form (use space provided)
  with
• Current resume
• Signed CPAA Volunteer Agreement
• Submitted by March 1, 2004

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Selection

• Review team screened applications.
• Interviews scheduled week of March 10
• Reference checks completed by March 14.
• Successful candidates notified by March 14.
• Training program started Mar. 31.

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June 2004 - present

• 14 CPAAs completed the training program.
• 2 examination re-writes were required both
  successful used one-on-one coaching.
• 3 CPAAs have withdrawn
• 1 displeased with pace of initiative (too slow)
• 2 for person reasons

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June 2004 - present

• Of 11 current CPAAs
• 1 on temporary leave due to new child in the
  family
• 1 has not completed any placements
• 1 has completed only 1 placement
• 8 have completed 24 placements
• 84 placement hours completed
• 1500 ( 3500) contacts

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Evaluation

• Evaluation of immediate reactions only, and not
  lifestyle change.
• Utilize evaluation sheets for workshops and
  presentations, and energizers.
• Feedback has been extremely positive.
• More difficult to evaluate involvement at health
  fairs.

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Administration

• YWCA Hamilton
• Central administration for requests/information.
• Storage and distribution of related resources.
• Coordination and hosting of CPAA meetings.
• Coordination volunteer recognition.
• Legal entity for volunteer program.
• 2 year commitment.

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Lessons Learned

• Recommendations
• Increase session length to 2.5 or 3 hours.
• Enhance practical elements.
• Enhance energizer component.
• Provide specific list of activities for
  energizers.
• Enhance early and ongoing promotion of CPAA
  service within the community.

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QUESTIONS???
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THANKS YOU!

• Marg Taylor
• Manager, Health, Fitness, Recreation
• YWCA Hamilton
• 75 MacNab St. S.
• Hamilton, ON L8P 3C1
• Tel [phone] ext. 103
• Fax [phone]
• Email mtaylor_at_ywcahamilton.org