Rebecca Barnstapple invites researchers, healthcare professionals and dance therapists to reflect on the need to implement a social prescription model inspired by the Centre de santé Chigamik during a workshop-conference in Les Grands Ballets Canadiens' Atrium.
The practice of "social prescribing" is growing worldwide, and more and more research is exploring the benefits of this holistic approach to healthcare. Social prescribing brings together social and medical models of health and well-being, enabling providers to take into account various determinants of health via the trusted process of writing a prescription. Social prescribing connects people to non-clinical programs and services in their communities, enabling them to be co-creators of well-being. Cultural and artistic organizations and initiatives are natural partners in social prescribing, opening the door to demonstrating the impact of the arts on health.
This workshop will provide an in-depth look at the innovative work of Chigamik Community Health Center, which uses social prescribing to support client well-being and build strong partnerships with local organizations. Barnstaple will shed light on the powerful synergy between healthcare, community involvement and holistic wellness, and share strategies for strengthening community partnerships
Reservation required
Rebecca Barnstaple is Manager of Community Initiatives, Research and Innovation at CHIGAMIK Community Health Centre in Midland, Ontario. She holds a PhD from York University with a focus on the neurobiological impact of dance on health and illness, and is a postdoctoral fellow at IICSI (University of Guelph). As an expert in dance therapy, she offers programs related to Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's and chronic pain, and works on arts and health initiatives with organizations such as Dance for Health Nova Scotia, SingWell (Toronto Metropolitan University), and IMPROVment (Wake Forest University, North Carolina). She plays a leadership role with several professional organizations, including the International Association for Dance Medicine Science, the Dance and Movement Therapy Association of Canada, and the American Dance Therapy Association.
