CULTIVATING WELLNESS

Marcia WilsonFisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology - Ball State

Jane ElleryFisher Institute for Wellness and Gerontology - Ball State

Jeanne GillespieThe University of Southern Mississippi

Peggy MyersColumbus East High School, Columbus, Indiana

SALUTOGENESIS…A FRAMEWORK FOR SERVICE-LEARNING AND A SOCIAL SUSTAINABILITY TOOL

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Wellness

An integrated method of functioning which is oriented toward maximizing the potential of which the individual is capable, within the environment where he is functioning

Halbert Dunn, 1977

Supporting opportunities to impact the diverse, multi-dimensional processes important in preserving and protecting health and well-being by encouraging Complete Thinking, Balanced Valuing, and Flexibility (Passionate) Intervening

Wellness Management

Helping individuals maximize their potential and thrive in (and often in spite of) their current environment

-Jane Ellery interpretation, 2009

AntonovskySense of CoherenceGeneralized Resistance Resources

Salutogenesis

Salutogenesis

Pathogenesis – the origins of disease Salutogenesis - the origins of health Sense of Coherence (Antonovsky):

Your world is understandable: Stimuli from internal and external sources is perceived as structured and predictable. (Comprehensible)

Your world is manageable: Resources exist to meet demands posed by stimuli (Manageability)

Your world has meaning: Demands are challenges worth spending energy/effort on (Meaningfulness)

Health ease/dis-ease continuum

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GRR-RDs Generalized Resistance resources – resistance deficits

Generalized Resistance Resources: Properties of a person, a collective or a

situation that facilitate successful coping with the inherent stressors of human existence.

GRRs foster repeated life experiences which helped one see the world as 'making sense', cognitively, instrumentally and emotionally.

Wealth, ego strength, cultural stability, environment, support structures, etc.

Moving toward the positive end of the continuum – resource… the negative end – deficit

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Questions to consider…

What makes us strong? What experiences make us more

resilient? What opens us to more fully experience

life? What in organizations makes us grow? How can we give meaning to life? How can we support the development of

GRRs?

BOTH/ANDAugment and enhance not change

Encourage programming for the program’s sake

Provide support/guidance to help individuals successfully accomplish what THEY want to do… rather than what WE think they should change

Work WITH the community… not for, in or on the community! A true, trusted partnership

So what does this mean?

MARCIA WILSON

JEANNE GILLESPIE

PEGGY MYERS

A FACULTY PERSPECTIVEThe Ball State Experience: From Potential to Reality

What this Professor Values… Public Health – Consumer focused Professional interests include:

Developing partnerships to enhance consumer-friendly approaches to wellness initiatives and research practices

Integrating salutogenic interventions with more traditionally recognized health enhancement efforts

Encouraging students to experiment with different ways to use emerging media to enhance well-being

Minor in Workplace Wellness Undergraduate Community Gardening as a Workplace

Wellness intervention (Civic Engagement Class Opportunity)

Interdisciplinary (College of Applied Science and Technology)

3 “Core” Classes (Introduction, Planning, Administration)

2 “Civic Engagement” Classes 2 Related/Directed Electives 1 “Senior Seminar”

Education Redefined

Immersive learning (different than service-learning) at Ball State have most or all of the following characteristics: carry academic credit engage participants in an active learning process that is

student-driven but guided by a faculty mentor produce a tangible outcome or product, such as a

business plan, policy recommendation, book, play, or DVD

involve at least one team of students, often working on a project that is interdisciplinary in nature

include community partners and create an impact on the larger community as well as on the student participants

focus on student learning outcomes help students define a career path or make connections

to a profession or industry

Defining Terms…

Service Learning, Civic Engagement/Engagement, Experiential Education, (BSU) “Immersive Learning” and “Building Better Communities,” “Health Fellows,” Others… How are these terms the same?

Different? What are the expected activities and

outcomes? Who drives the partnership

development? Who is responsible for sustaining the

partnerships? What do the students think? How are faculty recognized/rewarded for

their time?