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?