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Strategies for Sustainability Sharon Johnson Oregon State University Extension Service

…“built to last”

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In southern Oregon, the chronic diseaseself-management program is built on…..

Collaboration OSU Extension Area Agency on

Aging United Way Local foundations Local hospitals and

clinics RSVP (Retired Senior

Volunteer Program)

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In southern Oregon, the program relies on…

A single coordinating ‘hub’

A talent pool of (fully

engaged) volunteers

A (developing) database for on-going program management

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In southern Oregon, the initial challenges were…

Lack of initial health provider investment (interest, money or time)

Making it ‘sexy’ enough

Appealing to the ‘right’ return on investment

The weight of of other priorities

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In southern Oregon, initial success is grounded on…

A large, visible population of older adults

The positive presence of ‘Powerful Tools of Caregiving’

Persistence, persistence, persistence

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In southern Oregon, sustaining success involves…

Continue to fuel the now-established momentum

Acquire additional investments

“Systematize” the approaches

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Future strategies for sustainability include…

Expand existing website; use it as the primary informational resource

Maximize use of the media (community cable TV; weekly newspaper columns)

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More sustainability strategies

Encourage participants and leaders to ‘leverage’ physician referrals

Involve libraries in promotion and information-giving

‘Regionalize’ the concept

Nurture volunteers (maximally)

Celebrate successes

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Sustainability Strategies in southern Oregon: An Overview

COPE Collaboration (commitment, careful planning)

Organization (operating practices clear)

Persistence (passion, pure stubbornness)

Evaluation (excessive attention to impact)

… “built to last”

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For additional information about southern Oregon chronic disease self management programs using Stanford University approaches….

Sharon Johnson Oregon State University

Extension Service

541-776-7371 x210 s.johnson@oregonstate.edu

Program website: http://www.callineb.com/chronicconditions.htm

John Irwin Community Informatics

Consulting 541-664-2456 jirwin@mind.net