Our free Chronic Disease Self-Management Program is a practical workshop for adults in Northwestern Ontario living with (or caring for someone with) a long-term health condition. In this supportive group, you’ll build a “toolbox” of skills to take charge of your health. You will learn to manage symptoms like pain and fatigue, stay active safely, make healthy choices about nutrition and medication, and work more effectively with your healthcare team, giving you the confidence to live a fuller, more active life.

The Diabetes Self-Management Program (DSMP) is a lay-led patient education program. This program is led by pairs of trained lay leaders to groups of ten to sixteen people once each week for 2 and ½ hours for six consecutive weeks. Courses are held in community locations such as recreation centres, community centres, schools and churches. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals living with diabetes themselves.

The “Getting the Most from your Healthcare Appointment” workshop was developed for the public by the South West Self-Management Program in 2013. This 1 – 1.5 hours, interactive workshop, focuses on what to do before, during and after an appointment and uses action planning to optimize people’s health. A variety of learning resources are used including information sharing, videos, tools and a resource manual that supports the individual with integrating the skills into their next appointment. This workshop prepares and empowers individuals to communicate more effectively with their health care provider. Ultimately, patients are the most important members of their healthcare team.

ABC Health Matters helps Canadians feel more confident when talking about their health and making health decisions with family, friends, and doctors. The program teaches adults how to speak up for their own health and their family’s health, and how to find and use health care services.

The Chronic Pain Self-Management Program is a lay-led patient education program. This program is led by pairs of trained lay leaders to groups of ten to sixteen people once each week for 2 and ½ hours for six consecutive weeks. Courses are held in community locations such as recreation centres, community centres, schools and churches. Workshops are facilitated by two trained leaders, one or both of whom are non-health professionals living with chronic pain or other chronic health conditions.

The Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Self-Management Program is designed for people who are living with and/or have been affected by cancer. The workshop gives participants the skills to coordinate all the things needed to manage their health, as well as to help them keep active in their lives and relationships. Participants learn new knowledge, acquire skills in using strategies and techniques and gain higher confidence and motivation to manage their health and feel more positive about their lives.

The workshop runs for 2 ½ hours once a week for six consecutive weeks; and is facilitated by two trained leaders who are cancer survivors or caretakers of cancer survivors. Each session is highly interactive, where mutual support and success build the participants’ confidence in their ability to manage their health and maintain active and fulfilling lives. Each participant in the workshop receives a copy of the companion book, Living a Healthy Life with Chronic Conditions.