17 January 2012

Let the program begin...

Whew...tomorrow night is the kick-off event for Walking on Sunshine!! For those who don't know, Walking on Sunshine is a mentor walking program for women in transitional housing developed and planned by yours truly.  I'm thinking that last spring I blogged about the extensive needs assessment that my program partner, Kelly, and I conducted. The result was a mentor walking program to address self-esteem, depression and anxiety among transitionally housed women here in Missoula. After several months of planning, preparing, recruiting volunteer mentors, applying for funding, and coordinating, the program is actually a reality!

Tomorrow mentors and mentees will meet for the first time. A good time will be had by all...we will share dinner, mentors and mentees will decide on a day and time to meet each week during the 8 week program, and we will play a little "get-to-know-you" game! Then, next Monday, the program officially begins.  Mentors and mentees will meet at their arranged time and walk and talk. This program isn't meant to cure various mental health issues but rather help women take the initial steps in engaging in physical activity (this was something they  mentioned wanting in the needs assessment) and help them improve their self-efficacy toward forming and maintaining positive social relationships because the social relationships of homeless individuals are often eroded by homelessness itself or the factors leading to homelessness.

Unfortunately, Missoula is set to receive 10-12 inches of snow this week!! This is bad news for a new mentor walking program. Hopefully the excitement among the mentors and participants will continue despite the freezing cold weather conditions.  Time will tell...and whatever happens, I will be writing about it in a few short weeks!

Stay tuned for program progress and the nitty gritty details.