The Wyoming Center on Aging (WyCOA) at the University of Wyoming will offer a Healthy U Leadership training on the UW campus Tuesday-Friday, Sept. 16-19. Training will be 9 a.m.-4 p.m. each day.
Those interested in becoming leaders must register in advance for the facilitator training by emailing WyCOA at HealthyU@uwyo.edu or call (307) 766-2765. Healthy U is coordinated by WyCOA.
This is an opportunity for community members to become leaders for the Healthy U network and begin offering chronic disease self-management education in their communities. No prior experience or certification is needed to become a Healthy U leader.
All Healthy U workshops are fully funded and supported by WyCOA and its partners. For those attending a leader training, WyCOA will reimburse all travel, hotel and daily expenses. Training is entirely free of charge.
Healthy U is Wyoming’s version of the Chronic Disease Self-Management Program, a renowned, evidence-based health program that has helped over half a million participants nationwide to take charge of their health.
Chronic conditions include anything that affects someone on a day-to-day basis such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, depression, heart disease, chronic pain, anxiety, multiple sclerosis and fibromyalgia.
During Healthy U workshops, participants receive support from trained leaders and other workshop participants to learn practical ways to manage their pain and fatigue; learn about nutrition and exercise options; understand new treatment choices; and learn better ways to communicate about their conditions with doctors and family members.
The goal of the workshop is to help people better manage their health conditions and deal with the frustration, fatigue and pain that can accompany a chronic disease. Healthy U participants learn skills that help them play a more active and productive role in the management of their health.
Healthy U Leaders are those certified to organize and lead Healthy U workshops in their communities. Leaders work in pairs when delivering a workshop, and each receive a $500 stipend per workshop series that they deliver. Leaders must deliver one workshop series each year to remain certified and to continue to be a part of the Healthy U program. All Healthy U workshops are fully funded and supported by WyCOA.
Anyone who is interested in leading Healthy U workshops in Wyoming can become a leader. It requires no prior training or accreditation. Public health workers, senior center staff, local volunteers, patient educators, community leaders and wellness advocates all make great leaders.
To learn more about the programs offered by the UW Center on Aging, go to www.uwyo.edu/healthierwyo/.
