Ideas, Welcome at the Rideau-Rockcliffe Community Resource Centre — November 4 2024 Session
Topic: Social Prescribing — A timely community-based social innovation
Date: Monday November 4th from 7:00PM-8:30PM (Doors open at 6:30PM)
Where: Room 124, Rideau Community Hub, 815 St. Laurent Blvd (Google Map)
What are Ideas, Welcome Sessions?
“Ideas, Welcome” sessions are dynamic, in-person gatherings that encourage spontaneous and open-ended dialogue about ideas contributing to community development and well-being. These sessions bring together individuals with diverse backgrounds, including domain knowledge, lived experiences, and genuine curiosity about the topics at hand. There are no formal agendas or speakers; instead, all participants are invited to share their unique perspectives and engage in meaningful dialogue with others. “Ideas, Welcome” cultivates new connections, fosters trust, and nurtures appreciation and respect for diverse viewpoints, ultimately strengthening social bonds and enriching the community as a whole.
Participants
Camila Pastran, Aline Abdulnour, John Verdon, Dominique Breton, Kunal Parikh, Beccy Murphy, Susana Guerrero, Bassem Elghawaby, Yahya Syed, Richa Agarwal, Vanessa Atampore, Chiara Del Gaudio, Luc Lalande
Topic Description
The Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing defines “social prescribing” as:
… a model that enables health care providers and social service professionals to connect individuals with non-clinical supports and community resources that address individual and community needs based on the social determinants of health.
Examples of social prescribing in practice include:
- referring seniors to age-sensitive exercise classes that promote physical and mental well-being;
- referring newcomers with limited or non-existent social supports to community organizations that provide valuable assistance in integrating newcomers in society;
- prescribing art activities for patients experiencing mental health issues or chronic pain.
- prescribing “Good Food Boxes” filled with fresh, locally-grown produce. This program aims to improve nutrition, support local farmers, and reduce food insecurity.
Further, social prescribing can lead to the development of both a community of care and caring communities where social bonds can be mended and revitalized. As Cormac Russell (a leading figure in the Asset-Based Community Development) movement recently posited in an article “We Don’t Have a Health Problem, We Have a Village Problem”, social prescribing must be understood in the larger context of the community-building process.
“Social prescribing is not just about redirecting people to non-medical resources, it is about creating a deeper web of social connection, a culture of care.” — Cormac Russell
Join us for a fascinating and informative discussion on the topic of social prescribing with people already engaged in this movement and those with a keen curiousity to discover its potential.
Selected Reading References and Sources
What is social prescribing? (accepted international definition)
Social Prescribing for Caregivers (Canadian Institute for Social Prescribing)
Editorial — Social prescribing in Canada: health promotion in action, 50 years after the Lalonde report (June 2024)
“Green Prescribing” How Time in Nature Supports Good Health and Wellbeing — South Georgian Bay Community Health Centre
Who can make a social prescription — the role of Link Workers (PDF)
Additional Links (Suggested by contributors and participants)
via Natasha Beaudin, Social Prescribing Project Lead at Alliance for Healthier Communities:
Social Prescribing Link Workers Work! (PDF)
(Free) Social Prescribing online course
5 videos that demonstrate social prescribing in 5 locations across Ontario (available in English and French):
Cultivating Connections: Social Prescribing in Ontario, TAIBU Community Health Centre (4 min 54 s)
Cultivating Connections: Social Prescribing in Ontario, Seaway Valley Community Health Centre (4 min 26 s)
Cultivating Connections: Social Prescribing in Ontario, Lakeshore Community Nurse Practitioner-led Clinic (4 min 20 s)
Cultivating Connections: Social Prescribing in Ontario, Centre de santé communautaire Hamilton/Niagara (4 min 2 s)
Cultivating Connections: Social Prescribing in Ontario, Regent Park Community Health Centre (3 min 53 s)
via Dominique Breton:
Canadian Alliance for Social Connection and Health
Book: “The Connection Cure” — The Prescriptive Power of Movement, Nature, Art, Service, and Belonging
via Beccy Murphy:
Therd Community App — Research and conceptual product design case study exploring how we can reduce loneliness by applying findings from social neuroscience to a digital product.
via Kunal Parikh:
Post on Linkedin “What could social prescribing learn from Eastern cultures …”
