By MOSAIC LINC Team
We are thrilled to share an update on a valuable program recently introduced to our LINC learners at the Vancouver Language Centre. This initiative created a connection between Self-Management BC (SMBC) and the newcomer community in the LINC program.
SMBC, offered by the Institute of Aging & Lifelong Health at the University of Victoria, focuses on empowering individuals with chronic conditions and their caregivers by providing practical skills and support for self-management.
This collaboration was initiated by Shabnam Rohbani, one of our Instructional Developers in Vancouver. We invited Louise Rolland, Coordinator of Vancouver Coastal & Sunshine Coast Self-Management Programs, to deliver the Self-Management sessions at our Centre. Louise and Shabnam, who is an SMBC Volunteer Leader and Coach herself, collaborated to adapt the program content to make it accessible to our different LINC level learners, with a focus on the Chronic Conditions Self-Management Program. This program aims to equip individuals struggling with chronic conditions or caring for someone who does with the necessary tools and skills to effectively self-manage their conditions.
In alignment with the Health topic in our curriculum in 2023 and 2024, Louise and Shabnam delivered in-person and remote sessions to our LINC 4-7 classes in Vancouver. They have been revising and adapting the content to respond to learner needs. In their sessions, they introduced useful self-management tools, enabling our students to gain practical knowledge and valuable insights to apply in their day-to-day lives.
Our instructors, Danuta Pawlak, Jen Low, Carlos Verdugo, Meoni Poon, and Raymond Gee, played an essential role in introducing the topic and enhancing the learner experience by planning pre- and post-session activities. These efforts ensured that students could fully engage with the material, leading to meaningful personal reflections on their experiences with chronic conditions.
The impact of this initiative has been profound, with students expressing their appreciation and sharing personal connections to the topic. Annie, one of the participants, reflected on her family’s journey:
“Up until now, it looks like a long and tired journey of self-management for my family since my daughter underwent a intestine resection surgery when she was a baby. I always feel stressed and isolating. But your reminder of the importance of accepting that the problem may not be solvable now was a powerful idea and you let me know we are not alone in the journey. Making an action plan, maintaining a positive outlook and focusing on what we can control may be a healthy way to cope with the chronic condition problems.”
Similarly, Kate, another learner who took part, emphasized how the program provided crucial insights:
“Taking care of health is an integral part of everyone’s life, especially if they have chronic diseases. Your advice is actually quite simple, but for most people it is not at all obvious. These things work if you take them seriously and regularly.”
Beyond personal experiences, students also recognized the importance of communication skills when supporting loved ones with chronic conditions. Maiko shared:
“When my mother was fighting with cancer, I was struggling what to say and what should I do to her because I couldn’t understand her pain. One more thing I think important is gain knowledge to understand their symptoms and conditions someone who has problems. It was good to remind me of being more careful what I say and how to communicate with people.”
Learner engagement with this topic has been very high, and the feedback we received has been overwhelmingly positive. Natalia, another LINC student, noted:
“To gain knowledge, good skills and confidence sometimes can work better than medication. Thank you too to remember us how important is to make an action plan specific, realistic, achievable, measurable, relevant and scheduled. Also, I understood why it is necessary to break the Symptom Cycle, even if it’s not easy, we must be courageous to do it, because it is a big step to feel better.”
We extend our heartfelt thanks to Louise Rolland from the Institute of Aging & Lifelong Health at UVic for providing this exceptional opportunity to connect the newcomer community to this free program. Their dedication to addressing the needs of the community is truly commendable.
