Centering Circuit
 
  Volume 9, Number 2                                                                                                                        October,  2008
               copyright© 2008                          Web site created/managed by Ron Rising, Rising Images
Centering Healthcare Institute, Inc.                 ron@risingimages.com   /   www.risingimages.com
                        
                                       For more information contact: info@centeringhealthcare.org                          
     The newsletter of The Centering Healthcare Institute
       (formerly Centering Pregnancy and Parenting Association, Inc.)
 
       For more information about Centering or CHI, contact: CHI, 558 Maple Ave., Cheshire, CT 06410
            (203) 271-3632     info@centeringhealthcare.org     Website:  www.centeringhealthcare.org
CHI National Conference   September 21-23, 2008 • Indianapolis IN
 The Power of Connection: Building Community through Group Care
 
 
     From the rhythm of Ashre's drums calling our circle on Sunday to Marie Manthey..s final reminder that we may never realize the full extent of our healing outreach, our 2nd National Conference reminded us again of our connection within the health care community. Over 200 participants convened in Indianapolis to share stories and ideas, to improve skills and clarify solutions, and to renew our commitment to improving health care through groups.
  
     Our opening keynote address by Michael Lu, MD, was a moving tribute to the power of a supportive community to ease the stresses (personified by 500-lb. sumo wrestlers!) that may otherwise cause long-term health difficulties. Lu ended by quoting our T-shirt, encouraging us to think "outside the box" and, we would add, "inside the circle".
 
 
Price Increase in
January 2009
Because of the rising cost of printing, we will be increasing the price of the Mom's and Family Notebooks. (Sorry... we   put it off as long as we
could.)
Starting in January 2009,
Mom..s and Family Notebooks will be $22.00. CHI Agency members will pay $20.00 per book.
     Exciting research results from CT/NY, KY, CA, and WA and an inspiring call to action from Kevin Grumbach, MD, started our first full day.  People ate lunch according to their home geography, a valuable networking opportunity.
 
     The second morning included a reminder from Henrie Treadwell, PhD, that our own experiences are simply that..our own..and that
others may have entirely different expectations based on their own personal history.  Representatives from 2007 Best Practice Site,
Clinica Family Health Services, explained how they have "gone to scale" with Centering and currently are running over 25 groups each of both Pregnancy and Parenting.
Sharon outfits Michael Lu with a CHI t-shirt
     Afternoon workshops on both days included topics of patient recruitment, other Centering care models, health policy, funding for group care, group activities, mindfulness, listening, and consortium-building.
The positive energy and excitement was contagious, and participants left feeling renewed. According to one medical student in attendance, ..This is deeply impacting my thinking about the type of doctor I want to be and quality of care I want to provide. These were interests I have always had, but how affirming to know what a
supportive and structured community exists.. truly inspiring...
 
New Product for Recruitment
  
We have a new Patient Recruitment DVD.
It's a 3 ˝ minute PowerPoint loop that
can be shown through a TV/DVD or
computer in a reception area or patient
intake group. Available in English
only, Spanish only, or bilingual format,
it has 40 different slides with photos of
various CenteringPregnancy® and
CenteringParenting® groups across the
country.

You can purchase the DVD separately
($20) or as part of the Patient
Recruitment Kit ($60) which also
contains 100 patient brochures, 20
buttons, and a poster.
To get more information on ordering this product, or other CHI products, to help promote your program go to the online
Order Page.
 
 
Fall 2008 Board Report by Karen McGee, CNM MSN, Board Chair

     What is Centering Healthcare Institute doing about the US Infant Mortality Rate and the High
Prematurity Rate? How are we changing the paradigm of health care to improve health for all
individuals?

     The speakers at the 2nd National CHI Conference spoke about how we are making a difference in
health through education and support of the Centering model of care. Experts reported qualitative and
quantitative Centering research and recommendations for further study. Best Centering Practices were recognized. Practical ways to sustain the Centering group model in health systems were presented. From cortisol to mindfulness practices, from circles of care to circles for providers and from pregnancy care to expanding the model to the lifecycle, Centering Healthcare Institute is the emerging model of health care reform.

     Board members were present and actively engaged in the conference in presentations,
conversations and sponsoring the Contra Dancing event. When you dance together, you laugh, and
connections are made.

The board will welcome 2 new members at our fall meeting in Cheshire, CT on October 31 and
November 1, 2008. Amanda Skinner, CNM and health care consultant for Chartis and Charlie Klippel,
Esq. and Sr. Vice President for Aetna will extend our board to 9 members. Our fall agenda is to create an action oriented schedule for 2009 to meet our goals of development and fundraising, audit review, growth of the board, refinement of governance and increase in organizational staff.

Your ideas and suggestions are welcome.
Karen McGee                                                               kmcgee@centeringhealthcare.org
                                                                      Centering Stories

from Richmond VA:
Into the 2nd session of my first Centering group came the woman..thumping up the stairs, carrying a heavy backpack, obviously very independent. Her blood pressure was elevated and remained so until the end of group. So I asked her to wait while I finished up and would escort her to Labor and Delivery to be checked.
"I'm going now." she declared, getting ready to leave.
"Do you know where it is?" I asked.
"No, but I can find my way and I'm going to go now," she harrumphed, shouldering her pack.
One of the other women came up to her. "You're in a group now. You don't have to go alone. I'm going with you."
That was when I knew that group care was the way to go!

from Chicago, IL:
In one group, there were four young couples (late teens, early 20s) who really bonded. The young men went from wearing their hats and sunglasses during group to being full participants during the sessions..and often these 8 young people would go out to lunch after group.
On the morning of the group's tour of Labor and Delivery, one of the women went into labor. When the others learned of this, they were very excited, and..long story short..were with her in the delivery room when her baby was born. Their partners waited in the hallway.
The most amazing thing to me was the young dad who supported the mom during her delivery, held the baby and cut the cord, handed the baby back to the mom, and ran into the hall to share his excitement with the other three men!

from Durango, CO:
I attended the wedding of a couple from our first Centering Group. Their 18 month old daughter was the flower girl, and the ring bearer was the son of another Centering mom who has become the best friend of the bride. A third mom from the Centering group was there with her son as well.
Several of those moms also attend our Nurturing Parenting program for parents of 0 to 4 year olds. This is also significant, since in the 20 years I've worked with low income prenatal patients, I rarely see them go to parenting workshops. Because of the friendships forged in Centering, they not only attended the sixteen-session Nurturing program together, but they have gotten together socially and consistently over the past year and a half.
Centering Group Space
Many sites find that attractive and appropriate group space is an important component of their patient recruitment strategy. At our IN Conference, Board and faculty members created a "mock Centering room" to help people visualize a version of ideal group space.

· The room was approximately 25'x25'
· The entrance door was in the middle of one wall and
   the opposite wall was a bank of floor-to-ceiling windows.
· To the right of the entryway was a snack/nametag table.
· To the left of the entryway was the
   self-care area: scale,blood pressure cuffs, patient
   charts.
· Beanbag and cushionedchairs
  surrounded a lovely "circle center."
· The assessment area with patient
   mat and provider cushion was
   partially hidden by artwork and a
   plant.

We hope this group space provides
inspiration for your agency!
If you have great group space or a special feature in your space, please send us an electronic picture
that we can share!
Conference Comments: Thanks for your words of encouragement!

"The conference was very energizing, inspiring and useful to my everyday practice."
      "Great venue, great food, great people, great conference!"
"Excellent..can't wait to come back."
      "Very informative and timely to all agencies regardless of segment of implementation."
"This is very helpful in sustaining my energy, knowledge, and enthusiasm for Centering."
      "I'm leaving energized and feeling like I'd like to deliver 100% of my prenatal care through     
        this model."
"Keynote speakers were simply excellent."
      "I am so glad that I attended this conference! I was pretty low and needed the boost!"
"Good for professional life and very good for personal life."
 
 
Please…If your Centering site has news to tell--an anecdote to share, or a good solution to a logistical problem--pass it on!  You can e-mail your information to Janet Ray at jray@centeringhealthcare.org .
 
 
October is Prematurity
Awareness Month!

Please make your voice heard by signing
an electronic call to action in conjunction
with the March of Dimes.
Sign the "Petition for Preemies" at
marchofdimes.com/petition (click here).
 
 
Is Your Agency a CHI Member?
  
If not, you..re missing out!
Here's what membership provides:
      · use of Centering name and logos
      · CHI phone/email support
      · $2 discount on each Mom's and
           Family Notebook
       · site listing on the CHI web page

Note: As of January 2009, non-member sites will no longer be listed on the CHI web page.

CHI requires that every site using the Centering model be a CHI Institutional Member. Join or renew now!      It's $250/year for non-profits
                              ($500 for-profit rate).
• Click here, to learn more about membership levels
• Click here, to access membership form, including an
   option to pay now online, using PayPal
 
 
Level II: Advanced Workshop

Learn more facilitative leadership skills, strategies, and activities while networking with other Centering providers!
There's still space available in our CT Level II
Advanced workshop Saturday, November 15.
            The workshop runs from 8-4:30.

For a registration form or more information,
contact Janet at jray@centeringheathcare.org
or 203-271-3632.
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