Professional Documents
Culture Documents
My Lasting Contribution
Samara E. S. Hulin
While clients enjoy being in the environment of their psychosocial program, there will also be
members who really enjoy traveling into the community and who benefit a great deal from
valued interactions and lessons.
This group was formed to address the need for community influence in addition to helping the
clients meet their goal of attending groups. Below there are six areas that members receive credit
for attending. Listed below those groups are locations that relate to the group that members can
visit for FREE*.
Most members are on fixed incomes, which make it important to empower them despite their
circumstances.
Bryd Park
Exercise **
Evidence suggests that physical activity and exercise alleviate some symptoms associated
with mild to moderate depression. The evidence also suggests that physical activity and
exercise might provide a beneficial adjunct for alcoholism and substance abuse programs;
improve self-image, social skills, and cognitive functioning; reduce the symptoms of
anxiety(C. Taylor, J. Sallis, R. Needle, 1985).
There are many members who suffer from all of the above disorders and would benefit
from a brisk walk around the park.
Members would also benefit from simple yoga positions.
To address cognitive skills, take a ball for a fun memory activity.
(Remember; water (cups and a gallon of water).
Meditation
Meditation is a particularly important stress management skill because, once taught, it
can be practiced independently, and at will, to both reduce acute stress and serve as a
buffer against ongoing and chronic stress (Manocha, R., Gordon, A., Black, D., Malhi,
G., & Seidler, R., 2009).
Members can gather in the park in to practice the art of meditation while being in nature.
Creative expressions
Parks can be very inspiring. Taking materials for members to paint with or write poetry
promotes creativity, relaxation and cognitive skills.
Canal Walk
12
th
and Canal Street, Richmond, Virginia
Exercise**
*Dollar Tree
4905 W Broad St #404 Richmond, Va.
Money management
Several members who attend psychosocial programs are on a fixed income; therefore it is
salient that they learn the value of needs vs. wants. The Dollar Tree offers members the
opportunity to make responsible decisions and process the idea of saving money.
Basic Living Skills
Dollar Tree also teaches basic living skills by allowing members to purchase basic living
items such as toilet paper, toothpaste, soap and lotion.
* Members must have at least one dollar and 25 cent in order to attend this outing.
Social Skills ***
It is important that members practice how to appropriately interact with people in society.
Learning to speak with the store associates and interact with other patrons is important.
Holocaust Museum
2000 E Cart Street Richmond, Va.
Grief and Loss
Several members have dealt with the hard blow of lost. Some members may have lost a
close friend or loved one or perhaps their ability to walk or simply care for themselves.
This outing shows universality and sheds light on a groups ability to overcome their
adversaries despite how low their circumstances.
Library
5420 Patterson Ave. Richmond, Va
Cognitive Skills
The library is full of systems and catalogues. Helping a member learn to locate
information, wither through books or the internet, gives them the opportunity to
strengthen their cognitive skills by learning a new skill. Learning to locate information
using resources in the library also teaches independent living skills.
Social Skills***
Reading
There are some members who desire to improve their reading skill; Target members to
take in order to have reading group in the perfect space to promote reading. However,
some members may want to go and not read, but enjoy the quiet of the library instead. As
long as these members are quiet and behave appropriately, dont deny them.
Social Skills
Gives the members an opportunity to learn to ask for what they want and process
information.
Maggie L. Walker House
600 N 2
nd
Street Richmond, VA (804) 771-2017
Call to schedule tour for group
Maymont Park
1700 Hampton Street Richmond, Va.
Exercise
There are several trails and inclines in this park. (Remember: water!).
Petting zoo
The National Association of State Public Health Veterinarians (NASPHV) is an
organization "recognizing the positive benefits of human- animal contact" (NASPHV,
2005, p. 2).
Members are given the chance to feed and view animals up close while also being in a natural
environment.
Mobile Meals
Community Service
Volunteering is the perfect way to develop a new skill. Volunteering also brings together
a diverse assortment of people from all backgrounds and walks of life and offers a sense
of achievement for having helping someone else.
Social Skills***
Virginia Fine Arts Museum
200 N Boulevard Richmond, Va. (804) 340-1400
Exercise
The museum is large in size and offers opportunity to walk a lot.
Creative expressions
Art inspires art. Have members try and reproduce their favorite piece. Have them share
why it was their favorite.
References
Petting Zoos. Ann Pike-Paris, Pediatric Nursing. 2006;32(2):163-166
The Relation of physical activity and exercise to mental health. (C. Barr Taylor, James F.
Sallis, R. Needle).
Using meditation for less stress and better wellbeing: A seminar for GPs,( Manocha, R., Gordon,
A. B., Deborah, Malhi, S., Raymond). Australian Family Physician38.6 (Jun 2009): 454-8.