2006 Centering Conference Program & Schedule

Workshop Session 1, Monday 1:30-3:00 PM

A. "Calling the Circle: A Conversational Model for Practices, Providers, and Families"
       Christina Baldwin, MS, of PeerSpirit, Inc., Seattle, WA

       The use of cooperative dialogue has a positive impact on the qualitative delivery
       of care. It creates an atmosphere in which every member of a team contributes the
       fullness of their skills and insights in service to each other and client families.
       There will be opportunity to practice these skills with oversight from the facilitator.

B. "The Art of Facilitative Leadership: Dealing with Common Group Problems"
        Sharon S. Rising MSN, CNM, FACNM, of Centering Pregnancy and Parenting
        Association, Cheshire, CT and Carrie Klima, CNM, PhD, of University of Illinois
        Chicago, College of Nursing

        This workshop will focus on facilitative group leadership including common group
        problems and skills needed by leaders to move from a didactic to facilitative
        leadership style.

C. "Making Change: Illustrations of Successful Change in the Macro- and
        Micro-System"    Peg Dublin, RN, and Ellen Mason, MD, of the Cook County
        (Chicago) Bureau of Health Services and Beth Elmore, MSN, and James Gingerich,
        MD, of Maple City Health Care Center, Goshen, IN

        This session will include information about change in a large public health system,
        highlighting similarities of the Planned Care model with the fundamental principles
        of CenteringPregnancy®. It will also describe the specific experience in a family
        practice office of reshaping administrative and many clinical functions based on
        principles of facilitative group process. The presenters will share successes and
        challenges, organizational and personal, inherent in this on-going transformation
        of a health care organization.

D. "Change in the Making: The Philosophy behind Health Care Redesign and How it
        All Begins"     Jennifer Ustianov, BSN, RN, Project Director with the National
        Institute for Children's Healthcare Quality and the Vermont Child Health
        Improvement Program and Elaine McIntosh, FNP, MSN, and Megan Eagle, FNP,
        MSN, of University of Michigan

        To initiate group health care re-design, change is necessary, sometimes
        system-wide, sometimes within a clinic or individual practice. No matter the
        setting, this will mean a dynamic change in status quo. This will be an opportunity
        to learn from those who are initiating programs in their systems and clinical
        settings.

Workshop Session 2, Monday 3:30-5:00 PM

E. "Calling the Circle: A Conversational Model for Practices, Providers, and Families"
       Repeat of Session 1 A.

F. "Current Research on the Centering Model"    Carrie Klima, CNM, PhD; Kathleen
       Norr, PhD; Susan Vonderheid, RN, PhD, of University of Illinois, Chicago College
       of Nursing and Holly Kennedy, CNM, PhD, of University of California, San
       Francisco, School of Nursing and Jeannette Ickovics, PhD, of Yale University
       School of Epidemiology and Public Health

       This presentation will present three research studies exploring
       CenteringPregnancy®. First the implementation of the model in a large, public
       health setting and the results(birth weights, gestational age, prenatal attendance,
       breastfeeding) of an evaluation in this setting. Secondly, a research study de-
       signed to examine the effects of CenteringPregnancy® on a population of women
       in two military settings, which examines both perinatal outcomes nd feasibility for
       this population. Finally, there will be a discussion of the results of the large RCT at
       Yale and Emory Universities.

G. "Different Groups/Shared Goals: Groups for Different Types of Care and Diverse
       People Receiving Care Together"    Kate Mitcheom, CNM, MSN, Mary Lemley,
       APRN, of Fair Haven Community Health Center, New Haven, CT and Sue Harris,
       MD, of the South Community Birth Program, Vancouver, British Columbia

       This session will present group health care across the life span in an urban
       community health center, including prenatal, well-baby, chronic care, and
       behavioral health care groups. It will also examine a community health clinic in an
       area of diverse ethnicity where collaborative care, using midwives, nurses, family
       physicians, and doulas, is provided using the Centering model.

H. "Normalizing the Radical: Tools to Institutionalize Change within Your System"
       Claire Westdahl, CNM, MPH, of Emory University, Gyn-Ob Department and John
       Scott, MD, of University of Colorado Health Sciences Center, Geriatric Division

       Group health care offers the potential for improved quality of care, clinical
       outcomes, access, and satisfaction for patients and providers, however,
       successful group visits require planning and commitment. They also require
       enthusiastic support and "buy in" from both patients and providers. This session
       will provide the tools needed to plan and encourage change, including the
       strategy of social marketing.

Workshop Session 3, Tuesday 10:00-11:00 AM

I.   "Cost Effectiveness: How do we Assess this with Groups"    Ray Cox, MD, MBA, of
       Prince George's Hospital Center, Cheverly, MD

       This presentation will define and discuss the use of cost effectiveness analysis as
       an evaluation tool. The objective is to explain how CE analysis compares
       programs/interventions. The concepts will be illustrated using the Cost
       Effectiveness Study of CenteringPregnancy® currently being conducted in
       Maryland.

J. "The Art of Being Present: Mindfulness Skills for Group Facilitators"       Nancy
       Bardacke, CNM, MA, of Mindfulness-Based Childbirth and Parenting, Oakland, CA

       The experience of group facilitation can be deeply enriching and profoundly
       challenging. This session will be an opportunity to explore the practice of
       mindfulness for meeting the aliveness and fears of group facilitation, cultivating in
       ourselves qualities we encourage in those we serve: inner strength, calm, courage,
       and self-trust.

K. "Let's Talk: What To Do When People Really Can't Read"   Janet Ohene-Frempong,
        MS, of J.O. Frempong and Associates, Philadelphia

        Many people read, but do so with difficulty. Others do not read at all. This session
        will explore techniques for exchanging information when relying on the printed
        word is not an option and when verbal interaction should be approached with skill.

L. "Differences in Communication Styles: Identifying, Respecting, and Responding to
       Different Assumptions in Culturally Mixed Groups"     M. Suzanne Renna, EdD, of
       Harvard University Bureau of Study Counsel

       A person's sense of safety and way of participating in a group will be influenced by
       a variety of culturally determined assumptions. In this session we will outline some
       communication patterns and consider the dilemmas that arise for facilitators of
       groups made up of people from diverse backgrounds.

M. "Moving Beyond Icebreakers: Methods for Bringing a Teen Group to Life"
       Sapna Padke, MPH, of Teen Empowerment, Boston, MA

       The session will demonstrate the depth and richness of several interactive
       exercises and their ability to build relationships, empower individuals, and increase
       understanding of content materials. Learn how to structure meetings to increase
       engagement and productivity and about factors which influence behavior.

Workshop Session 4, Tuesday 11:00 AM-12:15 PM

N. "Laughter, Neurons and Hormones: Using Experiential and Adventure Strategies
       to Facilitate Learning and Group Cohesion"     Richard Rutschman, EdD, of
       Northeastern Illinois University, Chicago Teachers' Center

       This session will provide health care practitioners with activities, ideas, and
       strategies to lead groups using experiential learning methods. These will include
       dynamic icebreakers and initiatives that facilitate strong interpersonal bonds and
       participatory learning leading to memorable insights, experiences and strategies
       based on the latest neurological research.

O. "Practices for Deepening Cultural Humilty"    Yeshi Neumann, MA, CNM, MPH, of
       Homestyle Midwifery, San Francisco, CA

       This session will enable health providers to learn two powerful practices for
       deepening cultural humility in their relationship to each other as well as in
       relationship to participants in their groups: Telling Stories in a particular form
       about our class and ethnic backgrounds and the Speak-Out.

P. "The Secret of Powerful Groups"    Gail Phillips, CNM, MA, of Albany Medical
        Center, NY

       This session provides an overview of the importance and effectiveness of
       experiential learning to the individual within a group setting and to the group
       process itself. It will also provide the facilitator with a sampling of experiential
       techniques (guided visualizations, meditations, body scans, relaxation techniques,
       self hypnosis, movement, and music) to enrich his/her facilitation skills.

Q. "Listening: A Tool for Empowering and Connecting with One Another"
       Ron Rising, MDiv, MTh, of Rising Images/Communication Specialist, Cheshire, CT

       This session will provide an opportunity to explore and share, interactively, some
       of the essentials of effective listening, including key listening skills, barriers, and
       benefits. An emphasis will be how effective listening empowers individuals,
       relationships, and groups.

R. "Moving Group Care Forward on the Policy Agenda"     Terry Conway, MD, of
        Health Management Associates, Chicago

       This session will provide a forum for guided thought about how group care, in
       every field, can become implemented and sustained as the usual method of care in
       the United States.

Workshop Session 5, Tuesday 1:00-2:00 PM

       Selected workshops repeated