Current Flagship Programs

What is Live Well Be Well? It is a holistic self management program for adults with any type of ongoing health condition(s). The program meets once/week for 6-7 weeks (depending on the location) and is taught by trained lay-leaders & professionals. Live Well Be Well offers people highly interactive, participant focused sessions.Purpose: Live Well Be Well offers people who experience the challenges of living with one or more ongoing health conditions (e.g., arthritis, asthma, heart disease, MS, diabetes, etc.) information to develop the knowledge, skills, and confidence to more effectively manage their condition(s) and regain control of their lives.

The overall purpose of the Live Well, Be Well: A Holistic Chronic Disease Self Management Program is to facilitate reach, adoption, implementation and evaluation of an enhanced evidence-based Chronic Disease Self-Management Program (CDSMP) for adults with chronic illness in traditionally underserved areas, especially rural and urban areas. The specific goals are to: 1) enhance the CDSMP curriculum by adding a leisure education component to the program; 2) train and certify workshop leaders and master trainers to implement the enhanced CDSMP; 3) develop a continuum of care between physicians and community support services (e.g., Extension, senior services, healthcare, public health, parks and recreation) positioned to assist program participants with achieving their disease self-management goals; and 4) deliver and evaluate the program's impacts on participants' health and quality of life.

The primary audience served will be: 1) adults (18 and older) with one or more ongoing health condition (e.g., hypertension, arthritis, cancer, heart disease, lung disease, diabetes); 2) adults in underserved urban and rural areas; and 3) adults who do not traditionally attend and/or have access to health and wellness programs.

Two leader training courses were held in Champaign. The first course was held in September 2007 and the 2nd course was held February 2008. The 4 day training courses include participants from Extension and partnering agencies.

Numerous state and non-profit agencies are collaborators on the project. Partners include:

• Illinois Department on Aging
• Illinois Department of Public Health
• Area Agencies on Aging
• University of Illinois-Chicago, Center for Research on Health and Aging
• Illinois Park and Recreation Association
• various county and local community social service and health organizations