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NOTES FROM THE PROGRAM COORDINATOR As FWIO Program Coordinator. my committee and I have been working with the Safe and Healthy Communities Steering Committee to organize educational workshop and program materials for all members to use. We have agreed to partner with fourdifferent groups in orderto promote the same materials across the province. It is vital that each Area. District and Branch work with the provincial committees to make these partnerships a success. The following groups have agreed to part- ner with the Women's Institutes: Community Abuse Program of Rural Ontario (CAPRO) CAPRO is a program that encourages com- munity ownership and responsibility for so- cial issues. It‘s about rural solutions to rural concerns, CAPRO was devel- oped to increase awareness of domestic abuse in the rural community. Many rural people are isolated and do not know where to turn. CAI‘RO was designed to address the problems unique to rural and farm neigh- bourhoods because city-born solutions don‘t necessarily apply to rural problems. FWIO has partnered with CAPRO. FWIOs roots are rural. our membership is mainly rural and we arc concerned about issues that affect our lives and our communities. To get a program started in yourneighbour- hood call l-hRH-S?3»b3% to get the name of a trained facilitator in your area. Ask the facilitator for the “Fear on the Farm" video for a Branch program. This video discusses violence in rural areas. not knowing how to receive help and thc neighbour's perception of the family's problem. Invite another Branch or your church or seniors group to come and listen and discuss thissncial issue. Only through our awareness and willingness to help can the abused have somewhere to turn. Safe and Healthy Communities is FWlOs focus. Abuse affects the safety and health of some members of our communities. Are we willing to become involved? Contact: Call [688573-6396 mfind out who the ncurcst facilitator it. Help them get all Cunt/nullity Inr’mhc r5, ugenciar and organizations working together. 5 Home 8. Country. Fall '97 By Mary Lou Norton Pharmaceutical _ _ Manufacturers Assocration of Canada (PMAC) The FWIO announces that it will partner with the Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Associa- tion of Canada (PMAC) = in a consumer health education program de signed to address the inappropriate use of medications. Called Knowledge is the best medicine. this health education program will educate meme hers and the general public about the responsible use of prescription medicines. The program includes a resource kit and planning guide to assist community groups in organizing workshops where health care professionals can work one-on-one with paâ€" tients. FWIO feels this is an important initiative to improve health care. Research has shown that approximately 50 per cent of prescrip- tion drug users do not take their medicines properly - either patients don't take their medicines at all or they don't take them ac- cording to the directions. The result is unnecessary illness and sometimes death. The PMAC developed this program because. as manufacturers of medicines. they have a responsibility to ensure that their products are. being used properly. “A problem of this scope IS everyonc‘s concern" says Arthena Hecker. Chair of the Safe & Healthy Communities Committee. “It is in line with ourorganization‘s focus on the safety and health ot‘our communities and the involvement of community groups in health care. and in this case. with the difficulties our members sometimes experience with the use of medication. If everyone works together the result will be the information and support needed," The support and networks provided by the FWIO Wlll guarantee that program materials and workshops are available within ottr com- munities across the province. Cantacl: Oct in IUltC/i with your Area Fragrant Courdittutoi‘fbr the video and manual about the program. Cmiluct PMAC rlireclly at [300-363-0203 to order the booklets to go with the program. Or Email them (it: onenurtl®pmuc-acim.org. Osteoporosis Society of Canada (OSC) The Osteoporosis Society of Canada (OSC) has devel- oped an osteoporosis- menopause awareness and education program called Changes: Choices and Challenges. The program is designed to reach women 45 to 55 years of age with an osteoporosis prevention message as they en» ter their menopausal years. One way of delivering the program is through public fo- rums or information sessions. These sessions help women understand the relationship be- tween menopause and osteoporosis. and paticipants are encouraged to take specific steps to improve their bone health to prevent osteoporosis. To help achieve this goal. and to deliver the osteoporosis prevention message, OSC and the Federated Women‘s Institutes of Ontario are planning to work together to organize public forums or seminars. The combined expertise ofboth panics provides a "good fit” for delivering osteoporosis and menopause education. OSC has expertise in health deli. ery programs and FWIO has many years 0 experience working in communities to better the health of family and friends. Last year. OSC partnered with the Women‘s Institute in Newfoundland to organize seminars and both parties were pleased to work together. making the best use of their combined strengths. OSC is also talking with other provincial WIs and the Federated Women‘s Institutes of Canada about creating more partnerships across the country. OSC looks forward to working with FWIO in a combined initiative to “build better bones." A Getting Started Information Kit and a Forum Leader Manual have been deâ€" veloped by OSC, which covers all aspects of organizing a forum. In addition. OSC can assist planners in choosing presenters and panelists for their event. Contact: For more information about plan- ning an osteoporosis rind/or menopause forum in your community, please call Calh)‘ Lutleyr at OSC at [-800-463-6842. Ext. 241. Continued on page.