Community Integration
Creating meaningful opportunities for personal growth and recovery is the foundation for Community Integration. Reconnecting with the community, regaining self-confidence, and restoring self-esteem is promoted through involvement in a variety of structured leisure and life skills-focused groups and activities. Each participant can build on existing strengths and learn new skills for achieving a greater quality of life.
Community Integration also fosters the development of natural, healthy social supports in a welcoming atmosphere. Enhancing life skills through informal social interaction such as games, hobbies, and conversation is also supported. Such unstructured activities increase comfort in social settings and encourages individual leisure recreation goal-setting and skill development.
Monthly calendars outline the variety of programs available in Community Integration which is offered in London and in both WOTCH North Exeter and WOTCH North Goderich. Wherever possible, Community Integration uses local venues in order to increase awareness, access, and comfort with using community resources.
The following highlights the range of opportunities available in Community Integration (Please contact Community Integration at each location – WOTCH Centre London, WOTCH North Exeter, and/or WOTCH North Goderich for specific program and activity choices):
Health and wellness education such as PAIR (People Acquiring Intimate Relationships); Reducing Smoking; Looking Good, Feeling Good; and Social Savvy provide participants with applied learning opportunities. Specialized groups including recovery, women’s, men’s, and community kitchen enable participants to manage relevant issues and gain a greater sense of stability.
With facilitated instruction, participants can explore self-expression using various media in supportive group settings. Creative outlets enable participants to reduce stress and increase valuable leisure involvements.
With active participant committee involvement, a variety of special events with holiday, cultural, or educational-related themes help cultivate social skills, friendship, and a sense of community belongingness.
Seasonal sports and fitness opportunities not only promote active living and wellness, but also encourage individuals to have fun and experience the reward of being a part of a team. Activity intensity can be modified to accommodate individual paces and abilities.
Exposure to community leisure pursuits provides participants with the opportunity to draw upon and incorporate local resources into their daily lives.
