May 18-25, 2011 - Tucson, AZ

Canyon Ranch Institute and our partner El Rio Community Health Center held a successful three-day Canyon Ranch Institute Life Enhancement Program (CRI LEP) Bridge Practicum. The CRI LEP Bridge Practicum is part of the training to support the El Rio Core Team members in learning how to deliver and evaluate the program in their South Tucson community.

The CRI LEP with El Rio is designed to help people living and working in South Tucson achieve optimal health and joyful living through taking small, realistic steps to improve health literacy, focus on prevention, and adopt the integrative health model.

During the training, Canyon Ranch and CRI Founder and Board Member Mel Zuckerman outlined his vision for a healthier Tucson and Southern Arizona. “I feel very privileged and humbled to be here with you and to have the opportunity to do something for our community together,” he said. “It is very important to Enid and me to give back to this community in the area of health and wellness, which has been, at least for the past 32 years, the source of rewards that Enid and I and our family have had.”

The CRI LEP Bridge Practicum was led by CRI Health Literacy and Research Director Andrew Pleasant, Ph.D. In addition, CRI Executive Director and Board Member Jennifer Cabe, M.A.; CRI Evaluation and Program Manager Maura Pereira-Leon, Ph.D.; and CRI Partnerships and Policies Director Christine L. Sardo, M.P.H., R.D., participated in leading the sessions and the simulated patient exercise. Training topics included health literacy, how to conduct one-on-one counseling sessions, nutrition, integrative health, physical activity, behavior change, stress management, and sense of purpose.

For example, Christine worked with El Rio nutritionist Leticia Martinez, R.D., to demonstrate how to select healthy foods at the grocery store, which includes reading food packages, and knowing what to look for – and avoid – on nutrition labels and ingredient labels. Christine also trained Leticia to design and offer cooking demonstrations that feature delicious, affordable, and nutritious meals.

On the third day of their CRI LEP Bridge Practicum, the El Rio core team members tested their new skills by “previewing” the CRI LEP during a three-hour session for a group of potential participants. They received positive feedback. The first group of CRI LEP with El Rio participants is scheduled to start experiencing the program in July.

• Learn More About CRI LEP Training
• View a Sample Agenda for the CRI LEP with El Rio Bridge Practicum