Partnerships | CRI Life Enhancement Program | CRI LEP Key Program Elements

• Core Element: Nutrition
• Core Element: Physical Activity
• Core Element: Behavior Change
• Core Element: Sense of Purpose
• Core Element: Integrative Health
• Core Element: Stress Reduction
• Core Element: Social Support and Follow-Up Services

• Core Element: Nutrition
• Philosophy: No single approach to food and eating fits everyone so nutrition plans must be individualized.
• Topics to address:
• The value of eating whole foods
• The value of balanced meals/a balanced approach to eating
• Understanding portion sizes
• Experiencing mindful eating/the enjoyment of food
• The difference between whole foods versus processed foods
• Practical approaches to healthy eating
• The myths about dieting, fat, energy, and fast foods
• Understanding healthy weight and its relationship to health
• The budget realities of planning healthy meals
• Activities:
  • Go on a supermarket tour/learn to read food labels
  • Outline culturally acceptable substitutions for traditional foods
  • Conduct cooking demonstrations (incorporating nutritional, practical, and emotional elements, e.g., cooking is fun, incorporating family into the meal preparation process, etc.)
  • Practice menu planning
  • Develop disease-specific nutrition plans
  • Establish partnerships with local food vendors to encourage healthy food availability
  • Enjoy a meal together as a group / hold healthy cooking potlucks
  • Provide healthy snacks for participants
  • Explore farmers’ markets and community gardens




• Core Element: Physical Activity
• Philosophy: Establish an intellectual and then experiential connection between consistent, moderate exercise and quality of life. (i.e., both education and participation in the physical activity are needed).
• Topics to address:
  • The various forms of physical activity
  • Healthy quantities and recommended duration of physical activity
• Activities:
  • Discuss core elements of fitness: heart rate, cardio, strength, flexibility, balance, and sense of play
  • Establish a target heart rate and map how to reach it within one's personal limit
  • Institute interval training
  • Embrace movement as physical activity (e.g., dance, yoga, tai chi, chi gong)
  • Incorporate culturally relevant movement into physical activity program (e.g.., salsa dancing, African dance, etc.)
  • Establish partnerships with local community centers to encourage safe and affordable exercise space during or post CRI LEP
  • Provide low-cost exercise equipment to participants home use (e.g., resistance bands and strap for doorways, medicine balls, or yoga mats)
  • Establish walking/running clubs for participants and their families
  • Train together for walks/races throughout the year
  • Tailor exercise plans to the individual’s needs (i.e., major muscle targets; exercises that can be easily done while on the go or in small spaces)




• Core Element: Behavior Change
• Philosophy: Embrace a “change process” that includes setting goals and taking small steps. Define optimal performance: How can you achieve “your personal best” in all aspects of your individual life? Embrace the power of positive thinking.
• Topics to address:
  • Methods for staying on track and getting back on track
  • How behavior change works – the value of clarity and repetition
• Activities:
  • Incorporate stress-reduction methods
  • Determine what tools work best in your environment
  • Set goals
  • Track progress and celebrate success




• Core Element: Sense of Purpose
• Philosophy: Understand the role of spiritual practice in maintaining health
• Topics to address:
  • Find meaning in our lives
  • Understand the four dimensions of well-being
  • Maintain balance and set priorities
  • Find a sense of connection; not being isolated
  • Where is the joy? (Having fun like a kid again)
  • Not letting go of the past may be hurting the future
  • Exploring and nurturing the inner self
• Activities:
  • Incorporate meditation
  • Learn how to focus on breathing
  • Take day trips/mini retreats that allow participants to reconnect with nature and their spirit
  • Create beauty in our environment (e.g., plant a community garden, participate in a clean-up effort)




• Core Element: Integrative Health
• Philosophy: Embracing prevention and integrative health are essential to wellness – understanding how all of the core elements interact to produce health is critical
• Topics to address:
  • Understand the four dimensions of health and wellbeing (physical, mental, spiritual, and emotional) and how they are interconnected
  • Balance and impact of the four dimensions of health and wellbeing
• Activities:
  • Train health professionals about integrative health, wellness, and prevention and how to incorporate these into each clinical visit
  • Conduct basic blood work
  • Conduct early detection and disease-specific testing




• Core Element: Stress Reduction
• Philosophy: There are negative health effects associated with stress that can be reduced through effective stress reduction techniques.
• Topics to address:
  • Relaxation
  • Stress management
• Activities:
  • Breathing exercises
  • Meditation practices
  • Relaxation exercises
  • Yoga / Tai Chi practice




• Core Element: Social Support
• Philosophy: Incorporate support from other participants and the broader community.
• Topics to address:
  • Having fun
  • Establishing trust
  • Incorporating team-building activities
• Activities:
  • Establish a network of follow-up groups on a regular basis
  • Incorporate a “buddy system” for CRI LEP participants to help support each other and maintain healthy living practices during and post CRI LEP
  • Plan mini retreats for CRI LEP participants to share their experiences
  • Plan a graduation celebration/party with certificates for CRI LEP program participants
  • Plan a day when family members can participate and learn about healthy living
  • Plan participant presentation days; help participants become community health leaders

• Follow-up with participants during and after the program; set timelines for health goals as determined by the appropriate health professional and/or partner organization; and monitor participant progress in health literacy, behavior (e.g. exercise, nutrition habits, etc), and health metrics.
• Follow-up with participants to understand how they have incorporated CRI LEP into their lives. Information from follow-up should inform future CRI LEP programs and tools.