Building bridges across age and cognitive barriers through art
OMA Facilitator Training: 2018-19
New Training Locations Near You!
We are bringing OMA Facilitator training closer to you! Scripps Gerontology Center is offering several OMA Facilitator hybrid training sessions, combining online training with an in-person practicum in Richmond, VA; Elyria, OH; St. Louis, MO; Parma, OH; Upper Sandusky, OH; Canal Fulton, OH, and Calgary, AB in Canada. The fully in-person training will be held in Oxford, OH on May 20-23, 2019. Get training details and register here. QIP funding for Ohio will open August 1, 2018. Find more information here.
Now Available: "OMA Certified Member Facility"
Distinguish your facility from others by getting the recognition as an OMA certified member. For an annual fee of $475, Scripps Gerontology Center will assist you in maintaining OMA program quality and fidelity and provide you with member benefits such as a free tablet to record and submit video data, 25% discount on OMA training registrations, and free OMA art projects. Learn more here.
OMA's Improved Mentoring System
14 long-term care facilities in Ohio are participating in OMA's new and improved mentoring system. Last month, these facilities received OMA tablets that they will use to record and submit video data to OMA at Scripps Gerontology Center. Based on the video data submitted, Scripps OMA staff will provide individualized feedback. This mentoring system is made possible by funding from M.I.A.M.I. WOMEN Giving Circle.
NCCAP's 2018
Best Practice & "Approved CE Educator"
OMA was selected as a winner of the 2018 "Best Practice in the Delivery of Activities Services" by the NCCAP (National Certification Council for Activity Professionals). OMA was featured at NCCAP's annual symposium on June 22 in Virginia Beach. NCCAP also granted OMA the "Approved Continuing Education Educator" status.
Featured Site: St. Joseph and ARTZ Philadelphia
Every quarter, we feature an outstanding OMA site on our website. This quarter, Sue Brown, ARTZ Philadelphia and OMA Facilitator Class of 2016, shares her experience facilitating OMA at St. Joseph Manor (Philadelphia, PA). Congratulations to St. Joseph Manor and ARTZ Philadelphia for being our Featured Sites this quarter! Read more about this story here.
Resident Sparkles in OMA Program
Irene Hertzberger, a 100 year old resident at Trinity Village Care Centre in Ontario, Canada and her high school art partner, Sophia Petitt are two of the several individuals touched by the OMA program at this facility. Lead facilitator, Kathryn Bender, brought OMA to Trinity four years ago. The high school volunteers and older adults have been forming connections ever since.
Read more about how Irene sparkles in the art program on The Record's website.
Medical Student Reflects on OMA Experience
Joanne Chiao is a current dual-degree M.D/Master's in Health Administration candidate at Virginia Commonwealth University. OMA has taught her how to sit back and really listen to the perceptions of individuals with dementia. She said "From the sessions, I made a friend who paints and illuminates her world like no other." Read Joanne's full story on
Aspiring Docs' website.
More Information
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