The following message was posted earlier today on CLICK4HP list (Health
Promotion on the Internet discussion list), with an attachment containg
the project synopsis.  For the ease of all, especially those who find
attachments very difficult to open or interpret - it is being sent out
again in plain text. Congratulations to Action on Women s Addictions,
Research & Education [AWARE] on this excellent project and initiative!
We look forward to hearing more about the activities.

Alison
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Alison Stirling, health promotion consultant
Ontario Prevention Clearinghouse
1(800) 263-2846 ext 226 OR (416) 408-2121 ext 226
E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
Internet: http://www.web.net/~stirling/
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AWARE has received funding for the project outlined below.  We are
interested in connecting with others in the field who may have an
interest in the PRISM project.  If you know of similar endeavours,
please let us know about them.  Or if you are interested in finding out
more information, becoming involved with the project, or receiving its
handbook/final report, please let us know.

Marci Swazey, Coordinator - PRISM Project
AWARE
PO BOX 86
Kingston, ON
K7L 4V6
(613) 545-0117
FAX (613) 545-1508
e-mail to [log in to unmask]

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A Health Incentives Pilot Project for Single Moms
Project Synopsis

Action on Women s Addictions - Research & Education (AWARE) has received
funding from Health Canada to undertake an innovative health incentives
pilot project for single moms, Public Recognition: Invest in Single Moms
(PRISM).

AWARE has been working with single mothers who may not otherwise have
the means and the energy, due to difficult life circumstances, to engage
in healthy lifestyle behaviours.  A recurring theme has emerged; that
is, priority women understand both the need for and the benefits
accruing from healthy lifestyle behaviours but lack the ways, means, and
encouragement to engage in them.  The PRISM project will identify
incentives that are supportive of healthy lifestyles and identify
community partners who can provide those incentives for three at-risk
groups of single mothers:  low-income single moms, at-risk pregnant
single women, single moms who smoke, and the children of all these
women.

PRISM will investigate the most effective ways to enable priority women
to access resources, goods, and services that support healthy lifestyle
behaviours congruent with the needs and desires expressed by the women.
For example, we will investigate the development of a discount card for
single moms.  The discount card would enable women to access a wider
range of goods and services from participating business partners who
would be able to provide discounted rates on those goods and services.

Improved access to resources, goods, and services will enhance the
health status of both single moms and their children.  The means of
improving access will be determined throughout PRISM, but examples might
include:

                + grocery money saved from discount coupons provided by
a participating grocery store would enable single mom to engage in a
recreational activity with her children (perhaps a movie that is also
discounted by a participating theatre)
                + a childcare coupon provided by a service club would
enable a single mom to spend an hour at the library or at a
participating health club
                + a childcare coupon would enable a pregnant woman to
attend a prenatal class, a supportive potluck lunch with other moms, or
time to attend to personal needs
                + a discount coupon for nicotine gum provided by a
participating pharmacy would enable a smoking single mom to engage in an
attempt to quit smoking

Intersectoral partners who can provide incentives or otherwise
participate in the incentive program will be identified from the
business community, service clubs, and health and social services.  A
handbook outlining the incentive program and its process will be
developed for distribution to communities across Ontario upon completion
of the PRISM project.