LOCUS Project: Mindfulness Meditation

Project: Mindfulness Meditation
Fellow: Sarah Fox (Knuteson)
Partner Agency: DFM-Wingra clinic
Mentor: Beth Potter
Team: Melissa Bachhuber, Maryalyse Adams

Fellow Bio:

Project Description:

We are starting a mindfulness meditation class for low-income, spanish-speaking women who recieve their healthcare at the Wingra clinic.

Project Goals:

Provide a source for stress reduction for latina women Foster a sense of community among latinas who may be socially isolated Increase awareness among low-income women of mindfulness meditation as a means to reduce stress and depression.

Accomplishments:

We have established a group to plan the first mindfulness class, including myself, Beth Potter (mentor), Melissa Bachhuber and Maryalyse Adams (Med 2s), Katherine Bonus (Founder, UW Health Center for mindfulness), and Carmen Alonso (Department of Psychology). challenges-past = We are still struggling with funding for the instructor's fee, which is by far the most substantial cost of the program. Unfortunately, this has been such a problem that we are considering changing our focus away from mindfulness, and toward something more widely available, such as yoga. We are exploring other funding sources, and are looking into other options for instruction.

Challenges and Solutions:

Funding will continue to be the major issue for this project. We are working on alternatives for funding and for instruction to get over this primary hurdle.

Next Steps:

Locus Project Objectives and Key Tasks	Target Date for Completion
Meet with entire team to touch base	January 2004
If funding has not been secured for instruction, seek out other possibilties for instruction outside of UW	March 2004
Recruit 1st year LOCUS students to help with project continuation	March 2004
Have class outlined including instructor(s) and recruitment strategies	May 2004

Last update:

December 31, 2003

Graduation Requirements Progress Chart
If you complete the requirements outlined below, you will graduate as a LOCUS fellow.

A check indicates the item has been completed.

When	What	On-line
Year 1: Beginning of Semester 2	New Project Report	Submit Report
Year 2: Beginning of Semester 1	Project Update	Submit Update
Year 2: Beginning of Semester 2	Project Update	Submit Update
Year 3: Beginning of third year	Project Update	Submit Update
Year 4: August of fourth year	2-3 page final summary of project that includes a reflective evaluation of the project process	N/A
Ongoing	Participate in program evaluation (written and/or focus group)	View Options
By the end of fourth year	Select poster, presentation, paper, creative option or your own idea	View Options