RISE program empowers peers through stressful times
At Oak Valley Health, some may know Amanda Colangelo as the food services manager. For 12 years, Amanda and her team have dedicated their work to ensuring the health and safety of patients; and high-quality care rings true for every meal a patient is served at their bedside.
But Amanda’s compassion extends far beyond this role. When she’s not at her desk, she’s answering a different kind of call. As a volunteer for the Resilience in Stressful Events (RISE) program, launched at Oak Valley Health in the spring of 2023, Amanda lends an empathetic ear and a comforting voice to those in need.
She joins more than 20 dedicated peers in celebrating the first successful year of the RISE program which offers confidential, anonymous, and timely peer support to staff, professional staff, and volunteers who have been affected by a stressful event. The program was originally developed and implemented at Johns Hopkins Hospital and has been successfully adopted by many other health care organizations. Oak Valley Health is proud to be the second health care organization in Canada to implement the RISE program.
“During the pandemic, we all felt the weight of uncertainty,” Amanda reflects. “But it was the silent struggles of my colleagues that inspired me to step up and offer support in any way I could.”
With RISE, Amanda found a platform to make a difference, offering support and a shoulder to lean on for staff navigating challenging times. RISE includes a diverse team of volunteer peer responders from frontline clinical, non-clinical, management, and volunteers forming a network of support that spans across Oak Valley Health’s sites.
As the RISE program continues to grow, Amanda remains steadfast in her commitment to wellness and support. “Every call is an opportunity to make a difference,” she says. “Knowing I can be there for my colleagues when they need it most is truly the greatest reward.”
The RISE program is helping to build a people-centred culture and supporting staff well-being. At Oak Valley Health, volunteer peer responders are available every day by telephone from 3 p.m. to 8 p.m., to listen, offer emotional support and provide information on available resources.
Oak Valley Health staff, professional staff, and volunteers can access a RISE representative by calling, 905-472-7373 ext. 7000.
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