Since 2017, Art for the Journey has partnered with the Scripps Gerontology Center – Miami University – OH, and the Founder of OMA, Dr. Elizabeth Lokon, to train and certify new OMA Facilitators. Since this training partnership began, Art for the Journey has certified more than 300 individuals throughout Virginia, across the East Coast of the USA, and Canada. Each individual certified in OMA and implementing the program then touches lives of older adults, university and community volunteers, caregivers and family members. Impact from Art for the Journey OMA training scales to reach thousands of lives.
Nearing the completion of a three year OMA expansion grant in partnership with LeadingAge Virginia, with a little more than $1.1 Million in funding from the Department of Medicaid Assistance Services, through Civil Monetary Penalty QIP re-investment funding, Art for the Journey has expanded OMA such that Virginia has become a leading State with certified OMA Facilitators implementing OMA in nearing 100 locations, second to Ohio where OMA was founded. Art for the Journey certifies individuals in the internationally recognized best practice OMA program designed to help people living with dementia, and to educate and engage the community, through person-centered one on one art programming with abstract art as “the ticket” to inspire participants to gather, create, and experience well-being.
Art for the Journey has expanded OMA such that Virginia has become a leading State with certified OMA Facilitators implementing OMA in nearing 100 locations, second to Ohio where OMA was founded.
Since 2017 some of the trainees that have become certified by Art for the Journey have become “Champions” of OMA. Recently, two of the Richmond, Virginia based organizations were awarded “Best Practice” awards by the Commonwealth Council on Aging.
https://www.vda.virginia.gov/boardsandcouncils.htm
The Cultural Arts Center in Glen Allen, won first place, as a Virginia Commonwealth Council on Aging “Best-practice”, and received certification training by Art for the Journey sending several staff over the course of a few years and built a strong OMA program that helps reach individuals living at home.
Second place was awarded to a relatively new non-profit, “Aging and Engaging,” which was created by Jodi Winship, who became certified by Art for the Journey to facilitate the OMA program and made OMA a flagship program of her innovative non-profit agency that reaches older adults in low-income residential locations.
Another Champion of OMA can be found in the western part of the state in Harrisonburg. Kathy Guisewhite, Caregiver Outreach Coordinator with the Valley Program for Aging Services, has engaged nursing students from local universities, local churches, and local galleries to grow OMA to touch the lives of many many individuals. There are growing numbers of OMA Facilitator champions beginning to make extraordinary impact in the lives of older adults, family members, community and university volunteers, and staff working with older adults.
Art for the Journey is HONORED to be the spark, and to provide excellence in training with a team of OMA trainers, led by OMA Director Stephanie Shanks, and lead trainer, Dr. Dianne Simons, Assistant Director, Angie Allen, and training leaders, Mindi Montoro, Melba Gibbs, Lauren Paullin, Dr. Steve Sawyer, Nancy Engleman and original OMA trainers, Jamie Wigginton and Cindy Paullin.
CONGRATULATIONS to all OMA Facilitators, especially these award winning OMA Champions!