Opening Minds through Art
Join the Movement
Opening Minds through Art (OMA) is an award-winning, evidence-based, intergenerational art-making program for people living with dementia. It was developed at Scripps Gerontology Center, an Ohio Center of Excellence at Miami University, in 2007. Its failure-free design empowers individuals to make autonomous, creative choices within a supportive relationship.
The OMA program is now reaching lives nationally and internationally, and can be easily replicated by anyone seeking to bring it to a long-term care community, rehab center, adult day program, hospice, or home setting. The brilliant design of the program ensures that positive results are consistent, attainable, and meaningful wherever OMA is conducted.
The brilliance of OMA has inspired us to develop an expanded training that includes tools to reach older adults across the continuum of long-term care, not just those with dementia, where social isolation threatens health and well-being.
OMA Facilitator Certification Training is Fully In-Person January 2025
Art for the Journey’s new fully in-person OMA Facilitator Training has no online prerequisites. All lectures, materials, and practicum experiences will be provided during the three days of training, followed by a one-hour Resource Session.
– Learn how to implement an evidence-based intergenerational art program for people with dementia.
– Participate in three-day in-person training including lectures, discussions, and hands-on practicum experiences.
– CEU’s: Available from NCCAP and NCCDP (certain locations only) awarded upon completion.
Attendees will:
– Find out the why, what, and how of implementing the award-winning, evidence-based Scripps OMA program.
– Engage in hands-on practicum in the roles of the OMA Volunteer, the OMA Artist, and the OMA Facilitator in collaboration with other trainees.
– Work directly with older adults living with dementia or Mild Cognitive Impairment.
– Reflect on the OMA art-making sessions and process, and engage in practical discussions.
– Receive the OMA Handbook with a thumb drive containing training slides and videos, guidelines for 20 OMA-tested art activities, OMA evaluation tools, and more.
– Receive online listing as a certified OMA site and membership benefits with Scripps OMA.
– Receive post-training implementation support from the OMA Trainers and the global OMA Community.
To register, contact Stephanie Shanks at stephanie@artforthejourney.org
& reserve your spot with payment via the button below.
Discover the Impact
OMA Expands Across Virginia Through Government Funding
Over three years, Art for the Journey certified 84 nursing homes and 176 facilitators to implement OMA across Virginia, thanks to our partnership with LeadingAge Virginia and the DMAS CMP Reinvestment Program. In total, AFJ has certified more than 330 individuals across the US and Canada since 2017.
Catch a glimpse of the 2021-2024 OMA Expansion Project
Discover the Possibilities of Person-Centered Engagement through Art
We believe everyone, regardless of ability, can be elevated through art.
Investing in Well-Being As We Age
What is well-being? Positive psychologist, Martin Seligman, defined well-being in his famous PERMA model. According to his research, all humans need five critical components to live whole and healthy lives:
- Positive Emotion
- Engagement
- Relationship
- Meaningfulness
- Accomplishment
This model is at the core of OMA’s brilliant methodology that harnesses strengths and centers the individual, not the illness. We witness the effectiveness this philosophy for program participants living across the spectrum of long-term care, regardless of their cognitive abilities.
OMA Facilitator Training
Features of OMA Programs
Find out about the OMA programs provided by Art for the Journey.
peer Connection
Meet and connect with like-minded professionals in the aging sector
Professional growth
Earn CEUs as an Activities Professional (NCCAP) or Dementia Practitioner (NCCDP)
Personal enrichment
Create meaningful relationships with residents, staff, community volunteers & beyond
See the Impact
The numbers tell the story
Witness the OMA Facilitator Experience
Discover the transformative impact of OMA & ELA through these faces, hands and hearts.
Hear What Others Have to Say
Client Testimonials
Discover the inspiring stories of individuals whose lives have been touched and transformed by our OMA program.
I am so thankful to have crossed paths with OMA and Art for the Journey! I had such a blast at OMA Facilitator Training, I am inspired by all of your hard work, generosity, and kindness. Thank you for setting me up to succeed.
Hannah Jones
Certified OMA Facilitator
I was deeply moved by the community’s connections and creations. OMA is a thoughtfully crafted art program that benefits everyone involved.
Heather N.
OMA Volunteer
St.
Northern Virginia Senior Living
New Horizons Senior Center
Serenity Hospice & Palliative Care
Dignity Senior Living
