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Under the direction of Dr. Dawn Upchurch and Dr. Michael Prelip in the Department of Community Health Sciences at UCLA Fielding School of Public Health, the project will build a robust community-focused Complementary and Alternative Medicine (CAM) research program to promote health, wellness, and resilience in underserved communities, through the lens of prevention. Historically, research and practice in CAM has assumed a medical, treatment-centered orientation. An integrative health initiative that uses a health-and wellness-centered approach holds great potential to empower communities to take control of their well-being in ways that are culturally appropriate and meaningful as well as cost effective and sustainable.
The Integrative Health Initiative is currently working with Eisner Foundation to pilot a Mindfulness intervention in the Generation Xchange program, a partnership with LAUSD aimed at improving health and well-being in adults and learning and emotional regulation among students.
Examples of potential pilot research projects include:
- Accupressure
- Tai Chi
- Culturally informed plant-cased diets
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UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind
UCLA Health Sound Body Sound Mind has been a leading provider of youth health and wellness resources throughout Los Angeles for over 20 years. Our program helps transform the lives of nearly 200,000 students annually. SBSM targets its efforts to provide equitable access to physical education and wellness programs at middle schools and high schools.
We enrich the school community by providing a state-of-the-art fitness center, fitness and nutrition curriculums, and professional development for teachers.
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Website: uclahealth.org/programs/soundbodysoundmind
UCLArts & Healing transforms lives through creative expression by integrating the innate benefits of the arts with mental health practices for self-discovery, connection, and empowerment. This sustainable and culturally accessible approach can reduce stress, facilitate communication, evoke insight, improve mood, manage the impact of trauma, build social support, enhance mindfulness, strengthen positive emotions, increase cognition, bridge diversity, create community, and more. UCLArts & Healing offers experiential training programs and free public workshops involving art, dance/movement, drumming, music, theater, writing, and other mind-body practices. These tools not only can enhance well-being but also can ameliorate public health problems such as trauma, loneliness, intolerance, chronic pain, end of life care, and social isolation.
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UCLA Health People-Animal Connection (PAC)
The UCLA Health People-Animal Connection (PAC) program is UCLA’s animal-assisted therapy program. Volunteer teams, comprising a dog and its human handler, offer companionship and warmth to critically ill children and adults. PAC teams enhance physical and emotional healing by providing a positive bonding opportunity between canines and patients of all ages, cultures, and socioeconomic levels. PAC teams meet UCLA’s strict eligibility criteria and successfully complete a nationally standardized behavioral exam, along with extensive training before engaging in bedside visits. Since its inception in 1994, PAC teams have recorded more than 250,000 inpatient visits, as well as hundreds of thousands of unrecorded visits to families and guests at UCLA medical centers and community events.
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UCLA Mindful, the mindfulness education center at UCLA Health, is dedicated to advancing mindfulness education to promote individual and cultural well-being and resilience world-wide. Our mission is to provide innovative, evidence-based mindfulness programs that empower individuals and institutions to manage stress, enhance health, and cultivate inner and outer peace. Through educational programs, we strive to inspire transformative growth and contribute to a culture of compassion and wellness for all.
Website: https://uclahealth.org/programs
UCLA Health offers yoga therapy classes free of charge to the community. Yoga therapy is the practice and implementation of the teachings and philosophy of Yoga, which empowers the participant to return to an inherent state of balance and well-being. The practice takes a whole-person breath-centered approach, comprised of gentle postures, breathing techniques, positive imagery, and meditation.