Sansum Diabetes Research Institute is the lead agency for The Santa Barbara Diabetes Initiative (SBDI). In collaboration with the Santa Barbara Neighborhood Clinics, Sansum Diabetes Research Institute delivers diabetes education to low-income community members with and at-risk for diabetes. The substantial majority of participants have no health insurance. Classes are available in English or Spanish, and are provided free of charge. The program serves over 800 clients per year.
SBDI is not a typical diabetes self management program. SBDI offers a culturally competent, learner-centered 8 week education program in a community setting. These 8 classes function more as workshops where clients have the opportunity to participate in the learning process. Clients sit in a semi-circle and participate in learning activities that require active involvement. Clients share stories and discuss ways they have been able to make changes in their dietary habits and gain control of their diabetes. Aspects of the program also include music, modeling of healthful snacks, and weekly relaxation techniques. It is the only sequential comprehensive diabetes education program of its kind in Santa Barbara.
Participants learn about healthy diets and discuss the challenges of living with diabetes. Jenifer Gaffaney, MS, RD, CDE and Mary Conneely, Diabetes Educator, are critical to the program, providing diabetes education, program support, case management, and client advocacy. One-on-one diabetes education and nutritional counseling with the dietitian is available to participants. All members of the SBDI staff are fully bilingual and offer direct services in the client’s preferred language.
The Initiative is also doing outreach to the community in other ways. A monthly Diabetes Education Calendar that lists classes and activities offered by many community organizations is distributed widely. Initiative staff work closely with the Tri-Counties Food Bank to advise them on healthy choices for their food distribution programs and youth outreach programs. In collaboration with Partners for Fit Youth, the Initiative has developed television spots for Spanish and English television to promote healthful eating in the family. Other agencies that are currently collaborating with SBDI are Braille Institute where clients learn healthy cooking, crafts, computer skills and counseling and Visiting Nurses and Hospice Care where clients who qualify are eligible to receive an in-home visit from an RN, CDE. SBDI’s model program has been featured as a poster session at both the American Diabetes Association Annual Convention and the American Association of Diabetes Educators Annual Conference. For more information or materials please contact Jenifer Gaffaney, MS, RD, CDE.
