The South Dakota Department of Health and SDSU Extension Services are mobilizing a statewide
campaign to implement and sustain Stanford University’s Chronic Disease Self-Management
Program, referred to as Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota. The program is designed
to help people gain self-confidence in their ability to manage their symptoms related to chronic
conditions and understand how their health problems affect their lives.
Basic Program Information
Better Choices, Better Health® South Dakota is an interactive workshop offered once a week for
6 weeks. Each session is 2 ½ hours long. Trained leaders, many of whom are volunteers and have
a chronic illness themselves, will facilitate the workshops, which are not disease specific. During a
workshop, you may meet individuals with arthritis, diabetes, heart disease or breathing problems,
as well as others who have been diagnosed with multiple chronic conditions.
Better Choices, Better Health® SD is appropriate for anyone looking for better ways to cope with
chronic conditions, and to learn how to better care for themselves or a loved one.
Topics Addressed During Better Choices, Better Health® SD Workshops
The emphasis of the workshops’ curriculum is not designed to help people to learn more about
chronic conditions, but rather to learn the skills and tools to better manage those conditions.
Participants will learn skills such as:
Using your mind to manage your symptoms.
Communicating with friends, family, and providers.
Dealing with anger, depression, and other difficult emotions.
Designing and maintaining a healthy eating and exercise plan.
Managing pain and fatigue.
Goal setting, problem solving, and coping.
Relaxing and stress management skills.
Appropriate use of medications.
What Better Choices, Better Health is looking for from you:
The folks organizing this effort are looking for lay leaders–ie, people who not working in a medical profession to go through training to help lead the course. The course is scripted and led by lay leaders, so they are currently looking for individuals interested to help lead the course in Watertown. This program is separate and a completely different program from our STRIVE 2 Survive, but still has the same purpose to help people learn how to improve their health and wellness. We do not feel this program is competition to our STRIVE 2 Survive since it is a completely different type of program, which is why we wanted to share the information with you. The cost for participants is $10 for the 6 week sessions. There is compensation available for the leaders. If you are at all interested in becoming a leader, please contact
Lori Oster at RN@osterconsulting.com or 605-627-3061
Megan Olesen at Megan.Olesen@sdstate.edu or 1-888-484-3800
They need to find leaders before they can implement the program in Watertown, so we are helping them get the word out.
You can also learn more at their website: goodandhealthysd.org.
-Kelsey
