CDSMP was developed by a team of researchers at Stanford University. It’s a self-management education workshop attended by people with a variety of chronic health conditions. It aims to build participants’ confidence in managing their health and keep them active and engaged in their lives.

In Columbus County, we target rural communities, especially those with higher rates of chronic disease. These chronic diseases may include but are not limited to obesity, diabetes, and chronic pain. 

Participants attend a 2½-hour interactive workshop once a week for 6 weeks to learn problem-solving, decision-making, and other techniques for managing problems common to people with chronic diseases. In a typical workshop, participants set a realistic goal for the upcoming week and develop an action plan for meeting that goal. They report on their progress at the following workshop, and solicit feedback from the group to help address any challenges.

Since the decision of the ECU OHARES to reduce funding, unfortunately, we still have not found an alternate source of funding for the CDSMP.