History

History and Accomplishments 2004-2006

Founded in May 2003 with a grant from the Center for Integrative Health Medicine and Research, The Healer Within Foundation’s mission is to improve the health and wellness of diverse populations, through educational programs and health and wellness coaching for both individuals and groups. The Healer Within Foundation's group based self-care plus the benefits of peer-based accountability help individuals, families and communities make healthful lifestyle changes and informed decisions. Two key outcomes of The Healer Within Foundation mission are: 1) empower people to prevent disease and maximize well-being, and 2) curtail wasteful medical expenditures.

In its less than three years of operation, The Healer Within Foundation trained Parish Nurse-Health Educators in Santa Barbara County as Circle of Life Facilitators, letting them take charge of their own health, self-care, and life balance and positively affecting the lives of the hundreds of people that they serve. Twelve support group sessions were provided to the Breast Cancer Resource Center clients in Santa Barbara, California, over a six-month period as well as training two volunteers as facilitators with pre-medical and post-medical testing of the participants.

In twenty pilot locations across the United States including Santa Barbara, CA, The Healer Within Foundation conducted and directed an eight-week national pilot of teaching Tai Chi and Qigong for seniors collaborating with the National Council on Aging (NCOA). University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign assisted with the pre-test assessments and post-test assessment evaluations.

In 2005, The Healer Within Foundation initiated collaboration with the Santa Barbara College of Oriental Medicine and moved the Healer Within Community Qigong Practice Session to the College’s campus to improve community outreach. On November 14-16, 2005, The Healer Within Foundation co-convened the National Experts Meeting on Qigong and Tai Chi at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. The National Blueprint Office at the University of Illinois, in conjunction with the National Council on the Aging (NCOA), received funding from the Archstone Foundation to explore the opportunities, issues, and challenges of integrating Qigong and Tai Chi into the Aging Network. Also in the last quarter of 2005, The Healer Within Foundation started a scholarship fund to provided financial aid to help people with limited finances and special needs attend its programs.

Current Programs and Activities, Constituencies, Their Involvement and Benefits

The Healer Within Foundation is continuing its work with the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and the National Council on Aging (NCOA) to integrate Qigong and Tai Chi into the Aging Network. The Healer Within Foundation will also be consulting on the project, “Effects of Qigong on Quality of Life in Breast Cancer Survivors” should it be funded by the National Institutes of Health with the University of Arizona. We will be primarily responsible for overseeing the Qigong aspects of the research design, to refine the protocol for the Medical Qigong exercises (true and sham), making sure they are taught with consistency and accuracy.