Fall into Learning: CACHEducation’s 2024 Course Schedule.

by Cheryl Petruk, MBA, B.Mgt.

There is a significant need in Canada to provide patient advocates with a comprehensive educational program that adequately prepares them to address the many challenges they face when starting, maintaining, and growing a patient organization.

Most patient advocacy groups are managed from kitchen tables, where leaders and staff are "trained" by word of mouth and through learning from their mistakes. CACHEducation aims to change this by offering college-level courses that certify patient advocates, enabling them to successfully navigate the complexities of running a non-profit organization in Canada. These courses will teach patient advocates essential skills such as fundraising, recruiting and retaining volunteers,writinggrants,fundingresearchers,andcommunicatingwithgovernmentagencies.

CACHEducation inaugural course, Introduction to Patient Advocacy in Canada, which ran earlier this year, received outstanding reviews. Most students rated the program as excellent or above average and all respondents indicated that the program was fair, balanced, and provided valuable informationapplicabletothemandtheirteams.

Committed to building on the success of the introductory course in 2023/2024, which enrolled 25 students, CACHEducation will offer another opportunity for students to enroll in the introductory courseinFall2024.(SeeTable1forlessonbreakdown).

Additionally, an advanced class focused on advocacy group management will be available this fall. (See Table 2 for lesson breakdown). Each course is scheduled to start in September and will consist of eight one-hour, live, online classes led by patient advocate and professional educator.

About CACHEducation

CACHEducation (https://cacheducation.org/) is a not-for-profit organization that began in 2022. With over 25 years of collective experience in patient advocacy, the founding Board Members of CACHEducation are created an organization focused on properly educating individuals interested in patient advocacy about the essential knowledge needed to succeed.

To register for upcoming courses or learn more about CACHEducation, visit www.cacheducation.org