Idea acf1796:

Jest for Joy

Posted October 22, 2009

• Posted by: Rob Walker
• Organization: Jest for Joy Clown-Doctoring Initiative
• Location: Vancouver BC, George Pearson Centre
• Category: Promote Well-being
• Cost: Big ($50,000 – $250,000)

Information about our exciting clown-doctoring work is found here, however, a preliminary taste can be found on our promotional video on YouTube! (search:Jest for Joy) or follow this link:  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CmU8AHa149w

The mission of Jest for Joy’s clown-doctoring programme is to improve and inspire the wellness of patients in health care settings through improvisation, wit, physical theatre and song, as well as to create a greater sense of wellbeing for support staff, families and friends

A clown-doctor is a specially trained performance artist who works in a healthcare facility providing therapeutic humour to patients. Currently, Jest for Joy is providing clown-doctoring service once a week at the George Pearson Centre in Vancouver, a long-term care facility for adults with high levels medical needs. The limited funds supporting this program have been acquired by generous donations from the community. There are 120 residents at the GPC, along with dozens of staff, families and friends who are touched by the work of Jest for Joy every week.

“Three words to describe the presence of the clown-doctors in the wards: uplifting, contagious (their laughter and singing), NECESSARY!” Nursing Unit Assistant, GPC

“You guys (the clown-doctors) just do amazing things.” Patient at GPC

“Life is hard enough in normal times. [The clown-doctors] are needed to help bridge the gap [here]”. Support Staff at GPC

How Can the Aviva Community Fund Grant Help Jest for Joy?

There are a few other Clown-doctoring and Therapeutic Clown organizations in Central and Eastern Canada which are highly respected and well-established in their communities and beyond. Our Mentor Program, Fools for Health in Windsor, Ontario, received a recommendation from the Canadian Council on Health Services Accreditation that its work should be a "Standard of Care" for Long Term Care.

The Aviva Community Fund Grant would give Jest for Joy a chance to follow in the footsteps of this already successful program in the East, and establish our work as the first programme of its kind in Western Canada. The grant would provide the following services and insurance that these professional standards to be met for several years!:

·Minimum of one team working twice a week at the George Pearson Centre, a Long Term Care Facility for Adults in which we have been servicing with exceptional feedback for the past 6 months.

·Funds to commence a secondary team at a new facility within the Lower Mainland.

·Ongoing support, debriefing meetings as well as ongoing training for performers. When the demand for additional clown-doctors arises, Jest for Joy will hire and fully train performers in the art of clown-doctoring as well as workshop them on the integration of performing in health care settings.

·Periodically evaluate clown-doctors and survey medical/support staff to ensure quality service is being delivered on a constant basis to maintain an optimal healing environment.

Jest for Joy is planning for long-term growth and stability, and anticipates gaining Charitable Status, which will enable us to apply for corporate sponsorship and hold larger fundraisers (as charitable receipts would then be issued).  One of our goals to achieve sustainability is to engage a university or research partner who is interested in discovering quantitative data supporting and developing previous findings from other international clown-doctoring organizations. Several studies seem to show that laughter is the best medicine: humour in health care appears to decrease requests for pain medication and accelerate rehabilitation!

Thank you for taking the time to review and consider the work of Jest for Joy. If you have voted for us already, we whole-heartedly appreciate your support! Do visit us at www.jestforjoy.ca to learn more and offer your support.

• 

  Dr Prepared administers a neuro-humouritis scan
  A clown-doctor is a specially trained professional artist who works in a healthcare facility providing therapeutic humour to patients.
  October 24, 2009 @ 7:42 PM

  
  
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  Promoting wellness one smile at a time!
  5- Dr. Nose-a-Lot and Dr. Prepared with a friend at the "Naughty Noses" fundraiser for Jest for Joy
  October 24, 2009 @ 10:10 PM

  
  
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  Our dedicated team
  The Jest for Joy Board of Directors and Drs Prepared and Nose-a-Lot. A common value we share is the advocacy of public health care. Our organization strives to support the clinical team!
  October 24, 2009 @ 10:23 PM

  
  
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  Our finest doctors are readily available
  Dr. BB and Dr. Prepared at Science World for Health Awareness month, June 2008
  October 24, 2009 @ 11:31 PM

  
  
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  Spirit Clowning
  Allyson J Grant, Founder of Jest for Joy, Spirit Clowning at orphanage in Dominican Republic. The Spirit Clowning Workshops have touched the lives of well over 1000 students in the Lower Mainland over the past 3 years.
  October 24, 2009 @ 11:42 PM

  
  
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  Pilot Project Continues!
  Dr. BB and Dr. Prepared with a resident at the George Pearson Centre, where Jest for Joy currently provides service once a week.
  October 24, 2009 @ 11:47 PM

  
  
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  The doctors are in!
  Intrroducing Dr. BB and Dr. B Prepared. Our doctors perform with a minimum of make-up and props. A clown-doctor is a specially trained professional artist who works in a healthcare facility providing therapeutic humour to patients.
  October 24, 2009 @ 11:53 PM

  
  
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  Jest for Joy promotional video
  See first hand the work of Jest for Joy Clown-doctoring Initiative. Advocates of public health care, we strive to promote wellness one smile at a time. Is laughter the best medicine? The residents of our pilot project care facility have their say!
  October 25, 2009 @ 4:50 PM

  
  

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Only most recent 1,000 comments are shown.

• Allyson

  Thank you for your votes, all! Everyone who is involved with Jest for Joy thanks you!
  October 26, 2009 @ 11:58 PM EST

  
  

• nel

  It is amazing to see what a wonderful job these young people are doing. Their efforts are so evident in the patient's responses. They make people laugh which is a healer in itself. Keep up the great work and our very best wishes to you.
  October 27, 2009 @ 2:05 PM EST

  
  

• wicko

  Yay! fun n stuff
  October 27, 2009 @ 10:16 PM EST

  
  

• Dr BB

  Jest for Joy is awesome because they let me have fun and sing and dance and be nothin' but trouble and they let me be famous on youtube which makes me happy and I got to meet Badges and work with her which is fun but sometimes she's a brat and Dr. Nose-a-Lot is fun too but sometimes he doesn't know as much as his name implies and I get to meet amazing people who teach me more about life and stuff and laugh at me, I mean with me, I hope I mean with me... but anyways, Jest for Joy is really really great so thanks for voting for them if you have 'cause it really means a whole bunch to a whole bunch of people just like our friend in Ward 2 says 'cause your vote may help us, "keep up the good work, Docs!" Love, Dr BB And I love jellybeans. The end.
  October 28, 2009 @ 1:56 AM EST

  
  

• alysetalia

  This is such an incredible program and I am cheering for you and keeping all those you help in my thoughts and prayers. Alyse S.
  October 28, 2009 @ 9:23 PM EST

  
  

• Phoenix

  Keep up the great work you guys, best of luck in this competition, I know your dedication and care are unparalleled.
  October 29, 2009 @ 6:53 PM EST

  
  

• Bernie

  Dr BB ...I miss you in the OR ... I am so glad that you are able to bring belly-button-ectomies and smile-a-lot-at-mes to the Lower Mainland ... Lotus land need clown-doctors and I am so glad you have been able to bring this wonderful service to them ... I wish you and all your team all the best ... your friend and colleague , Dr. Haven't-a-clue!
  October 30, 2009 @ 6:29 AM EST

  
  

• K. Blackmoor

  Someone once said, that if the whole world could laugh at the same time there would be world peace. The endeavors of your group is likely far more exponential than you may realize. This is a good infection to spread. Maria
  October 31, 2009 @ 1:34 PM EST

  
  

• RickF

  Hope my vote helps.
  November 1, 2009 @ 6:01 PM EST

  
  

• KitKat

  Ally...great work and I'm hoping all of our votes pay off!!
  November 1, 2009 @ 9:00 PM EST

  
  

• KitKat

  This comment has been moderated November 1, 2009 @ 9:01 PM EST

  
  

• Ron

  Best of luck! I hope that soliciting votes from big internet communities really pays off! http://www.reddit.com/r/reddit.com/comments/9zxde/reddit_our_nonprofit_startup_needs_about_180/
  November 1, 2009 @ 10:16 PM EST

  
  

• niknomura

  woo go Jest For Joy!
  November 2, 2009 @ 8:18 PM EST

  
  

• catmomma

  The work you do brings tears to my eyes, in a good way. I am always moved when I see and hear what you are doing. It's wonderful and so much needed!!
  November 3, 2009 @ 2:56 AM EST

  
  

• dodo

  Good luck Jest-ers.
  November 3, 2009 @ 12:22 PM EST

  
  

• janine

  such a great project that provides an improvement in the quality of life for people at the most difficult time of their lives. hope you get the support you deserve
  November 8, 2009 @ 2:34 PM EST

  
  

• Kristie Bi

  Go-good lu-luck... hope my vote was useful to u (^_^)~
  November 9, 2009 @ 9:23 PM EST

  
  

• s.e.t.

  You guys are amazing! I think you definitely qualify as a buzz worthy organization too! What do we have to do to really get the "buzz factor" going here? Twitter? Facebook? I will keep voting every day for you guys!
  November 9, 2009 @ 11:03 PM EST

  
  

• Allyson

  Thanks, s.e.t.! In order to be a "buzz worthy" qualifier, we must have tons and tons of comments coming in. I believe they have to be posted either here, or on our youtube video or twitter. I am not sure how they track it, especially if it's on facebook. So folks, keep those comments coming too - every time you vote, you could say something! Thank you for your support, s.e.t. and everyone else!!
  November 10, 2009 @ 1:34 AM EST

  
  

• Richie K

  Absolutely love the work you guys are doing! Good luck and keep it up!
  November 10, 2009 @ 1:23 PM EST

  
  

• catmomma

  I hope that friends and other visitors will take a few minutes to look at the Jest for Joy website (www.jestforjoy.ca) as well as the promotional video to even better understand the great contribution being made by Jest for Joy, not only in health care but also in the broader community (e.g. - the education system), both in and beyond Canada. The value and impact of your work is not easily measured but I think there can be no doubt that it is significant, uplifting, inspiring and far-reaching. May you get the funding that you so richly deserve to carry on and expand your excellent work.
  November 10, 2009 @ 3:23 PM EST

  
  

• Allyson

  Thank you catmomma, for your support and words of encouragement. If anyone has access to other forums to spread the word of our work and this campaign, please feel free to share our page link. Unfortunately, the Vancouver community as a whole does not know that much about Jest for Joy's work yet, so getting the word out far and wide is imperative to our success here. Thanks, supporters!
  November 10, 2009 @ 4:38 PM EST

  
  

• s.e.t.

  Go JFJ! I mention you guys everyday on my facebook page! i hope that it's getting some more traffic (and votes!) over here! Keep up the wonderful work!
  November 11, 2009 @ 1:03 AM EST

  
  

• Richie K

  Gotta love those red noses!
  November 12, 2009 @ 11:05 AM EST

  
  

• janine

  such a great project that brings joy to so many! wish i could vote more than once a day!
  November 12, 2009 @ 2:45 PM EST

  
  

• maxpower

  good work guys
  November 12, 2009 @ 6:49 PM EST

  
  

• s.e.t.

  Good Luck in Round 3!!! I'm rooting (and voting!) for you!
  November 19, 2009 @ 10:50 AM EST

  
  

• Richie K

  I wish I could vote more than once a day! You guys totally deserve this funding!
  November 19, 2009 @ 10:51 AM EST

  
  

• catmomma

  I truly hope you will find the needed funding to continue your valuable and inspiring work. It would be a real loss to the health care system if you could not carry on and, better yet, expand the reach of, the wonderful work you do for lack of financial resources. Good luck!
  November 19, 2009 @ 12:39 PM EST

  
  

• Richie K

  What JFJ is doing is so important! And the inspiring, exciting thing is that they are already working to create positive change. So many of the ideas that I am looking through on this website, are great, but are a long ways from being up and running. What is so encouraging about JFJ is that they have found a way to start making that difference in our community with very limited resources - just imagine what they could do with real funding!
  November 20, 2009 @ 10:33 AM EST

  
  

• s.e.t.

  I couldn't agree more with the above comment! JFJ has already established their importance in our community - let's all do everything we can to support them!
  November 20, 2009 @ 10:36 AM EST

  
  

• Allyson

  Thank you to everyone who has been voting, commenting and sharing this link with their friends and families. Your comments of how and why this work moves you is why we are so passionate about what we do with Jest for Joy.
  November 29, 2009 @ 11:58 PM EST