Writing Portfolio

Analysis

Exhale.ca - the Business Case
Development of a business case for Fraser Health Authority that explored the financial and tobacco reduction cost/benefits of supporting the exhale.ca website.

LESSONS LEARNED:   
Recommendations for Best Practice
A report detailing lessons learned by health authority staff through management of a Health Canada funded mass marketing campaign.

FINAL REPORT
of the Tobacco Reduction Mass Media Marketing Campaign managed by Fraser Health, Vancouver Coastal Health, Surrey Memorial Hospital Foundation and BC Smoker's Helpline. Funded by Health Canada.

Manuals

Parents as Preventors Facilitation Guide
A comprehensive facilitation guide for the delivery of this drug/alcohol prevention program that focuses on building family connectivity. Project included PowerPoint presentation and Parent Guide.

Parents Together Program Manual
A comprehensive 400-page facilitation guide for operating parent self-support groups including PowerPoint Orientation Guides and Workshops.

Health

Project Recuperate
Facing a lengthy recuperation? Minimize frustration and maximize satisfaction. Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Building Mental Fitness
Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Relationships

Are You Losing Control?
The Common Sense Guide to Parenting Teens
264-page book written by Carolyn Bergmann Usher, published and distributed by Crackling Communications

The Best Parent
   •  published and distributed by Canadian Child Care Federation
   •  tip sheet for parents on maintaining a sense of self

Parenting Pre-Teens: They’re All Originals
   •  40-page booklet published and distributed by BC Council for Families (BCCF)
   •  articulates the developmental milestones of 8-12 year olds and provides practical information for “setting the stage” for the transition through adolescence

Child Development Series
   •  published and distributed by BCCF
   •  a comprehensive series of 14 early-childhood development pamphlets dealing with topics like becoming a father, children’s feelings, teaching self-discipline, returning to work, anger and aggression, and time out for parents

Parenting Through Separation & Divorce
Parenting After Separation & Divorce
...when your children live elsewhere
   •  published and distributed by BCCF
   •  two 16-page booklets that explore these topics from the perspective that no matter where children live, they need the continued involvement of both their parents

Building Your Stepfamily: A Blueprint for Success
by: Susan Gamache, Ph.D, edited by Carolyn Usher
   •  a 40-page booklet, published and distributed by BCCF

Suicide: What Parents Need to Know
Suicide: It’s Not a Joke ...for teens
Suicide:: What You Need to Know ...for School Personnel
   •  published and distributed by BCCF
  •  a series of pamphlets used extensively in the school system

Parenting Teens Series
        •  Your New Role
        •  The Homefront
        •  Keeping Them Safe
        •  Discipline that Teaches
        •  Communication
 •  published and distributed by BCCF
 •  published and distributed by BCCF - a series of 16-page booklets exploring the transition through adolescence

Family Life Skill Cards
    Conflict Resolution
    Improving Communication
    The Family Council
 published and distributed by BCCF

Family Connections Magazine
A 40-page magazine published and distributed by the BCCF on a quarterly basis. Carolyn Usher functioned as editor, publisher and wrote at least one comprehensive article for each themed issue. Issues included:
 • Family Life Education
 • Parenting ..all ages and stages
 • Preventing Crime by Investing in Families
 • Food, Fun and Family
 • Twentieth Anniversary Edition
 • Facilitating Intergenerational Connections
 • Family Health
 • Transitions
 • Work and Family
 • Divorce: Doing it Better
 • The Case for Prevention
 • Bringing Death into our Lives
 • Family Finances
 • Youth: The Best Years of their Lives?
 • Family Learning
 • Stepfamilies: Building for Success

Travel

Beyond the Brochures: An Insiders Guide to Vancouver
Ottawa Citizen Newspaper

Laid Back in the Cook Islands
Vancouver Sun Newspaper
Regina Herald Newspaper

Twillingate: Going With the Floe in Newfoundland
Ottawa Citizen Newspaper

The Rockies: Dressed to Impress
Vancouver Sun Newspaper
Calgary Herald Newspaper

Maritmes: The Classic Canadian Roadtrip
Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Africa
Trip reports from South Africa, Lesotho, Zimbabwe, Kenya and Tanzania. Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Tips 'N Tools - Comfy in the Cheap Seats
Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Oz on the Road - Six Weeks in a Campervan
Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Australia & New Zealand
Trip reports from a six-month, 30,000 km journey across the lands downunder. Posted to Lifewellspent.com.

Mexico City Layover
A quick but ever adventurous 14 hour layover in Mexico City. Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Costa Rica - Roadtripping
What you need to know to take the road less travelled in Costa Rica. Posted to Lifewellspent.com.

Amsterdam in Transit
Move that butt out of the Schipol Airpot Lounger and explore Amsterdam in a day. Posted to Lifewellspent.com

Hawaii - the BIG Island
Volcanoes and turtles star in this mecca for budget travellers. Posted to Lifewellspent.com.



Marketing

ENCORE Magazine
 • published and distributed by the Arts Club Theatre over an eight-year period
 • feature articles based on interviews with actors, playwrights, directors, designers; reviews of plays; backstage insights.

ZARA’s Pasta Products
 • wrote and published a series of marketing/informational newsletters for ZARA’s Italian food products.


Online

Canadian Families ...What do we look like?   
 • co-written with Jennifer Holmes
 • a home-page feature for the Canadian Health Network

An Island of Endless Relaxation: Cook Islands
Canwest News Service

Websites: That Sticky First Impression   
Crackling Communications

Websites that Work   
Crackling Communications

Writing for the Web   
Crackling Communications

Balancing Work and Life ....you’ve got the power!
BC Council for Families

Doulas ...making a difference
BC Council for Families

Pre-teens ...they’re all originals 
BC Council for Families

Are You Losing Control of Your Teen?   
BC Council for Families

Teaching Money Management Skills to your Child   
BC Council for Families

FAQs – Canadian Health Network Website   
Wrote or edited 29 FAQs on a wide variety of topic areas for the Relationships Health Centre.