Beginning a Health and Wellness Program in a Faith Community

1. Beginning a Health and Wellness Program in a Faith Community Carmella Jones, RN, M.Div, FCN Director, Holy Cross Hospital Faith Community Nurse Program301/754-7066jonessc@holycrosshealth.org

2. Objectives • Discuss the Development of a Health Ministry in a Faith Community • Define Key Components In Establishing A Health Ministry • Discuss The Varied Roles And Desired Skills of Health Ministry Team Members • Identify The Benefits That The Role of a Health Ministry Offers to a Faith Community.

3. The Development Process

4. Stewardship of Health • Begins with the belief we are created as whole beings • Embraces body, mind and spirit as one • Affirms health is more than the absence of disease • Supports relational living in community to nurture health

5. Health Ministry is: • Defined as activities within a community of faith that promote the integration of faith with the promotion of health and wholeness that care for the mind, body and spirit. • Embodied in caring ministries that are an essential part of congregational life. They incorporate the values, beliefs, and practices of a faith community as components in motivating persons toward health and wholeness.

6. Physical Social Spiritual Emotional Mental Focusing on “Whole Health” A Dynamic / Relational Process God Self Other

7. Accompany Connect Provide sanctuary Pray Convene Frame Bless/sanction Have a different sense of time Unique Strengths of Congregations Gary Gunderson in Deeply Woven Roots says congregations have the strength to…

8. Key Components in Establishing a Health Ministry

9. Health Ministry requires The Intentional Practice of…. • Prayer • Patience • Process • Persistence

10. Formative Steps • Research • Leadership Support • Committee Formation • Commissioning Service • Ministry Activities • Evaluation

11. Preparation • Pray, pray, and pray more! • Intentionally gather information and study to learn about health ministry • Attend workshops • Visit websites • Seek out others in the broader community who are engaged in health ministry such as institution-based program coordinators and practicing faith community nurses

12. Sharing with Others • Share ideas with people in your faith community: • Health Professionals • Laypeople • Leadership • Especially speak with people who are doing health ministry; visitor ministries, prayer groups, support groups

13. Sharing with Others • Gain pastoral support • Seek church council consensus • Determine space and budget • Organizational placement • Clarify issues liability, ethics, and documentation

14. Create Visibility and Sustainability • Initiate ministry activity healing / commissioning service • Publish announcements bulletin / newsletter • Begin activity B/P screening, health tips • EVALUATE: process, impact and outcome • Pray

15. Health Ministry Team MembersVaried Skills and Roles

16. Form a Small Committee • Mission and Vision • Ministry Job description • Assessment • Identify existing ministries within the faith community • Interest and availability of health professionals within the community membership • Interest and needs of the members

17. Identify a Leader or Co-Leaders • Building a Health Ministry team is more than doing Health Care • Ministry Teams often die with the departure of its “founder”

18. A Health Ministry Team Leader Needs Leadership Skills • Leaders are NOT lone-rangers - RECRUIT • Leaders are OPEN & FLEXIBLE • Leaders share the work - DELEGATE • Leaders are teachable – LISTEN • Leaders are visionary – SEE Opportunities • Leaders know gifts and creative solutions can come from any member of the team

19. Health Ministry Includes Health counseling and screening E ducation - promoting “body, mind, spirit” health A dvocacy and resource referral Listening and facilitating support groups Training and coordinating volunteers Home and hospital visitation

20. Health Ministry Team Roles • Identify existing ministries to avoid duplication and competition • Survey faith community to determine health interests • Prioritize needs of faith community • Facilitate programs and health initiatives with community partners • Communicate health concepts to the faith community. • Includes members who are nurses (who do not function as FCN’s), social workers, other professionals, and those with gifts for serving Source: HMA, Sept., ‘10

21. Currently licensed Registered Nurse Colleague of pastor Integrate faith and health into faith community’s ministries Provide health education and counseling to individuals and groups Assess and refer individuals and groups Document findings and outcomes Liaison to community health resources Health advocate Develop support groups and care teams Comply with Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice Faith Community Nurse Roles Source: HMA, Sept., ‘10

22. Benefits of a Health Ministry Program

23. Hospitals serve here Both serve here Congregations serve here

24. Creates community Support values Deepen relationships Intergenerational engagement Health and wellness talks and resource library Support teams and support groups Prayer shawl ministry Advocacy and navigation in the health system Benefits of a Health Ministry

25. Resources for Additional Information • IPNRC www.ipnrc.parishnurses.org • Health Ministries Association www.hmassoc.org • University of Maryland, Health Sciences & Human Services Librarywww.hshsl.umaryland.edu/faith • Books: Patterson, Deborah L. Health Ministries: A primer for Clergy and Congregations McNamara, Jill Westberg. The Health Cabinet: How to Start a Wellness Committee in Your Church Health Ministries Association and American Nurse Association. Scope and Standards of Practice: Faith Community Nursing 2nd Edition