Helping people reach optimal health by integrating faith communities with healthcare to provide more effective patient navigation, education and support to create healthier communities regardless of race, religion or creed.
Bridging the gap between faith and health
A rapidly growing area of healthcare focuses on empowering our communities of faith to heal body, mind and spirit. Healthcare and faith have been linked for hundreds of years. Some of the earliest recorded hospitals were founded by monasteries and convents during the plagues of Europe. We’re continuing this tradition.
What is a faith community caregiver?
- A compassionate caregiver who offers companionship to those suffering from loneliness for one hour per week
- A trained volunteer who looks for potential hazards in the home and assesses for enhancements that may improve quality of life
- A resource champion who assesses the patients’ needs and utilizes local congregations, as well as community resources, to meet those needs—from mowing the lawn to building a wheelchair ramp to laundry services and much more
- A health advocate who assists the patients in following their plan of care as prescribed by their healthcare professional
Health ministry
A health ministry is an organized effort within a faith community, beyond the scope of normal worship and fellowship gatherings, that actively promotes the health needs of the congregation and surrounding area. By assisting faith communities in the establishment of health ministries, congregations emphasize the wholeness of body, mind and spirit.
Faith Community Health aims to empower and assist local congregations to create and expand upon their health ministry efforts.
Here are some examples of ways to address health in your congregation:
- Exercise classes—Are a great way to address the physical, social and mental health of your congregations. Your congregation could have weekly yoga classes, walking groups, Zumba classes, etc. The possibilities are endless!
- Education—Because congregations gather together on a weekly basis, this is a great opportunity to educate the masses about various health topics that may be of importance to your congregation.
- Community outreach—Faith Communities are often looking for ways to get to know their neighborhoods, and community outreach allows them to do so. Community outreach examples, such as health fairs, allows faith communities an opportunity to serve their neighbors while providing much-needed services.