RHC: Pittsburgh Mercy Health System

Contact: Sharon Stanton
Telephone: (404)-851-5721<

In a time when many people think there is no hope for the "health care system in America", there is an emerging spirit of interdependent partnerships bonding faith and health. Saint Joseph’s Congregational Health Ministries program is designed as just such a partnership between Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services and local churches, synagogues and other faith centers to provide holistic, preventive health care services.

In March of l996, Congregational Health Ministries, contracted with the Chamblee/Doraville Ministry Center in the Buford Corridor of Atlanta to place a congregational health nurse (parish nurse) as a Coordinator of Health Ministries for the Center. While many parish nurses are based at a specific church/synagogue, Ms. Jean Murphy, Saint Joseph’s congregational health nurse, was assigned to the ecumenical ministry center sponsored by several different denominations. It was thought that the nurse’s skills and presence would bring continuity and cohesion to an effort by the Atlanta Interfaith Health Project, then collaborating with the Ministry Center, to train, develop and support congregational health promoters. Ms. Murphy is bilingual in Spanish and English.

The Chamblee/Doraville Ministry Center is located in the heart of a multi-ethnic community which embraces a highly diverse coalition of 19 congregations. Under the leadership Rev. Sam Bandela, the partnership with Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care was seen as an opportunity to incorporate health ministry into the sustainability of the Center. For Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care, the partnership was seen as the bridge between a medically oriented service system and a health promotional system centered in and nurtured by faith. The possibilities of developing relationships with the Buford Corridor communities through congregational health ministry was viewed as an unique means of improving health and well-being for the persons immigrating and now living in this Atlanta area. The majority of these persons are uninsured and uninformed about access and use of the U.S. health care systems. They are economically poor, without permanent housing, without stable work. Fifty percent of the population is Hispanic and of these, 85% percent are young males. Ethnic diversity is further evidenced by communities from Korea (second largest population outside of Los Angeles), Vietnam, China, Laos, Tibet, Cambodia and others.

The congregational health nurse’s primary role was to develop health oriented resources and to train lay health promoters from the varied congregations to enable them to promote and encourage health and wellness in their own congregations. The effort has evolved into a trained force of about 25 active lay congregational health promoters, English and Spanish speaking, who weekly volunteer many hours to enable their congregations to be healthy and whole.

It took time and patience to use the Participatory Learning Approach in training the health promoters. Participatory learning challenges traditional methods of learning by experientially teaching the individuals to listen to each other and to community members so as to identify health problems and access resources in a more meaningful way. The participants are encouraged to work with the congregational health nurse to make appropriate use of the health care system and of resources. The premise of the training is that every individual and group with which they work have the skills, resources and capabilities to solve problems.

The congregational health promoters meet monthly to share information about activities in each congregation. An outside speaker provides expertise and information on topics of interest. They plan activities in the community jointly sponsored by the coalition of congregations and community agencies.

Saint Joseph’s congregational health minister, working with the many health promoters, sponsored a health fair in the Spring of 1996. Forty-six community agencies and resource organizations, along with the l9 churches, held a collaborative event which provided health promotional, screening and counselling services to over l000 persons in the community. This event was so well received that the Dekalb County Health Department singularly recognized the congregational health nurse for her outstanding direction.

What has been discovered with this model of ministry is that a coalition needs a fulcrum, a coordinating person who enables continuity and creative evolution for the churches and the community. This has happened in the Buford Corridor because some of the health promoters have participated in more training for transformation at the Global Health Action Center in Atlanta and are now training others. It is evident that if training and education is available, systems may change and life styles as well. And, the ultimate goal of healthier communities will be possible. It is further evident that the congregational health minister/nurse was essential for the stability and continuity of the program.

This is but one of many models that have been developed through the Congregational Health Ministries Program of Saint Joseph’s Mercy Care Services in Atlanta. Over the past three and one/half years the program has partnered with over 40 Churches , 27 of them through coalition contracts.