Beginning A Congregational Health Ministry Produced by Mennonite Nurses Association Phyllis J. Miller, RN, MS Sondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSN Deb Cable, RN, BSN © Mennonite Nurses Association, 2005

The Purpose Of Congregational Health Ministry (CHM) Provide congregational resources that serve as a bridge from an individual’s recognized need or illness to a level of optimal health when obtaining healthcare is difficult or not possible.

Who should be involved? Pastor- must view CHM as a ministry of the church Pastor- must view CHM as a ministry of the church Core leader-Nurse/physician or other healthcare provider Core leader-Nurse/physician or other healthcare provider Must have a broad holistic understanding of healthcare and its resources Must have a broad holistic understanding of healthcare and its resources Must feel a call to this type of ministry Must feel a call to this type of ministry Must have a professional license and 2-5 years experience in healthcare Must have a professional license and 2-5 years experience in healthcare

Additional Members Depending on the people that are in your congregation, you might want to add other healthcare providers to the team. Some churches have had the following: Depending on the people that are in your congregation, you might want to add other healthcare providers to the team. Some churches have had the following: Counselors Counselors Nutritionist Nutritionist Wellness educators Wellness educators Rehab staff Rehab staff Other interested congregation members Other interested congregation members

Getting Started What Now? 1. Gather the CHM team to talk about what your team can do in your church and community. 2. Pray and decide on the direction for the team 3. Write out what you think your purpose for the team is and what you want to do. 4. Decide what each member of the team will be responsible for. 5. Decide, with the team, if persons outside your church will be invited to use the ministry. 6. Talk with a legal resource about the churches risk with taking on this ministry and how to minimize the risk.

What should be done first? You may feel the task is big but take it a step at a time. Teach the congregation about CHM Teach the congregation about CHM Sermons, bulletin announcements, presentations to groups Sermons, bulletin announcements, presentations to groups See end of document for help in putting this together. See end of document for help in putting this together. Ask the people in your church about their healthcare needs. What do they want to know more about? Ask the people in your church about their healthcare needs. What do they want to know more about? Utilize a prepared form or create one of your own Utilize a prepared form or create one of your own Include all of the congregation from age ~ Include all of the congregation from age ~   Check under “Resources” for forms that may be utilized

Process the Needs Assessment Total up your results to identify the areas where people have healthcare needs. Total up your results to identify the areas where people have healthcare needs. Avoid repeating the same services that are present within immediate community Avoid repeating the same services that are present within immediate community Use these results to start to plan activities for your CHM Use these results to start to plan activities for your CHM

How do we proceed? Conduct your first CHM activity Conduct your first CHM activity 1. Start with small events and number of events and build as the program grows and needs increase. 2. Be sure first event is well-organized and is gets the attention of the congregation. 3. Advertise your first event to the congregation for 3-4 weeks prior to event

Options Do you feel you need more help in getting this started? Have a resource person meet with you to assist with getting the program started. Have a resource person meet with you to assist with getting the program started. Provide professional training for the nurse Provide professional training for the nurse Parish nurse course-EMU beginning January 2006(tentative) Parish nurse course-EMU beginning January 2006(tentative) International Parish Nursing Foundation International Parish Nursing Foundation Follow ANA Standards and Practices Follow ANA Standards and Practices

Suggested Activities Here are just a few of the activities you can try while beginning your program. Blood pressure screenings Blood pressure screenings Wellness education Wellness education Health-related visits Health-related visits Transportation Transportation Go along with persons to Dr. visits for information clarification Go along with persons to Dr. visits for information clarification Health library Health library Advanced directives workshop Health fairs Establish a “Loan Closet” for durable medical equipment (walkers, crutches, canes, etc.) Form a “healthy food line” at church potluck dinners

Program Maintenance 1. Keep records of your meetings and events 2. Utilize volunteers to get the work done Transportation drivers, visits Transportation drivers, visits 3. Continue with a method of identifying ongoing needs within your church. Via pastors, visitation ministers, Sunday School classes and verbal referrals Via pastors, visitation ministers, Sunday School classes and verbal referrals 4. Add new services as warranted and resourced.

Reference List  Anabaptist Center for Healthcare Ethics, Healing Healthcare. Faith and Life Resources, Scottdale, PA  American Nurses Association Scope and Standards of Parish Nursing Practice. American Nurses Publishing; Washington, DC.  Mennonite Nurse Association website  O’Brien, M. E., Parish Nursing; Healthcare ministry within the church. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston, Massachusetts.  Sensenig, J.E., Nurse in the Congregation; A guidebook for planning health ministries in Mennonite churches. See CHM tab at for information on ordering.  Via Christi Health Advantage, Developing a Health and Wellness Ministry, Via Christi Health Organization, Wichita, KS.  Westburg, G., The Parish Nurse. Minneapolis: Augsburg.

Questions or Request For Presentations Sondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSN Sondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSN Hesston, KS Deb Cable, RN, BSN, BC Deb Cable, RN, BSN, BC Pretty Prairie, KS Carolyn Stoll, RN, BSN Parish Nurse Bahia Vista Mennonite Church Sarasota, FL Judy B. Yoder, BSN, PN Landisville Mennonite Church Manheim, PA