Back to Annual Meeting Page		American Public Health Association 133rd Annual Meeting & Exposition December 10-14, 2005 Philadelphia, PA

Abstract #112802

Judy A. Johnston, MS, RD, LD, Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, 1010 North Kansas, Wichita, KS 67214, 316-293-1861, jjohnsto@kumc.edu and Elizabeth Ablah, MA, MPH, Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Kansas School Of Medicine-Wichita, 1010 N. Kansas Avenue, Wichita, KS 67214.

Purpose: Faith communities are influential in many people's lives and can be valuable partners in health promotion. The goals of this project include: Place wellness on the church's long-term agenda; Develop wellness leadership within the church; Identify best practices for faith community use; and, Develop and implement a long-range, multi-level plan to address wellness in the church

Methods: A statewide UMC organization and a medical school collaboratively developed a multi-year plan that connects mental, emotional, spiritual and physical health through a widespread and sustainable initiative. The medical school faculty provided reviews of current knowledge about health issues, literature reviews tied to selected priority outcomes, and evaluation strategies, along with community facilitation and planning.

Results: A three-way collaboration among a health foundation, a church-affiliated task force, and the medical school provides a productive dynamic that meets the goals of the project.

Conclusions: Through partnerships, development of a sturdy infrastructure, and adoption of evidence-based interventions, a more global and holistic perspective of health will be incorporated into daily life patterns of clergy and laity within faith communities.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant will be able to

• Describe the collaborative process used to develop a multi-level intervention in faith communities
• Identify at least three key elements of the planning process that may apply to other collaborative endeavors
• Analyze the potential role of faith communities in their own work

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

I wish to disclose that I have NO financial interests or other relationship with the manufactures of commercial products, suppliers of commercial services or commercial supporters.