Peer Health Educators in Faith Institutions: Change Agents and Healtth Ministry Catalysts

Persistent racial/ethnic health disparities remain an unacceptable national reality. Health advocates often focus on faith institutions as partners to achieve health equity. But these institutions can and often do convey mixed messages to their members (e.g. unhealthy repasts).  We will present case studies describing the role and effectiveness of lay church/mosque members who have become catalysts to change their institutions’ culture and promote/expand health ministries. We will report on a project involving five faith institutions in DC wards where health disparities prevail. Conducted by Summit Health Institute for Research and Education, Inc. (SHIRE), this project revealed several challenges, such as pastoral reluctance to counter members’ food preferences. Guidance was provided by SHIRE to peer health educators to address these challenges and will be shared, along with activities that gained support from congregants for health/wellness ministries. Lessons learned include: 1)  how to leverage external resources (SHIRE) to support change within faith institutions; 2) how peer educators can succeed in faith institutions; 3) strategies to bring a health/wellness focus to existing activities (e.g. feeding programs); 4) activities most likely to engage congregants and sustain health/wellness ministries. Recommendations are: 1) consider partnerships between external health organizations and faith institutions that build capacity in the latter, engaging lay members as internal change agents. 2) engage faith institution members who are committed to health/wellness as partners to understand an institution’s culture, potential barriers and opportunities for leveraging and expanding health-related activities. 3) Recognize and appreciate the uniqueness of faith instiutions and respect their cultures.