Beginning A Beginning A Congregational Congregational Health MinistryHealth Ministry

Produced by Produced by

Mennonite Nurses Mennonite Nurses AssociationAssociation

Phyllis J. Miller, RN, MSPhyllis J. Miller, RN, MS

Sondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSNSondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSN

Deb Cable, RN, BSNDeb Cable, RN, BSN

© Mennonite Nurses Association, 2005© Mennonite Nurses Association, 2005

The Purpose Of The Purpose Of Congregational Health Congregational Health

Ministry (CHM)Ministry (CHM)

Provide congregational resources that Provide congregational resources that serve as a bridge from an serve as a bridge from an individual’s recognized need or individual’s recognized need or illness to a level of optimal health illness to a level of optimal health when obtaining healthcare is when obtaining healthcare is difficult or not possible.difficult or not possible.

Who should be involved?Who should be involved? Pastor- must view CHM as a ministry Pastor- must view CHM as a ministry

of the churchof the church Core leader-Nurse/physician or Core leader-Nurse/physician or

other healthcare providerother healthcare provider Must have a broad holistic Must have a broad holistic

understanding of healthcare and its understanding of healthcare and its resourcesresources

Must feel a call to this type of ministryMust feel a call to this type of ministry Must have a professional license and 2-Must have a professional license and 2-

5 years experience in healthcare5 years experience in healthcare

Additional MembersAdditional Members

Depending on the people that are in Depending on the people that are in your congregation, you might want to your congregation, you might want to add other healthcare providers to the add other healthcare providers to the team. Some churches have had the team. Some churches have had the following:following: CounselorsCounselors NutritionistNutritionist Wellness educatorsWellness educators Rehab staffRehab staff Other interested congregation membersOther interested congregation members

Getting StartedGetting StartedWhat Now?What Now?

1.1. Gather the CHM team to talk about what your Gather the CHM team to talk about what your team can do in team can do in youryour church and community. church and community.

2.2. Pray and decide on the direction for the teamPray and decide on the direction for the team3.3. Write out what you think your purpose for the Write out what you think your purpose for the

team is and what you want to do.team is and what you want to do.4.4. Decide what each member of the team will be Decide what each member of the team will be

responsible for.responsible for.5.5. Decide, with the team, if persons outside your Decide, with the team, if persons outside your

church will be invited to use the ministry.church will be invited to use the ministry.6.6. Talk with a legal resource about the churches Talk with a legal resource about the churches

risk with taking on this ministry and how to risk with taking on this ministry and how to minimize the risk.minimize the risk.

What should be done What should be done first?first?

You may feel the task is big but You may feel the task is big but take it a step at a time.take it a step at a time.

Teach the congregation about CHMTeach the congregation about CHM Sermons, bulletin announcements, presentations to Sermons, bulletin announcements, presentations to

groups groups See end of document for help in putting this See end of document for help in putting this

together.together. Ask the people in your church about their Ask the people in your church about their

healthcare needs. What do they want to know healthcare needs. What do they want to know more about?more about? Utilize a prepared form or create one of your ownUtilize a prepared form or create one of your own Include all of the congregation from age ~18-100Include all of the congregation from age ~18-100 http://mna.mennonite.nethttp://mna.mennonite.net

Check Check under “Resources”under “Resources” for forms that may be utilizedfor forms that may be utilized

Process the Needs Process the Needs AssessmentAssessment

Total up your results to identify the Total up your results to identify the areas where people have healthcare areas where people have healthcare needs.needs. Avoid repeating the same services that Avoid repeating the same services that

are present within immediate are present within immediate communitycommunity

Use these results to start to plan Use these results to start to plan activities for your CHMactivities for your CHM

How do we proceed?How do we proceed?

Conduct your first CHM activityConduct your first CHM activity1.1. Start with small events and number of Start with small events and number of

events and build as the program events and build as the program grows and needs increase.grows and needs increase.

2.2. Be sure first event is well-organized Be sure first event is well-organized and is gets the attention of the and is gets the attention of the congregation.congregation.

3.3. Advertise your first event to the Advertise your first event to the congregation for 3-4 weeks prior to congregation for 3-4 weeks prior to eventevent

OptionsOptionsDo you feel you need more Do you feel you need more help in getting this started?help in getting this started?

Have a resource person meet with you to Have a resource person meet with you to assist with getting the program started.assist with getting the program started.

Provide professional training for the nurse Provide professional training for the nurse Parish nurse course-EMU beginning Parish nurse course-EMU beginning

January 2006(tentative)January 2006(tentative) International Parish Nursing FoundationInternational Parish Nursing Foundation Follow ANA Standards and Practices Follow ANA Standards and Practices

http://nursingworld.org/books/anpsearchhttp://nursingworld.org/books/anpsearch3.cfm3.cfm

Suggested ActivitiesSuggested ActivitiesHere are just a few of the activities Here are just a few of the activities you can try while beginning your you can try while beginning your

program.program. Blood pressure Blood pressure

screeningsscreenings Wellness educationWellness education Health-related visitsHealth-related visits TransportationTransportation Go along with Go along with

persons to Dr. visits persons to Dr. visits for information for information clarificationclarification

Health libraryHealth library

Advanced directives Advanced directives workshopworkshop

Health fairsHealth fairs Establish a “Loan Establish a “Loan

Closet” for durable Closet” for durable medical equipment medical equipment (walkers, crutches, (walkers, crutches, canes, etc.)canes, etc.)

Form a “healthy Form a “healthy food line” at church food line” at church potluck dinnerspotluck dinners

Program MaintenanceProgram Maintenance

1.1. Keep records of your meetings and Keep records of your meetings and eventsevents

2.2. Utilize volunteers to get the work doneUtilize volunteers to get the work done Transportation drivers, visitsTransportation drivers, visits

3.3. Continue with a method of identifying Continue with a method of identifying ongoing needs within your church.ongoing needs within your church.

Via pastors, visitation ministers, Sunday Via pastors, visitation ministers, Sunday School classes and verbal referralsSchool classes and verbal referrals

4.4. Add new services as warranted and Add new services as warranted and resourced.resourced.

Reference ListReference List Anabaptist Center for Healthcare Ethics, 2005. Anabaptist Center for Healthcare Ethics, 2005. Healing Healing

HealthcareHealthcare. Faith and Life Resources, Scottdale, PA. Faith and Life Resources, Scottdale, PA American Nurses Association. 1998. American Nurses Association. 1998. Scope and Standards of Parish Scope and Standards of Parish

Nursing PracticeNursing Practice. American Nurses Publishing; Washington, DC.. American Nurses Publishing; Washington, DC. Mennonite Nurse Association website http://mna.mennonite.netMennonite Nurse Association website http://mna.mennonite.net O’Brien, M. E., 2003. O’Brien, M. E., 2003. Parish Nursing; Healthcare ministry within Parish Nursing; Healthcare ministry within

the church. the church. Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston, Massachusetts.Jones and Bartlett Publishers, Boston, Massachusetts. Sensenig, J.E., 2005. Sensenig, J.E., 2005. Nurse in the Congregation; A guidebook for Nurse in the Congregation; A guidebook for

planning health ministries in Mennonite churches. planning health ministries in Mennonite churches. See CHM tab See CHM tab at http://mna.mennonite.net for information on ordering.at http://mna.mennonite.net for information on ordering.

Via Christi Health Advantage, 2005. Via Christi Health Advantage, 2005. Developing a Health and Developing a Health and Wellness Ministry, Wellness Ministry, Via Christi Health Organization, Wichita, KS.Via Christi Health Organization, Wichita, KS.

Westburg, G., 1990. Westburg, G., 1990. The Parish NurseThe Parish Nurse. Minneapolis: Augsburg.. Minneapolis: Augsburg.

Questions or Request For Questions or Request For PresentationsPresentations

Sondra L. Leatherman, Sondra L. Leatherman, RN, MSNRN, MSN

Hesston, KSHesston, KS

sondral@hesston.edusondral@hesston.edu

Deb Cable, RN, BSN, BCDeb Cable, RN, BSN, BC

Pretty Prairie, KSPretty Prairie, KS

cabled@mennonitemanor.ocabled@mennonitemanor.orgrg

Carolyn Stoll, RN, BSNCarolyn Stoll, RN, BSN

Parish NurseParish Nurse

Bahia Vista Mennonite Bahia Vista Mennonite ChurchChurch

Sarasota, FLSarasota, FLbvnurse@comcast.net

Judy B. Yoder, BSN, PN

Landisville Mennonite Church

Manheim, PAbenyo77@att.net