The Effectiveness of an Interdisciplinary Team Approach in Promoting Health & Wellness in Faith

Communities

Tom Pruski, RN, MAPSWesley Seminary Heal the Sick

Program Director

Current TrendsChanges in Healthcare – A.C.A. population based

model• Changes in Culture & Impact on Religious

Institutions & Societal StructuresInstitutional Church on decline

Need for innovative faith & health education models to address various learners & disciplines Clergy, laity - practice an integrated faith life beyond

the walls of the church, ongoing faith formationProfessionals, students, public health sector–

greater appreciation of interdisciplinary work, teams

Four questions in building interdisciplinary health teams:

• What do you think it takes to build a ‘healthy’ health team for a faith community?

• What are some characteristics of successful interdisciplinary health teams?

What are some challenges in building interdisciplinary health teams?

How do you develop successful interdisciplinary health teams?

Some Various Disciplines Involved in Health Ministry

Healthcare Professionals – registered nursesProfessionals – lawyers, accountants, etc.ClergySeminariansVolunteers Artists – Massage Therapists, Musicians, Art

Therapy

Health Ministry RolesClergy – Professional, SeminariansFaith Community NursingHealth Ministers - Different Denominational

and Public Health Use Variety of Terms “congregational health promoter”“lay health promoter”“congregational health leader”

Leaders of Various MinistriesEmerging Roles

Health and Wellness Coaching, Life Coaching

Building Structure: Faith Community Health Ministry Models

Health Ministry Encompasses One or a Hybrid of These Various Models:

Faith Community NurseHealth MinistersHealth Committee or Health & Wellness TeamVarious Ministry leaders – social concerns, etc.Pastoral Associate, ClergyVarious Ministries – Faith Formation, Social

Justice, Stephen’s Ministry, etc.

Enter Education Program & Follow Professional Standards Guiding Various

Health Ministry Roles & Practices

Important Questions for Health Ministries in Faith Communities

Is our health ministry team a true representation of our faith community?

Are you serving inside or outside our faith community? or both?

How will you know we are successful? How will you evaluate your actions and impact?

Does your entire faith community understand what health ministry is?

Challenges in Health Ministry: Role Expectations

Role descriptionsPursue education to know role People do not want to become involved, if there

is a lack of clear expectationsRole time limit, increasing important to our

busy cultureDefine structures and roles of different

people/disciplines

Supporting Health Ministries Through Networks

LocalHospital/Primary Care Based Congregational

Networks Community Based Congregational Networks

self-determines their own goals, objectives, and mission powerful advocate, independent voices

Regional Networks through HMAInternet Resources - Online Discussion

Groups, E-Mail listBe creative

Continuity from Educational Foundation to Network Involvement

Faith Community Nurse Foundational Education

Health Minister Education

Health Committee Education

Additional Education for Specific Roles – Stephen Ministry, mental health

Congregational Network Support

Resource Support – sharing resources, best practices

Continuing Education for Various Health Ministry Roles – know trends, resources

Essential Elements to Interdisciplinary Health Ministry Team Development

Understanding connections to Mission:PersonalLocal Faith CommunityDenominationInstitutional – Healthcare, Educational, Etc.

Need to speak Common Language and have Mutual Understanding on faith & health concepts & contextWhat is a healthy person?What is a healthy community? faith community?

Keys to Success: Support from Institutional Leadership

Important to receive support from institutional leadership, without support it is difficult to sustainClergyDenominational Healthcare SystemsCommunity Leaders

Find the passionate champions - from pew to board room – make a personal connection

Provide leadership with reasons to support health ministry in different settings, provide evidence

Ways to Build & Promote ‘Healthy’ Healthy Ministries

Mentoring (HMA’s FCN model, new models) Build, develop, and maintain healthy

relationships among team members, institutional leaders

Leadership supporting internal transformation of community life

Build, sustain, and grow networks of support for various disciplinesAllow equal space, time for individual and

interdisciplinary role development

Research, Utilize, & Cite Trusted Resources that Shape Practice

The Public Health Institute and the

Centers for Disease Control

Health Systems Service Learning

Group

Other Important Considerations for Interdisciplinary Health Team

Consider the diversity of various faith, cultural, and races of the people we serve with

Understanding and personal comfortability with different denomination and different faith traditions

Important to ‘BE’ with others, listening presence

Who will guide the work?• People committed to live out mission and

vision in new, concrete ways• Boundary leadership on personal and

institutional level• Spiritual hunger among

community/congregational members, and professionals to practice and integrate faith in all aspect of their lives

• Creating and/or Supporting local congregational health networks

What are we learning?• Lack of backbone organizations and lack of

coordination is rampant across our competitive society

• Takes time to build trust among people, partners• Public Assumes all Faith Leaders & Medical

Professionals Are Competent in all spiritual & medical matters– Congregational Interviews revealed personal and

professional fear/anxiety on dealing with death medically and pastorally, may need additional training

What are we learning?• Long term, sustained Micro AND Macro

efforts required– Institutional Leadership in dialogue– Constantly creating faith and health dialogue

through workshops for individuals and communities to engage

• Leveraging Assets of Institution/Faith Community– Know what you can bring to the table, know

your limits too.

Practicing Regular Disciplines: An Essential Element of Health & Wellness Team Members

Regular Self-careHow is Your Spiritual Life?Reflecting on Self, Work, Recreational life

Perspective on VocationAuthenticity

Sensitive to Your Own & Others Vulnerabilities, Human Condition, Context

Value, Respect, & Honesty in This Context

4 Overarching Characteristics Guiding Interdisciplinary Health Ministry Work

• Need to speak Common Language and have Mutual Understanding on faith & health concepts & context

• Develop, form & sustain long lasting Relationships with people from diverse backgrounds – Networking/Support with colleagues, always open

to inviting and widening the collaborative circle – Diverse Relationships helps us know different

perspectives and talents, honor & respect for the human experience

4 Overarching Characteristics Guiding Interdisciplinary Health Ministry Work• Create opportunities to create, build, sustain

Trust – Attending partner events– Ongoing Dialogue and Work toward common

goals, vision, outcomes• Practicing Regular Disciplines of Self-

Care• Exercise – physical, meditative, etc.• Theological Reflection