Faith Community Nurses eNewsletter – January/Februrary 2017
January/February 2017, Volume 2, Issue 1
Mind, Body, Spirit:
Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter
“To remain silent and indifferent is the greatest sin of all.”
-Elie Wiesel
We have entered a period of new leadership in our government. Many are concerned about projected changes in health care, as well as possible restrictions on their personal freedoms. Research clearly shows that dis-stress has a negative impact in all three areas of health: physical, mental, and spiritual. As a people of faith focused on wholistic health within our UCC churches and the communities we serve, some of our health promotion interventions must be broadened this year beyond the physical and mental health challenges we have addressed in the past. The following two publications will be useful in determining how we as individuals and as faith communities will respond for the health and wellbeing of others.
Ten Ways To Fight Hate – A Community Response Guide
This guide offers 10 specific ways that we can take action to counter hate and promote tolerance and inclusion. The steps outlined have been tested in communities across our nation by a wide range of human rights, faith and civic organizations. Additional resources are listed at the back of the document published by The Southern Poverty Law Center.
Often we become uncomfortable in a situation and recognize that we should do something but we are not sure how to speak up in a way that is helpful. Speak Up! calls on individuals to take a stand against everyday bigotry. Specific examples demonstrate how we can do it within our families, with friends and neighbors, at work, at school and in public. The Six steps to speaking up against everyday bigotry is followed by information on how to develop a collective campaign aimed at curbing bias, how to use the Speak Up! document as a training tool, and resources applicable to our ministries with people of all ages. The Teaching Tolerance Project of The Southern Poverty Law Center developed this document.
The Southern Poverty Law Center employs a three-pronged strategy to battle racial and social injustice. It is dedicated to fighting hate and bigotry and to seeking justice for the most vulnerable members of our society in six categories: hate & extremism, children’s rights, economic justice, immigrant justice, LGBT rights, and criminal justice reform.
SELF-CARE
While striving to provide for the spiritual, mental, and physical health of others we sometimes deprive ourselves of this gift. This Swedish Proverb may lead to a restoration of balance.
“Fear less, hope more;
eat less, chew more;
whine less, breathe more;
hate less, love more;
and all good things are yours.”
RESOURCES FOR OUR PRACTICE
Best Practice: People, Safety & Liability
One of our first concerns is to provide a safe place for the gatherings of our church family and guests, and a safe place for volunteers and employees to work. Helpful information covering the fundamentals of safety in a variety of areas including: a Slips, Trips & Falls Checklist, Lead paint safety, AEDs and the case for them, Alcohol guidance, Tornado safety and Snow removal are available from The Insurance Board in Volume 1 of the Loss Control Manual. Related links and resources will take you to the wording of the Good Samaritan Law by state and provide other training resources on line.
Health Education Programming: March is Colorectal Cancer Awareness Month
Colorectal cancer is the fourth most common cancer in the U.S. and the second leading cause of death from cancer. Colorectal cancer affects people in all racial and ethnic groups and is most often found in people age 50 and older. However, if everyone age 50 and older were screened regularly, 6 out of 10 deaths from colorectal cancer could be prevented. We can use this month to raise awareness about colorectal cancer, help people get screened, and take action towards prevention.
There are also materials available for other National Health Observances during March that may be of interest to your congregation.
Publication
The updated Any Body, Every Body, Christ’s Body – A guide for Congregations, Associations, and Conferences to Becoming Accessible to All (A2A) written and compiled by UCC Disabilities Ministries is now available as a pdf download. This guide will help to break down the social barriers to inclusion and provide guidance in recognizing and addressing physical barriers so that all congregants can access and become active participants within their faith community.
RESOURCES FOR OUR ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Research
Since 1995 research has supported that there is a positive association between spirituality and overall health. Spiritual assessments enable us to more accurately address each person’s needs. The article Doing a Culturally Sensitive Spiritual Assessment: Recognizing Spiritual Themes and Using the HOPE Questions explains how to use the HOPE assessment tool. With the knowledge gained we can then support the desires of our congregants and collaborate with the other healthcare professionals they encounter.
Publication
In our work we hear from many who have concerns about their health care coverage. With the current discussions about dismantling the Affordable Care Act (ACA) their questions and worry have increased. Kaiser Health News (KHN) is a nonprofit news service committed to in-depth coverage of health care policy and politics. It reports on how the health care system – which includes hospitals, doctors, nurses, insurers, governments, and consumers – works. KHN is editorially independent, accepts no advertising, and is NOT affiliated with the health insurance company Kaiser Permanente. All original content is available to other news organizations and the public free of charge.
Continuing Education
Help Military Veterans Overcome PTSD Active military service members and veterans are at high risk for post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Based on research a mobile app has been developed and is currently available for free to teach nurses how to assess for PTSD, intervene, and refer people for treatments. PTSD Toolkit
Conferences
Refresh Your Soul 2017 – March 13th & 14th Alzheimer’s & Dementia: Overcoming the Struggles & Living Inspired Keynote speaker: John O’Leary, author of On Fire – The 7 Choices to Ignite a Radically Inspired Life.
Questions? Contact 513-979-2246.
UCC Synod – June 30 – July 4th 2017 Baltimore, MD
Theme: Make glad!
We look forward to meeting you, spending time with you, and sharing insights and ideas for our ministries of health.
FUTURE ISSUES
Have something you want to share with your colleagues?
Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry?
That which we share with others multiplies immeasurably.
Contact Peggy Matteson