Faith Community Health Ministry
Caring for Body, Mind and Spirit
As a healthcare system grounded in a commitment to improve health, elevate hope and advance healing for all, we recognize the importance of faith in the healing process.
Faith Community Health Ministry is a collaboration between Atrium Health and faith communities throughout the region that promotes health and wholeness of mind, body and spirit. Through this ministry, we honor the longheld belief that faith and health are intertwined.
The Faith Community Nurse or Health Promoter Fills a Unique Role in Health Ministry:
- Integrator of faith and health
- Health counselor (Faith Community Nurse scope of practice only)
- Health educator (Clinical education – Faith Community Nurse scope of practice only)
- Referral agent
- Volunteer coordinator
- Support group facilitator
- Advocate
- Pastoral partner and staff member
Faith Community Health Ministry Services
The health ministry designed with your faith community is based upon your identified priorities and may include any or all the following:
- Educational programs from experts on a variety of health topics
- Health counseling by faith community nurses to help your members identify health concerns and provide encouragement to seek medical attention for symptoms they might otherwise ignore
- Spiritual interventions based on traditions of the community an needs of the individuals, such as prayer or reflection
- Collaboration in identifying and accessing health and community resources, ensuring your members receive the services they need
- Coordination of health events such as blood drives, mobile mammography screening and resource fairs
- Connection as a liaison between patients, physicians and the healthcare system
- Coordination of support groups to meet specific needs of your faith community
- Connection of members with community transportation resources to meet their healthcare needs
- Assistance with medical paperwork
- Home safety checks
- Medication reviews through the faith community nurse or coordinated with the local pharmacy to help your members understand proper usage, dosage and disposal of their medications
- Access to various programs that encourage positive lifestyle changes to improve physical, emotional and spiritual health (for example, Mental Health First Aid)
- Facilitation of end-of-life conversations and completion of advance directive documents
- Support of the faith community leaders through access to Clergy Forums and Atrium Health Chaplain Grand Rounds
Faith Community Health Ministry Services
The health ministry designed with your faith community is based upon your identified priorities and may include any or all the following:
- Educational programs from experts on a variety of health topics
- Health counseling by faith community nurses to help your members identify health concerns and provide encouragement to seek medical attention for symptoms they might otherwise ignore
- Spiritual interventions based on traditions of the community an needs of the individuals, such as prayer or reflection
- Collaboration in identifying and accessing health and community resources, ensuring your members receive the services they need
- Coordination of health events such as blood drives, mobile mammography screening and resource fairs
- Connection as a liaison between patients, physicians and the healthcare system
- Coordination of support groups to meet specific needs of your faith community
A Foundation of Caring
The Faith Community Health Ministry of Atrium Health has a rich history of joining two places of health and healing: the house of worship and the healthcare environment. Benefits of partnering with our program include:
- A strong leadership structure and an established program with an 11-county footprint and a two-decade history in Faith Community Health Ministry
- Ongoing education for faith community nurses and health promoters, equipping and empowering sustainable health ministry within the faith community
- Access to local and regional resources
- Clergy health and wellness offerings
We seek partners of all faith traditions to join us in this collaborative effort to bring you the care you need.
A Partnership in Healing
The concept of treating the whole person is deeply rooted in many religions, making churches, temples, synagogues, mosques and other places of worship natural environments for promoting better health.
The Faith Community Health Ministry (FCHM) is a network of partnerships between Atrium Health and your faith community or agency, creating a new health ministry team or providing support to an existing one through a faith community nurse, health promoter or liaison partnership model.
Your faith community nurse or health promoter receives training in health ministry through our program and works with a coordinator to develop a successful health ministry that is specific to the needs of your faith community. Many program offerings are provided in both English and Spanish.
Your faith community or agency may not have a nurse or health promoter to formally partner with but prefer to identify a liaison to participate in our FCHM network. This FCHM liaison would receive notifications of trainings and community resources and have access to educational materials.
“Our faith community nurses have provided educational information that has enabled our members to be proactive rather than reactive. I am thankful for the education, the personal contact and the assurance that our nurse is making personal contact with members who face a variety of health challenges.” — Reverend Donald E. Anthony, Grace Lutheran Church – affiliated with Faith Community Health Ministry since 2002
“We consider ourselves very fortunate to be in partnership with Atrium Health. The resources we have received have allowed us to encourage our congregates and visitors to become advocates for their own health. Some of our activities have included a mental health workshop facilitated by Atrium Health personnel, sponsored blood drives, weight management classes and a women’s health series.” — Mike and Anne Dames – Faith Community Health Promoters, The Charlotte Church
Grand Rounds Video: Faith Community Health Ministry, Pam Hurley
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Faith Community Health Ministry • 704-631-0718 • AtriumHealth.org/Faith