Faith-Based Efforts
On November 2, 2006, the Health Equity Initiatives Department at Families USA had the opportunity to meet with religious leaders, health advocates, and leaders from the minority health field in Des Moines, Iowa for a training designed to engage the faith community around the role that public programs play in reducing racial and ethnic health disparities. Click here to see the agenda from the meeting. In an effort to aid the advocacy efforts of health advocates and the faith community, the Minority Health Initiatives department has created and compiled the following tools and resources:
Families USA Resources
Two one-page sample bulletins can be used or adapted to distribute in the faith community. The first bulletin focuses on racial and ethnic health disparities; the second focuses on the State Children’ Health Insurance Program. (January 2007)
Case Study: Religious Leaders Advocating for the Uninsured This case study describes the efforts led by A Mid-Iowa Organizing Strategy (AMOS) in the Des Moines Metropolitan area to provide more affordable health care for the uninsured residents of Des Moines. (November 2006)
Faith-based Resources lists national congregations and organizations that work on advocacy and justice issues. (November 2006)
Developing Action Strategies For Your Community Provides faith communities with an activity to develop strategies for addressing health policy issues on the local, state, and national level. (November 2006)
Working with the Faith Community: Reflections from a National Faith Leader This tool for advocates identifies several tips and practical strategies for engaging and working with the faith community around health care issues. Drawing from her work with congregations that represent communities of color, Barbara Baylor, Minister for Health and Wellness at the national office for the United Church of Christ, reflects on how to engage the faith community as an effective way to improve health care. (March 2006)
Case Study: Joining Together to Oppose Medicaid Cuts in Tennessee This resource outlines the role Tennessee’s faith community has played in efforts to preserve TennCare, Tennessee’s Medicaid program. (January 2006)
Health Action 2006, featured a plenary entitled Faith and Justice: The Religious Rationale for Health Care. This plenary discussion had Rev. Linda Walling, John Carr, Rev. Barbara Baylor, and Rabbi David Saperstein as speakers. To view the video or read the transcript of this plenary, click here. (January 2006)
Please contact us if you are interested in learning more about this work, or would like us to come speak to your faith community.
