Building Healthy Communities through Medical-Religious Partnerships - Softcover

"This book provides valuable tools and resources I have used during the past eight years as a volunteer faith community nurse at my church. The models of partnership have been extremely helpful in tailoring programs that best suit the needs of my religious community."

"Society has tried providing only medical care to its community members. It has tried providing only spiritual care to its community members. Each separately has produced only minimal positive results. It is time for collaboration between the two. Medical-religious partnerships are an excellent recipe for developing and supporting healthy communities."

"Clergy and their congregants often assume the role of family in extending support to individuals who are in need as they traverse the myriad of health minefields. Combining physical and spiritual interventions, as this book explains, not only makes theoretical sense, it is our best chance for making peace an achievable objective in our lives."

"Having been personally involved with the work of Drs. Hale, Bennett, and Galiatsatos, I have witnessed the tremendous impact health programs built around medical-religious partnerships can have on the lives of so many in our congregations and communities. This book serves as a valuable guide for those interested in developing similar programs."

"It has been a blessing to participate in the medical-religious partnership programs offered by Johns Hopkins and to have this book as a guide and resource to use in the health programs I can offer to my congregation and community."

Because health care works best when patients assume greater responsibility for their own health, community outreach and patient education are essential. But where can health care organizations find the resources to educate large numbers of people about chronic diseases? How can they tailor programs to meet the needs of increasingly diverse communities? And how can they reach people who have no ties to the health care system?

Building Healthy Communities through Medical-Religious Partnerships presents an innovative approach to community-based health education and patient advocacy programs targeted at the prevention and management of disease. Offering valuable guidance for religious and medical leaders interested in developing programs in their congregations and communities, the book includes practical and accessible information for establishing health education programs, identifies additional resources that can be obtained from local and national organizations, and discusses a range of medical topics. It also outlines how to train volunteers to assist others in navigating our complex health system.

This latest edition, which has been thoroughly revised and updated, incorporates

· new chapters on medical topics across the lifespan, including lung disease, kidney disease, and child and adolescent health issues;
· a thorough assessment of medical-religious partnerships that have emerged over the past twenty-five years; and
· a user-friendly website with downloadable resources―including an instructor's guide, PowerPoint slides, and ready-made handouts.