Faith Community Outreach
Experiences to Share
Some counties have been able to include information
about HC/NCHC in church bulletins (Buncombe,Robeson), on bulletin
boards (Madison), through articles in the church newsletter (Alexander),
through presentations (Greene, Warren, Wilson), and through preschool
(Alexander) or Vacation Bible School (Macon) programs at the churches.
Healing Lodge Organizations in Robeson county have also been receptive.
Some counties have made inroads in the faith
community through Health Fairs (Chatham, Cabarrus, Forsyth, Wake)
and church Health Promotion Teams (Cleveland).
My program information is included in
church food pantry displays and at church childcares. I ask that
I be invited to any health fairs or community functions at area
churches.
-- Ann Bolen, Brunswick Co.
Families Helping Families - Faith in
Action - collaborative project of DSS, Project Jubilee, and the
Faith Community
-- Deborah Brown, Cumberland Co.
Distribute print materials/posters to churches.
-- Betsy Golden, Pamlico Co.
Letters have been mailed to the local churches
in the area which resulted in good response.
-- Phyllis Caine, Halifax Co.
We put nice posters in places that host and
care for children.
-- Wilma Young, Haywood Co.
Information is disseminated on their bulletin
boards or through their ministry counseling services.
-- Michelle Frizelle, Jackson Co.
We have partnered with faith communities during
Child Passenger Safety Fairs and Bike Safety Rodeos.
-- Darrell Renfroe, Orange Co.
Churches are notified through the Ministerial
Alliance and Ministerial Association committees that meet monthly.
Updates about the program are given to committee members to announce/post
in churches.
-- Annie Locklear, Scotland Co.
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(Below are excepts from the
Faith Community Outreach
efforts of Cabarrus and Edgecombe counties. For additional ideas,
see Overall Lessons & Conclusions)
Lesser role more
appealing
Relatively few churches ultimately took on a major role in enrolling
members. Not surprisingly, most of the congregations were willing/more
comfortable displaying information on their bulletin boards and
distributing flyers and brochures to their members. And many invited
Covering Kids staff to speak to their congregations.
Parish nurses can be important allies
Congregations that have a commitment to health ministry may also
have a parish nurse program. A parish nurse who is already familiar
with the community and the health needs of specific congregants
is a helpful referral resource. It may be unrealistic to expect
parish nurses to provide application assistance given other demands
on their time, however. Benefits from
ties
Outreach staff felt that the initiative helped to improve the perceptions
held by some religious leaders about government assistance and to
lay the groundwork for future work together. Additionally, ties
with the faith community led to the establishment and growth of
the scholarship fund in Cabarrus County.
Useful tools/materials
Useful materials included: the brochure, "Covering Kids through
the Faith Community"; the postcard with a menu of options for how
congregations might be involved in outreach/enrollment; the FAQs
for families; and a display board for staff presentations.
Spanish speaker
In working with the Hispanic/Latino churches, the Cabarrus pilot
found that it was extremely beneficial to have a DSS employee who
was Hispanic, and able to take and process applications - and who
could serve as a re-enrollment worker.
Next time
- We'd work more directly with the Sunday
school and vacation bible school programs and through the teachers
and youth group advisors.
- Strategies, materials and messages
that we've designed for the schools initiatives should be considered
and possibly adopted or adapted.
- We'd once again actively engage parish
nurses in the outreach efforts.
- We strongly recommend that those in
other communities work with faith community leaders to solicit
contributions to fund Health Choice enrollment fees for families
who are unable to pay.
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