Healthy Congregations In Action
Background
In 2004, the Kansas Bishop of the United Methodist Church appointed the Kansas Area Healthy Lifestyles Advisory Committee to facilitate implementation of the elements of the Healthy Lifestyles Resolution passed by both the Kansas East and Kansas West Conferences.
The Healthy Congregations in Action initiative is a project of that Advisory Committee. This initiative is coordinated with the Health Fund's Healthy Congregations grants, recognition, and health ministry educational retreat programs. Healthy Congregations in Action aims to work within and through local United Methodist churches to promote healthy lifestyle choices regarding nutrition and physical activity.
The purpose of the Healthy Congregations in Action initiative:
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Encouragement of self-care
- Provision of accessible exercise venues and healthy eating knowledge and experiences
- Development of local partnerships to increase opportunities
- Increased communication in churches concerning health
- Development of policies and activities which support and model health
- Collection of church-specific health behavior data
- Networking United Methodists who are active in health issues for additional training and support
Due to the cultural and economic conditions we live within, many of us find that making and maintaining healthy lifestyle choices about nutrition and exercise is a difficult, uphill battle requiring substantial effort and discipline. The road to improved health through better lifestyle choices can be difficult to navigate, with often conflicting advice in the media and with few models we can look to for leadership and guidance in our journey to better health.
The first projects of the Healthy Congregations in Action initiative are designed to address these needs by developing model programs in pilot congregations across Kansas to demonstrate both the value of and techniques for personal and professional self-care to persons who will in turn pass the word on to others. 29 congregations across Kansas have been selected to pilot the HCIA program, kicked off at a Nov.4, 2005 launch event. See the news release link below for more information.
Healthy Congregations in Action Pilot Teams: the team support website, including RE-AIM survey and other resources, is now available.
The HCIA Pilot Initiative Compendium of Plans 2006-2007 is available here: [Adobe PDF Format]
Healthy Congregations in Action pilot projects news release
Presentations from HCIA pilot projects launch event, Nov. 4, 2005