Health Fundamentals Newsletter
An online newsletter published by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.
June 2009
Healthy Congregations
Partnering with local United Methodist churches for a healthier Kansas
Healthy Congregations Covenant offers cash and resources to support health ministry
For 12 years, the Health Fund has supported health ministries through Healthy Congregations grants, annual retreats, and a recognition program. Moving forward, the Health Fund is enthusiastically continuing its commitment with a simplified, new approach.
The new Healthy Congregations Covenant program is built around a Covenant between your congregation, as represented by the pastor and health ministry coordinator, and the Health Fund. The program offers two participation options to fit churches at different stages of health ministry development and commitment.
Covenant of Participation - Level One
Designed for churches either just starting their involvement with health ministry or not yet ready to make the greater commitment encompassed by the Level Two Covenant, Level One participation provides $100 annually following completion of the Healthy Congregations report, with no further reporting required.
Covenant of Action - Level Two
Level Two participation involves training of a health ministry team and development of an annual work plan. Each church that commits to completing the seven capacity-building core training courses, submitting an annual activities plan, and submitting an annual Healthy Congregations report, will be awarded a $1,000 "signing bonus" for program and training support.
Once a Level Two health ministry team has achieved "certified" status by completing the core courses within 24 months, the church qualifies for a $1,000 award each subsequent year by submitting a health ministry activity plan with its report by the annual March 1 deadline. For the 27 churches which previously participated in the Healthy Congregations in Action pilot project, if at least three HCIA team members are retained on the new Covenant health ministry team, the training requirement may be waived at the discretion of the program administrator and/or Health Fund.
Report forms revised and simplified
The new Healthy Congregations Report, which fulfills the reporting requirements of the Covenant agreements, has been greatly simplified. The report asks for information on the church's 3 to 5 most effective health ministry activities. We're especially interested in knowing about new and innovative programs so we can share that information with other congregations.
Churches may sign up for the covenant program throughout the year. Non-HCIA churches signing up as Level 2 participants will receive an initial $1,000 "signing bonus" for training and program support after their completed Covenant form has been accepted. Details of the new Healthy Congregations Covenant program are available on our website.
Healthy Congregations Covenant training courses scheduled - starts July 18th
The 2009 schedule of Healthy Congregations Covenant training courses has been set, with the first session coming up July 18th. The Covenant training courses include the seven core courses required for certification under the Level Two Covenant program (see above article), as well as elective courses which fulfill the continuing education training requirement under the Level One or Level Two covenants. There is no cost to register or attend, but pre-registration is required.
We have found that the 7 "core courses" have a dramatic positive impact on the ability of the team to deliver high quality programs to the congregation. For a church electing Level Two participation, a health ministry team of at least 3 is expected to complete the "core courses" within 24 months. Once this requirement has been met, the team (and church) achieve "certified" status. The 7 Core courses are:
- Health Ministry 101 - 3 hours
- Volunteer Recruitment & Retention - 2 hours
- Outcomes-based Planning - 2 hours
- Group Facilitation Techniques - 2 hours
- Program Options & How to Plan Program Events - 2 hours
- Health Communications & Marketing - 2 hours
- Program Evaluation & Using Data - 2 hours
Training dates for 2009 are July 18, August 29, and October 10. Each training event offers four courses (three core and one elective). For churches wishing to complete the Level Two core courses in a minimal amount of time, it is possible to take all seven required courses this year and achieve "certified" status in time for the March 1 HC Report and HC Plan deadline. Certified Level Two Covenant churches are eligible for a $1,000 award each year a qualifying Report and Plan is submitted by the annual March 1 deadline.
The trainings are offered simultaneously at five regional locations across the state including Wichita, Topeka, Pittsburg, Hays, and Garden City.
You will need to provide your own food and beverages at the training sessions. Please plan to either bring brown-bag lunches and drinks for your team, or skip one class and go out for lunch during that time slot. A refrigerator and microwave oven are available for participant use at each site.
More event information, including a full schedule and online registration, is available at www.healthfund.org/hcctraining.php.
Healthy Lifestyles
Promoting healthy nutrition and physical activity to maintain and improve health
Self-Care Workshops series continues; Topeka, Beloit are next locations
The Health Fund is underwriting a series of free workshops for Kansas United Methodist clergy, clergy spouses, and church staff throughout 2009. Servant Leadership: Personal and Professional Self-Care provides a structured opportunity for individuals to examine their current choices within the areas of mental/emotional, physical, social, and spiritual health and to develop personalized plans for behavioral and environmental changes to improve their personal health. The next two workshops are scheduled for July 11th in Topeka and July 25th in Beloit.
Workshop participants will explore the connections between spiritual, mental, social, and physical health; understand how servant leadership requires self-care; experience stress-management techniques; learn how to say "no"; self-assess current health behaviors and choices; and discuss current knowledge and recommendations for nutrition, physical activity, hydration, and sleep, and how to personally implement those recommendations.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have developed a structured self-care covenant for behavioral and environmental changes to improve personal health, and an accountability plan to help keep on track with the chosen self-care goals.
Mark your calendars and plan to attend one of these free events in your community. Pre-registration is required. Workshop details, dates, locations, and online pre-registration can be found on the Health Fund website www.healthfund.org/selfcare.php.
Kansas West Conference issues "Get Healthy Walk Challenge" to Kansas East
A walking challenge has been issued between the Kansas East and West conferences of the United Methodist Church. The challenge, which begins July 1 and ends Oct. 31, is open to all clergy and laity in the conferences.
Participants may log their steps or miles by using a pedometer or treadmill or by keeping track of time spent doing moderate-intensity exercise, such as jogging, bicycling, doing yard work, swimming or doing housework. Fifteen minutes of moderate-intensity exercise counts as one mile.
Participants will walk in increments of six weeks and may participate during any six-week period during the challenge or complete the entire challenge.
Kansas East and West miles will be tallied and a winner will be announced at the 2010 Annual Conference sessions. The winner will be recognized with a banner. A certificate of participation will be awarded to each participating congregation.
To register and to record miles, go to the America on the Move website.
The instructions for registration are:
- Go to http://aom2.americaonthemove.org.
- Click on “Individuals.”
- Click on “Get involved today.”
- Select which description is most accurate:
- I am an individual who is interested in my health and wellness.
- I am a health care professional.
- Click on “Join a group.”
For KS West:
Enter registration code RKW148554. The Kansas West Conference group is “KWCUMC.”For KS East:
Enter registration code RKS149219. The Kansas East Conference group is “KSEUMC.”
- Fill in personal information and follow the prompts. All personal information is confidential.
- Confirm the information and exit. An e-mail confirmation and tools to record progress will be sent.
For more information, visit www.kswestumc.org or www.kansaseast.org.
General News
Innovation Funding grants update
Innovation Funding grants will not be offered this year. The program was made available in 2007 and 2008 as a way to gather some of the best ideas for impacting our three health focus issues in Kansas—oral health, access to healthcare, and healthy lifestyles. We received 162 applications and awarded 33 Innovation Funding grants. Our total investment in these grants was $1.4 million.
This is an exciting time for the Health Fund and a time of transition. In 2009, we are evaluating the three focus areas of our funding since 2003 and also planning for the best way to use our resources to advance health, healing, and wholeness in the future.
Many Kansans have already participated in discussion groups or interviews on health issues and offered ideas on how the Health Fund might improve health outcomes in Kansas. Information is being gathered and evaluated by our Board of Trustees. A decision is expected at the end of the year on the Health Fund’s focus for 2010 through at least 2012.
DVD available for checkout to nonprofits
“Celebrate What’s Right with the World,” with
National Geographic photographer Dewitt Jones, encourages us to celebrate
the things that
are right with the world, to recognize our possibilities, and to find solutions
for the challenges before us. Filled with inspirational photography and
dialogue, the video is designed to help viewers approach their lives
with
celebration, confidence, and grace.
Nonprofit organizations may check out the video free of charge by contacting
Stephanie at salexander@healthfund.org, 620-662-8586, or 800-369-7191.
Availability is limited and subject to previous scheduling; please contact
us well ahead of the requested viewing date.
Health Through Faith and Community study guide available
The Health Fund has a limited number of copies of the “Health
Through Faith and Community: A Study Resource for Christian Faith Communities
to Promote Personal and Social Well-Being” study guide available,
which we are offering to Kansans at no charge. 
To
request a copy, please use our simple online form or call 800-369-7191.
The curriculum contains eight study sessions which can be used independently or together as a multi-week class. The guide provides information and learning activities on the physical, mental, social, spiritual, and environmental aspects of health from an ecumenical Christian perspective.
The study guide is designed as an instructor resource, containing handouts and worksheets which may be copied and distributed to class participants. Participants do not need individual copies of the book.
The study guide was produced through a Health Fund grant and written by a team led by KU social work professor Ed Canda, Ph.D. Haworth Press is the publisher.
Supplemental materials to aid in teaching the curriculum are available at www.healthfaithstudy.info. The supplemental materials include electronic versions of the overheads and handouts contained in the book, and a special supplement available only online. Book ordering information for out-of-state persons or churches is also available on the supplemental website.
C 2009 United Methodist Health Ministry Fund
www.healthfund.org – healthfund@healthfund.org – 620.662.8586 – 800.369.7191