Health Fundamentals

January 2012 Special Healthy Congregations Issue
Sections: Funding and Resources | Events

Funding and Resources

Healthy Congregations Covenant deadline is March 1

March 1 is the deadline for submission of reports and/or plans to receive 2012 funding through the Healthy Congregations Covenant program. The program offers two participation options to fit churches at different stages of health ministry development and commitment.

The Healthy Congregations Covenant program is designed to provide training, funding, and technical support to help Kansas United Methodist churches develop and grow effective, high quality intentional health ministry programs.

Healthy Congregations Covenant option
Covenant program participation includes training of a health ministry team, development of an annual work plan and completion of an annual report.

Once a Covenant team has achieved “certified” status by completing the core courses within 24 months, the church qualifies for $1,000 cash support each subsequent year by submitting a health ministry activity plan and report by the annual March 1 deadline.

Churches signing up as Covenant participants will receive an initial $1,000 “signing bonus” for initial training and program support once their completed Covenant form has been accepted. Details of the Healthy Congregations Covenant program are available on our website. A church may sign up for the Covenant program at any time and receive the $1,000 start-up funding. The annual March 1 deadline for work plan submission applies after the team has completed training.

Healthy Congregations Report Only option
For churches just starting their health ministry programs or not yet ready to make the greater commitment of the Healthy Congregations Covenant, report-only participation provides $100 annually with completion of a simple report on your church's health ministry activities during 2011.

Events

Healthy Congregations Self-Care Workshops online February-March

Free workshops for Kansas United Methodist clergy, clergy spouses, and church staff are available online in February and March. 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.

Each online version of the Self-Care workshop consists of four two-hour sessions which can be completed from your home or office with no need to travel. Currently scheduled workshops are Mondays (Feb. 20, Feb. 27, March 5, and March 12) 1:30-3:30 p.m. and Tuesdays (March 6, March 13, March 20, and March 27) 10 a.m.-noon. Participants are expected to attend all four sessions in their chosen series.

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.

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. The workshop is underwritten by the United Methodist Health Ministry Fund.

Register today! Healthy Congregations Retreat April 27-28

The eleventh annual Healthy Congregations Retreat for United Methodists will be held April 27-28. Register today and look forward to enjoying two days of relaxation, interesting sessions, and networking with friends and peers in the beautiful and peaceful natural setting of Rock Springs 4-H Center, a scenic 735-acre conference site located in the Flint Hills. The retreat, including food and lodging, is provided free of charge by the Health Fund.

Visit our website to see videos and read comments from participants at previous retreats as they describe the experience in their own words and encourage others not to miss out on this "best-kept secret." Robin Swift

Robin Swift, MPH, is the featured plenary speaker for the 2012 Retreat. Robin leads the Clergy Health Initiative at Duke Divinity School, an innovative program to improve the holistic health of United Methodist clergy. Robin brings her deep understanding of the health issues facing our church and a strong interest in fostering health behavior change for greater effectiveness in ministry through personal well-being and wholeness.

The event brings together United Methodists with shared interests in congregational health ministries and the promotion of holistic health and healthy lifestyles. The retreat features a variety of sessions covering the spiritual, mental, physical, and social components of health.

Who should attend the retreat?

United Methodist parish nurses, local pastors, and other laity who are actively involved in congregational health ministries
All who want to initiate new health and wellness ministries in their United Methodist congregations
United Methodist church teams of two or three persons are encouraged to attend for mutual support after returning home

Sessions and workshops offered at this year's Retreat include many of the "Core Courses" needed to fulfill requirements of participation in the Healthy Congregations Covenant program.

A $25/person refundable deposit is required for registration; the uncashed deposit check will be returned during check-in.

More event information, including a full schedule and online registration, is available at www.healthfund.org/hcar.php.

Clergy Wellness Program now accepting 2012 applications

The Clergy Wellness Program, developed by the Kansas Area Health & Wellness Committee, is being offered again in 2012 and is now accepting applications. The program seeks to empower Kansas United Methodist clergy to develop and maintain healthy lifestyles by helping them identify individual health needs and develop personalized plans to address those needs through sustainable changes in behavior.

The program is available to Kansas United Methodist clergy who are assigned to a local church at least 3/4 time and have insurance through the Kansas East or West Conference health plan.

Clergy may apply to participate in the program by downloading and mailing the program brochure or by calling Susan Harvey at 316-684-0266 / 316-775-6325. 24 applicants will be selected to participate in the 2012 Clergy Wellness Program retreat, August 21-22 at the Spiritual Life Center in Bel Aire, KS. The program is offered at no cost to participants through the funding support of the Kansas Health Foundation and the Health Fund.

For more details on the program, including video testimonials from participants in the 2010 pilot, please visit the program website www.clergywellness.org. Program size is limited to 24 enrollees, so act now if you are interested in participating!