Through partnering with Carle, faith communities can help positively impact their members' health by developing a health ministry to provide care to members' body, mind and spirit.
Carle collaborates with communities of faith throughout central and east-central Illinois to identify health promotion opportunities. We often work together to identify and respond to needs by developing and offering programs such as food pantries, faith community nurses, health clinics, transportation to medical appointments, home and hospital visitation teams and health education programs.
For more information, call (217) 902-3160 or email FaithCommunityHealth@carle.com.
For a faith community seeking to build a health ministry, these are some key points to consider.
Setting goals
Budgeting
Determine if a budget is needed to support development of a health ministry. You may already have parts of a health ministry program like food pantries to serve those that have food insecurities, nurses or other healthcare providers educating fellow members, a home or hospital care and visitation team, and members that volunteer in other ways to minister to the body, mind, and spirit to improve overall health.
Facilities
Evaluate if there are facility needs to support a health ministry. You may not have additional facility needs or may have space that can be used as multi-purpose.
Marketing
Determine the best methods to communicate with members about the health ministry. This may include social media, email, website or bulletin inserts. Communication may advertise opportunities like blood pressure screening, health fairs and volunteering, or promote health and wellness.
Find useful instructions and toolkits, browse the education library, learn more about resources at Carle and find links to organizations.
Please Contact Us if you have any questions.