The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #37994

James B. Benn, Community Renewal Society, 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500, Chicago, IL 60604, 312-427-4830, jbenn@crs-ucc.org, Margaret A. Davis, RN, MSN, FNP, Health Consortium of Illinios, 1350 E. Sibley, Dolton, IL 60419, Iris R. Shannon, PhD, RN, Rush University, 3100 S. King Drive, Chicago, IL 60616, John Holton, MD, Prevent Child Abuse America, 200 S. Michigan Ave., Chicago, IL 60604, Kirsten Peachey, MDiv, MSW, Community Ministry, Advocate Health Care, 205 West Touhy, Park Ridge, IL 60068, Ester Sciammarella, MS, Hispanic Affairs, Chicago Department of Public Health, 333 S. State Street, Chicago, IL 60604, and Richard Warnecke, PhD, Health Research & Policy Centers, University of Illinois at Chicago, 850 West Jackson Boulevard, Suite 521, Chicago, IL 60607.

The Community Renewal Society (CRS), a 120-year-old citywide social justice organization, is using a faith-based organizing model to confront public health disparities in Chicago. In this model CRS relies upon the "call" of faith as the catalyst for designing a public health program within targeted congregations in the city's lowest income communities. Scriptural directives guide participants in the use of interviews and surveying, leadership development, community based assessment and goal setting, alliance building, and action. The model pays special attention to fulfilling the faith mission of the congregation by shaping itself as a ministry of the congregation. That means that the project's organizing goals include strengthening the presence of the congregation's faith mission within its neighborhood, as well as the elimination of public health disparities. All this allows the project to build upon a foundation of trust and shared vision. Neighborhood residents are brought together within their faith community, they construct a process for planning and implementing change, and then use the resources of that community to strengthen existing relationship with their neighbors by sharing initiatives in service and advocacy. This strengthening of relationship extends to existing public health resources, allowing them to expand access and impact within the congregation's neighborhood. One bridge to these resources is CRS' participation in the Chicago Partnership for Public Health, the local "Turning Point" coalition. Chaired and staffed by the Dept. of Health, the Partnership brings together most of the organizations that have made a commitment to public health in the city.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session participants will be able to

• Outline the principal components of a faith-based organizing strategy and describe the value of this approach.
• Provide initiative, an array of resources, and empowered community to neighborhoods suffering the effects of disparities, while strengthening relationship with the faith community within those neighborhoods. Acquire an understanding of the relationship between a faith community's faith mission, love of neighbor, and community building, and how this justifies active engagement in public health.

Keywords: Social Inequalities,

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
Organization/institution whose products or services will be discussed: Community Renewal Society 332 S. Michigan Ave., Suite 500 Chicago, IL 60604 312-427-4830
I have a significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.
Relationship: I am employed by the Community Renewal Society, which is a non-profit, faith-based, social justice organization.