“A Congregation- Based Program of Holistic Health: A Qualitative Perspective of Participants' Creating More Caring Communities”

APHA Scientific Session and Event Listing

Holly Pope, MSPH, PhD(c)¹, Robert E. McKeown, PhD², Kenneth W. Watkins, PhD³, and Meghan Martin, BS¹. (1) Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, 803-777-3636, carollkh@yahoo.com, (2) Associate Dean of Research, University of South Carolina, Arnold School of Public Health, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208, (3) Department of Health Promotion, Education, and Behavior, Arnold School of Public Health, University of South Carolina, 800 Sumter Street, Columbia, SC 29208

The University of South Carolina's Arnold School of Public Health, in collaboration with the Duke Endowment and the South Carolina Conference of the United Methodist Church have collaborated to develop a program of spiritual, mental, physical, and social health for adults 50 years of age and older. African American and Caucasian United Methodist churches participate together in the Heart, Soul, Mind, and Strength program to promote overall health and embrace racial diversity, which contributes to a more caring community. Up to six adults from an African American and Caucasian congregation meet weekly for up to one year. Each meeting includes a guided meditation accompanied by deep breathing and stretching. This component emphasizes the holistic focus of the program including the spiritual dimension, as well as the physical, emotional, and mental dimensions. It also provides focus for the physical and mental activities that follow. The physical activity combines education, motivation, and brief exercise routines. Following the physical activity, the group engages in mental exercises that target a broad range of cognitive functions. The second half of each session includes a curriculum for spiritual growth. Additional activities include a community outreach effort, where groups identify local needs in the area and develop ways to meet the needs to make the community more caring. Pretest and posttest survey data are being collected to quantify change across all dimensions of the program. Qualitative data indicates the strengths related to the program components and the role the program plays in bridging racial diversity in communities.

Learning Objectives:

The primary objective is to provide a program that enhances the spiritual, psycho-social, intellectual, and physical health of older adults in multi-ethnic small groups within congregations, with a larger goal of enhancing their ministry to their communities.

Specific objectives are

1. Participants will experience enhanced spiritual growth and develop a stronger sense of communion with God through involvement in the Companions in Christ program.
2. Participants will come to appreciate that body, mind, emotion, and spirit constitute who we are and how we live.
3. Participants will gain a sense of emotional and social well-being from the social support and caring of the groups to which they belong.
4. Participants will be stimulated intellectually and feel that they are continuing to learn and use their minds.
5. Participants will show improvements in flexibility, strength, cardio-vascular fitness, and general health status.
6. Participants will feel more engaged with others and with their congregations and communities and demonstrate increased sense of self-worth and ability to contribute to the life of the church and community.

Keywords: Aging, Community

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Any relevant financial relationships? No

Recorded presentation

Evaluation, Accountability and Methods for Effective Assessment of Interfaith and Faith-Based Human Rights Initiatives

The 134th Annual Meeting & Exposition (November 4-8, 2006) of APHA