Champions of faith community nursing: An effective partnership between the faith community and local government

The Hennepin County Human Services & Public Health Department in Minneapolis, Minnesota began exploring the faith community nursing (parish nursing) movement in 2003. Research revealed 65% of all Hennepin County residents and 89% of seniors identify themselves as members of a faith community. Informational interviews were conducted with more than 50 faith community nurses (FCN) of all denominations, as well as all area health and human services systems with a history of supporting faith community nursing. More than 200 congregations with active FCN programs were identified with a combined membership of more than 250,000 people. Faith community nurses identified ways in which Hennepin County HS&PHD could provide key assistance: (1) Identifying community resources and assisting with referrals; (2) Providing continuing education programs; (3) Assisting with funding needs/resource development; (4) Improving communications/networking between parish nurses; and (5) Helping to promote and champion faith community nursing.

Working as partners, area faith community nurses and Hennepin County formed a nonprofit agency – the Faith Community Nurse Network of the Greater Twin Cities – to champion the FCN movement. FCNN has provided free educational workshops (offering at least 12 CEUs annually), established a Faith Community Nursing Collection in the County Library System, awarded multiple small project grants, sponsored research, and encouraged expansion into new communities (including diverse faith traditions, new immigrant faith communities, etc.)., The network now includes more than 350 nurses in the 9-county metro area. Keys factors in effective relationships between faith community and local government partners and research findings will be discussed.