175015 A Health Promotion Partnership among the United Methodist Church, a Medical School and a Health Foundation

Tuesday, October 28, 2008: 9:10 AM

Judy A. Johnston, MS, RD, LD , Department of Preventive Medicine & Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine - Wichita, Wichita, KS
Elizabeth Ablah, PhD, MPH , Preventive Medicine and Public Health, University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita, Wichita, KS
Purpose: Synergistic partnerships harness the strengths of each partner. This study evaluated the utility of a collaborative partnership among a statewide church, a medical school and a health foundation to identify areas of concern, develop a logic model and implement plans to impact the health of clergy and laity.

Methods: An ad-hoc task force of clergy and lay health leaders was appointed by a health foundation to explore health-related issues in the United Methodist Church. The health foundation contracted with a medical school to facilitate the collaborative process. The Socio-Ecological Model was used to guide decision-making.

Results: Outputs include a logic model, a resolution for consideration by the statewide church organization, a pilot intervention (HCIA) and evaluation plan, and recommendations for next steps in other church organizations. The resolution passed unanimously in both Annual Conferences. The logic model was used to identify a number of potential opportunities for intervention, including a congregational initiative was evaluated on three levels: congregational, leadership team, and participant. A second resolution will be proposed in 2008 that will make the committee permanent within the structure of the church.

Conclusions: A collaborative planning process involving partners with differing perspectives and skill sets results in a more comprehensive plan that addresses multiple needs and utilizes a wider scope of resources.

Learning Objectives:
As a result of this session, participants will be able to: 1. Identify and list the contributions of each of the three partners in he HCIA initiative. 2. Describe the steps used in the collaborative planning process to develop the HCIA initiative and the contribution of each step to the final products. 3. Apply the Socio-Ecological Model to the HCIA planning process and describe how the planning accounted for intervention at at least three levels.

Keywords: Faith Community, Partnerships

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: Data Lead
Any relevant financial relationships? No

I agree to comply with the American Public Health Association Conflict of Interest and Commercial Support Guidelines, and to disclose to the participants any off-label or experimental uses of a commercial product or service discussed in my presentation.