242389 International faith based organizations + local churches + local faith and community based organizations = program success

Tuesday, November 1, 2011: 8:30 AM

Paul Robinson, MBBS, MTS, MPH , Director of International Health Programs, World Concern, Seattle, WA
W. Meredith Long, DrPH , Sr. Director for International Programs, World Concern, Seattle, WA
Rogers Mutie , Monitoring and Evaluation Officer, World Concern, Nairobi, Kenya
A coalition of ten faith-based agencies led by World Concern Development Organization implemented a PEPFAR funded project from 2004 to 2010 for supporting HIV and AIDS affected and infected orphans and vulnerable children (OVC) in Kenya, Zambia and Haiti. It mobilized volunteers from local churches, faith based and community based organizations. These volunteers received training and provided a variety of support to OVC in their communities. Local faith based organizations and churches played a key role in identifying the volunteers, linking the project to local resources, and providing guidance and advice on program approaches. The project enabled 39,106 caregivers and families to better care for 153,000 OVC in their communities; provided training and mentoring to 6,759 older OVC (ages 15-17) to meet their own needs; facilitated formal and vocational education for 27,943 OVC; and raised awareness among 6.5 million people including church and community members to reduce stigma and increase support toward OVC. The authors believe that the faith based coalition of the non-profit, non-government organizations was readily accepted by local churches and faith and community based organizations, which gave the implementing partners a wide access to their members. The faith based approach to programming facilitated the project's many initiatives. An in depth study might be useful in examining the factors that led to the success of the project.

Learning Areas:
Other professions or practice related to public health
Program planning
Systems thinking models (conceptual and theoretical models), applications related to public health

Learning Objectives:
Discuss the success of faith based approach to public health programming

Keywords: HIV/AIDS, Children

Presenting author's disclosure statement:

Qualified on the content I am responsible for because: I direct programs such as the OVC support program, which is to be presented. I also have a theological background, which allows me to understand and operate within the faith based public health community.
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.