Winter Park Health Foundation Launches $500,000 Faith Community Nursing Initiative
Local faith communities will be able to apply for multi-year grants to establish faith community nursing programs as a result of a new grant initiative totaling $500,000 approved by the Winter Park Health Foundation (WPHF).
WPHF launched its Faith Community Nursing Initiative during two educational workshops on September 29 and September 30 at the Foundation’s office.
WPHF has enlisted the support of Florida Hospital’s Center for Community Health Ministry on Faith Community Nursing (CCHM) to assist grantees in the planning, development and operation of their program.
Faith Community Nursing was formerly known as Parish Nursing and has a history that reaches back to the 1880s. The programs help people understand the influence of faith on healthful living and help change the culture of the community so that it supports healthy lifestyles.
“The initiative provides a wonderful opportunity to reach people where they worship,” said WPHF Trustee Jean Leuner, also Dean and Professor at the UCF College of Nursing. “The Faith Community Nursing model has proven to be successful and it provides one more way for Winter Park Health Foundation to move closer to its goal of creating the healthiest community in the United States, she added.
Faith Community Nurses improve members’ health through health advisement, health education/programs, personal health advocacy, connection of members to faith and community resources, coordination of support groups and health care navigation.
Under the initiative, faith communities, or a collaborative of faith communities with a membership exceeding 750, may be eligible to apply for three years of funding. Consistent with the Foundation’s desire to promote sustainability, applicants will be required to commit to matching funds in years two and three of their program. WPHF will provide funds to cover 100% (up to $40,000) of the costs during year one, 80% of costs in year two and 60% of costs in year three.
Only those who attended the workshops will be able to apply.
While all communities and neighborhoods have health concerns deserving attention, faith communities with a membership including strong representation from Eatonville, Maitland and Winter Park, FL, will receive priority for funding. But the faith community’s physical facility does not need to be located within the city/town limits of these areas; rather, it must draw a significant number of members from those communities.
It is hoped awards will be approved and programs launched by early 2011.
For more information about the grant program, contact Lisa Portelli, WPHF Program Director at [email protected]
Materials from the workshops:
Workshop presentation-Candy Huber
Workshop presentation-Diana Silvey
Workshop presentation-Susan Chase
Faith Community Nursing brochure
Faith Community Nursing in Congregations article by Candy Huber
Faith Community Nursing article by Carol Peterson
For more information on Faith Community Nursing, go to the International Parish Nurse Resource Center website at www.parishnurses.org
For more information on the Florida Hospital Center for Community Health Ministry, go to: www.parishnursing.net
