June 2020
Welcome to "Faith Community Nurse Quarterly," a newsletter with updates on resources, programs and events to help strengthen your practice in your faith community.
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Love is Alive in Avondale and Beyond
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Ivette Menendez and Nilda Garcia have seen firsthand how acts of love can transform a community.
Since the COVID-19 pandemic began, Ivette, Community Connector with Advocate Health Care, and Nilda, Faith Community Nurse with Advocate, have been overwhelmed by the generosity and love shown by residents of Avondale, Logan Square, Humboldt Park, Belmont Cragin and other nearby communities in Chicago.
Donations of food, baby items, diapers, socks, clothing – and more – have helped those experiencing financial burden, food insecurity and other instabilities due to the pandemic.
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Nilda Garcia, Advocate
Aurora Health Faith Community Nurse, helps cheer up the Avondale community with balloons.
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Volunteers spend the day packing food that will go to the Avondale, Logan Square and Humboldt Park communities.
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"Take What You Want. Leave What You Can." Neighbors support one another by offering canned goods and other staples.
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Children from the community recently got involved in the Community Dinners program, a meal program for those experiencing homelessness, by decorating bags for clients and filling them with socks, masks and toiletries.
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We've experienced what feels like a long, difficult and painful journey since our last meeting. Weeks of living through a pandemic has changed our world and presented us all with health ministry challenges beyond anything we could have envisioned.
We undoubtedly have many stories we want to share with one another, and I look forward to hearing how you are creatively caring for your communities. In the meantime, for those of you who missed the March 11 meeting, here is a recap:
We welcomed Advocate Faith and Mental Health Specialist Amy Mcnicholas who led us in a discussion on deescalating stress with vulnerable and potentially disruptive individuals in our faith settings.
Amy shared information about her work with the LOSS program (Loving Outreach to Survivors of Suicide) and the Companionship Program, which are great resources as we work with individuals experiencing loss.
Amy reminded us of the NAMI helpline 800-950-NAMI and Suicide Prevention Lifeline 1-800-273-TALK, and that she is a trained facilitator for the QPR Institute (Question, Persuade, Refer) a suicide prevention program.
Kirsten Peachey gave an overview of the
Health Impact Pyramid
used in public health, describing how that correlates with a belief that Loving Communities are Healthier Communities.
Members of the Documentation Work Group reported they will need to investigate whether the EPIC system is feasible for the Advocate Faith Community Nurse Network. In the meantime, they will explore developing a training program for those interested in learning the currently used Henry Ford system.
Blessings on your ministry and care!
Sue Cox
Manager, Faith Community Nurse Network
Advocate Health Care
See the full report
here
.
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Welcome, Trameka, our new Faith Community Nurse in Milwaukee!
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Trameka Brown-Berry has a passion for caring for families holistically. While working as a nurse in the Mother and Baby Unit at Froedtert Hospital in Wauwatosa, WI, Trameka enjoyed caring for and listening to the stories of the families she had the pleasure of caring for.
“I got to witness some really beautiful stories of new life being brought into this world, and also got to see some really heart-breaking stories of new life being brought into this world,” she recalled. “It was a humbling experience for me.”
In addition to providing care for the mother/baby dyad postpartum, Trameka cared for infants within the unit’s Level 2 special care nursery who had breathing concerns and complications related to prematurity, as well as those who were born chemically dependent due to their mothers’ drug consumption during pregnancy. She also saw infants being placed outside of their parents’ care due to safety concerns. “Caring for these little ones was one of the hardest things I have ever done” she said.
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St. Michael Parish Donates Prayer Shawls to Advocate Christ Medical Center
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The Hooks and Needles prayer shawl ministry of St. Michael Parish, Orland Park, IL, recently donated 30 prayer shawls to patients at Advocate Christ Medical Center. “The shawls provide comfort and let patients know they are loved and being lifted in prayer," said Kathie Blanchfield, Faith Community Nurse at St. Michael’s.
Members of the prayer shawl ministry hand knit or crochet each prayer shawl and attach a note that says, "We prayed for you once while we were working. We prayed for you again, around our gathered circle. We prayed for you a third time after you receive our handiwork."
The note continues: "When you clothe yourself in this fabric, bless yourself in the name of the Creator who loves you; and the Redeemer who is your friend; and of the Holy Spirit who guides your every step. May this gift remind you that you are deeply loved."
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Reopening Guidance for Faith Communities
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Centers for Disease Control resources:
Humanitarian Disaster Institute resources:
In addition, we have compiled a variety of resources that we hope will be helpful as you plan to welcome congregants back and resume your faith community programming and activities.
See "Safely Opening Our Doors" here.
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June is National Safety Month
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June is National Safety Month, a time set aside to focus on saving lives and preventing injuries, from the workplace to anyplace, including houses of worship.
Feel free to share this bulletin insert and worship slide with your faith community.
See additional resources from the National Safety Council:
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Westberg Institute Sharing Platform
The Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing knowledge-sharing platform has welcomed more than 1,000 members worldwide. Within seven days of completing this
brief questionnaire
, you will receive an email inviting you to join.
Health Ministries Association Book Club
Health Ministries Association has started a book club - a free benefit to HMA members. If you'd like to join the book club, send a message via the
HMA Facebook page.
This year, when you renew or purchase your membership, you may gift to one person a year’s membership to HMA for $20. Learn
more.
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Mental Health e-newsletter available
Advocate Aurora Health
Faith and Mental Health Quarterly
provides updates on mental health resources, events and news to support the well-being of people in your congregation and community.
If you would like to be added to the mailing list, please contact
Cindy Novak
.
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Other Mental Health & Substance Abuse Resources
Health & Wellness Resources
Learn more about the
Healthy HotSpot Initiative
, led by the Cook County Department of Public Health in collaboration with many partners to build healthy places in suburban Cook County.
To get daily articles on a host of health topics that come to you via email, subscribe to our
Health eNews service
.
All Advocate Aurora Hospitals offer classes on health topics. See classes or events in
Illinois
and
Wisconsin
. Select a Hospital/Medical Center and click on search to see what is being offered in your area.
Course and Certificate Opportunities
- North Park Seminary Certificate in Faith and Health
- Wesley Theological Seminary's Heal the Sick Program - online Health Minister Certificate Program
- Clinical Pastoral Education
See details on these course and certificate opportunities
here
.
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We'd Love to Hear From You
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Share your programs, events, stories and photos. If you have a topic or story idea for a future issue, reach out to
Cindy Novak
, Faith and Health Communications Coordinator. Thank you!
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Philosophy of Faith Community Nursing
Faith community nursing is a recognized specialty practice that combines professional nursing and health ministry. Faith community nursing emphasizes health and healing within a faith community. The philosophy of faith community nursing embraces four major concepts: spiritual formation; professionalism; shalom as health and wholeness; and community, incorporating culture and diversity.
~Westberg Institute
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