Mind Body Spirit - Sep-Oct 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
September-October 2019, Volume 4, Issue 6
MUSINGS:
"The breezes taste of apple peel.
The air is full of smells to feel -
Ripe fruit, old footballs, burning brush,
New books, erasers, chalk, and such.
The bee, his hive, well-honeyed hum,
And Mother cuts chrysanthemums.
Like plates washed clean with suds,
the days are polished with a morning haze."
- John Updike, September
HEALTH PROGRAMMING AND OBSERVATION DATES IN SEPTEMBER AND OCTOBER:
September:
Return to School: This topic was covered in the last issue of the newsletter; “thank you” to a reader who sent us this additional resource - 5 Tips to Ease Back-to-School Anxiety - to assist with anxiety associated with children’s return to school:
At this time of the year, children are beginning a new school year and adults may be starting new jobs or new projects. It can be difficult to find times to be together and support each other. This may strain family dynamics. The University of Delaware Cooperative Extension has a valuable article, "Building Strong Family Relationships."
National Preparedness Month: As this newsletter is being written, Hurricane Dorian is moving toward the eastern coast of Florida. May all those in its path be safe. Preparation for natural disasters is always a relevant health ministries educational and procedural response topic. The Red Cross offers an Emergency Preparedness Checklist:
FEMA’s program, Be Prepared, Not Scared has different web-based resources for each week of the month: https://www.ready.gov/september
Week One: Save Early for Disaster Costs
Week Two: Make a Plan to Prepare for Disasters
Week Three: Teach Youth to Prepare for Disasters
Week Four: Get Involved in Your Community’s Preparedness
Home Safety: Speaking of preparation, the heating season will soon be upon us. It’s time to think about having your furnace checked by a service company for proper functioning and proper venting of carbon monoxide. When clocks are turned back an hour on Sunday, November 3rd, it’s a good time to also check home smoke and CO detectors - making sure smoke and CO detectors have new batteries and are functioning. Carbon monoxide is an odorless gas. This Mayo Clinic tip sheet alerts you to symptoms of carbon monoxide poisoning.
Flu Season 2019: It’s time to talk about flu immunization. The CDC has a Vaccine Information Sheet for this current immunization period.
The American Lung Association Year of Air Pollution and Health offers health information each month. The topic for September is Health Impacts of Extreme Storms and the topic for October is: Empowering the Next Generation.
The American Nurses Association (ANA: The American Nurses Association 2019 National Awards program is now accepting nominations. ANA members are encouraged to acknowledge the achievements of ANA members in the following categories: Distinguished Practice in Nursing, Diversity in Nursing, Nurse Exemplars, and Nursing Champions. Is there a faith community nurse you know who is a good candidate for one of these awards? The deadline to submit an award nomination is 5 p.m. ET, Oct. 7. To learn more about the awards, visit the National Awards Program page on NursingWorld.org
The National Health Information Center offers a useful resource for identifying designated health- and illness-focused months, weeks, or days and provides a link to information related to each month’s health observances.
Here are a few links selected from their September listing:
National Food Safety Education Month
Ovarian Cancer Awareness Month
Prostate Cancer Awareness Month
October:
Medicare Open Enrollment Period begins on October 15, 2019, and ends December 7, 2019. Medicare health and drug plan costs and covered benefits can change from year to year, so people with Medicare should look at their coverage choices and decide on the options that best fit their health needs. They can visit Medicare.gov, call 1-800-MEDICARE, or contact their State Health Insurance Assistance Program.
Medicare has created a new Medicare Plan Finder. This most-used tool on Medicare.gov, allows users to shop and compare Medicare Advantage and Part D plans. The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services (CMS) plans to relaunch the Medicare Plan Finder website on Sept. 2.
The National Health Information Center offers a useful resource for identifying designated health- and illness-focused months, weeks, or days and provides a link to information related to each month’s health observances.
Here are a few links selected from their October listing:
Domestic Violence Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) Awareness Month
Halloween Safety: Halloween is an exciting time for children, and it is also a time to focus on their safety. Children are more than twice as likely to be hit by a car and killed on Halloween than on any other day of the year. The American Academy of Pediatrics has developed a list of Halloween safety tips about costume safety, pumpkin carving, on the Trick or Treat Trail, keeping Halloween healthy, and reminders about food allergies.
Other resources include:
National Safety Council on Halloween Safety
Children’s Safety Network on Halloween Safety
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING:
Webinar: The Partnership Center of the Center for Faith and Opportunity Initiatives of the U.S. Dept. of Health and Human Services is offering a free webinar: Mental Illness 101 & Family Health Series | Postpartum Depression: Help Hope, and Healing on September 25, 2019 at 12:00 PM (Eastern Time).
Description: The Partnership Center’s “Postpartum Depression: Help, Hope, and Healing” webinar will be the third installment in their Family Health educational series, and is squarely at the intersection of women’s health and mental health.
For registration click here.
Suicide Prevention Resource Center:
The Suicide Prevention Resource Center is offering a free online course, Locating and Understanding Data for Suicide Prevention. The course explores a variety of commonly used data sources for information on suicide deaths and attempts, suicidal ideation, and related factors - as well as new frontiers in suicide surveillance, such as interactive dashboards and real-time data collection. The 2-hour course is recommended for any professional involved in national, state or community suicide prevention.
Annual Health Ministries and Faith Community Nursing Conference: The Health Ministries Association’s 30th Anniversary Conference is scheduled for October 11 – 14, 2019 at St. Elizabeth Training and Education Center, 3861 Olympic Blvd., Erlanger, KY. The theme is Faith-Based Approaches to Cultivate Healthier Communities. To download the brochure, click here.
To register, click here.
ATTENTION: If you are attending the HMA Conference, please let Alyson Breisch know (alyson.breisch@gmail.com). There will be a UCC denominational meeting Saturday, September 12th at 7:30 pm. Alyson will let you know the room location for the meeting.
BOOK REVIEW:
- J. Dana Trent’s new book, Dessert First: Preparing for Death While Savoring Life, will be published Sept. 10th by Chalice Press. Trent will be a keynote speaker and workshop presenter at the Health Ministries Association (HMA) 30th Anniversary Conference and Celebration in October. Other books by J. Dana Trent include One Breath at a Time: A Skeptic’s Guide to Christian Meditation; For Sabbath’s Sake: Embracing Your Need for Rest, Worship, and Community; and Saffron Cross: The Unlikely Story of How a Christian Minister Married a Hindu Monk.
KEEP CONNECTED:
An article, Sacred Space to Talk About Drug Use, in UCC’s Keeping You Posted (KYP) eblast of August 27, 2019, is about Harm Reduction. Mike Schuenemeyer, Executive for Health and Wholeness Advocacy Ministries oversees this new effort in the national UCC setting to center on the voices of those with lived experience related to opioid and other substance use disorders. Kudos to Peggy Matteson of the Wellness Ministries Leadership Team for her commentary in the article’s interview. Peggy represents Wellness Ministries on the UCC task force that is developing tools and resources for congregations’ responses to the opioid crisis.
Visit our FaceBook and Linked-In pages: Post comments or share information about your health ministries; join in conversations.
Contact us: Have something you want to share with your colleagues in the next issue of the newsletter? Are you looking for a resource to assist you in your ministry? We’d enjoy hearing from you!
Previous issues of the newsletter:
Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics:
Contact us:
- Have something you want to share with your colleagues?
- Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry?
- Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC?
Let us hear from you.
Contact:
Alyson Breisch and/or Deb Stankiewicz
###
Harm reduction ministries welcome drug users, save lives
People who use drugs may not come to mind immediately when United Church of Christ members think of values like Extravagant Welcome or Love of Neighbor. A growing community of UCC people is working to change that.
Read moreAfter overdose, funeral becomes 'very different offering of the love of God'
When a young man died of an opioid overdose this summer, the harm reduction movement in the United Church of Christ helped his parents cope with their unimaginable grief and share hope with their son's community.
Read moreMind Body Spirit - May-June 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
July-August 2019, Volume 4, Issue 5
MUSINGS:
"That beautiful season the Summer!
Filled was the air with a dreamy and magical light;
and the landscape
Lay as if new created in all the freshness of childhood." Henry Wadsworth Longfellow
“To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow.” Audrey Hepburn
What comes to your mind as favorite summer memories?
Fireflies twinkling at dusk?
Butterflies on lantana blooms?
Watermelon and ice cream at family picnics?
Early morning sunbeams dancing on a quiet lake?
Fireworks on the 4th of July?
The nighttime chorus of katydids and crickets?
Fruit and vegetables are now plentiful in backyard plots, community lots, and farmers markets. Mason jars are on sale, waiting for an August Saturday when many hands work together to “put up” this summer’s yield for enjoyment in winter meals.
The summer beckons us to expand our time outdoors, plant and nurture gardens, gather and share the bounty with others, and walk with reverence and gratitude for the splendor all around us.
GENERAL SYNOD:
The 32nd General Synod of the United Church of Christ was held in Milwaukee, WI from June 20-25, 2019 at the Milwaukee Center. There were 22 resolutions brought before the committees and then to the Plenary Sessions for delegate voting. Some resolutions addressed UCC bylaws and organizational procedures; others addressed moral concerns such as private prisons, racial violence, sexual assault, immigrant detention; and other resolutions focused on climate justice and environmental concerns. You can view the statements of each resolution at this link: http://ucceverywhere.org/synod/
The Health and Wholeness Advocacy ministries were very active during the exhibit times. These groups include: The Council for Health and Human Service Ministries (CHHSM), UCAN (United Church of Christ HIV and AIDS Network, Sexuality Education and Justice (Our Whole Lives (OWL), UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses, UCC Disability Ministries, Disability and Mental Health Justice, UCC for Mental Health - Wise, Inclusive, Supportive, Engaged (WISE), UCC Scouting Working Group, ONA (Open and Affirming) LGBT Ministries, and Encuentro De Gracia Y Bienvendia. HIV testing was offered, NARCAN education and doses were provided, each group provided educational resources, and many one-on-one conversations were shared related to these ministries. A heartfelt “thank you” is extended to Rev. Michael Scheunemeyer, Executive, Office for Health and Wholeness Advocacy, for his generous encouragement, support, and guidance to these groups whose purpose is to promote justice, advocacy, education, health and healing for all.
A new feature at General Synod this year was the Self-Care Suite. This was a joint undertaking of the Wellness Ministries, Disability Ministries, and the Mental Health Network to offer a quiet, welcoming space to support physical and mental health during General Synod. Accessible yoga, meditation, breath, QiGong, and Reiki workshops were also offered in adjoining space.
The Health and Wholeness Advocacy Luncheon on Sunday, June 23rd provided the opportunity for each of the ministry groups to provide a short presentation about its mission and focus. The UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses presentation can be viewed here.
SYNOD REFLECTIONS:
Alyson Breisch, Chair of the UCC Wellness Ministries, asked leadership team members Peggy Matteson, and Donna Smith-Pupillo who also attended the 32nd General Synod to share their reflections on General Synod:
Donna Smith-Pupillo, Executive Director, Deaconess Nurse Ministry, St. Louis, MO: “The 32nd General Synod was filled with all the joys and concerns of a family reunion with work as we continue to become as the church. The luncheon for the Health and Human services highlighted for me the work that can be done in collaborative format for the whole church. With the opiate crisis present across the country, the General Synod passed a resolution to address advocacy and treatment needs.”
Peggy Matteson, Minister for Congregational Health, Historic Rhode Island Conference: “In the moment the Synod experience can be spiritually, physically, intellectually, and emotionally exhausting. A time of post-Synod reflection reveals the range of blessings it provides. Synod is a sacred time of genuine opportunity to be encircled within the very diverse community that comprises the United Church of Christ. The reality of others lived experiences, their joys and heartbreaks, struggles and opportunities were shared in both forums large and small and individual conversations, as our community of faith sought to find common ground on which to journey forth addressing a variety of justice issues. The faces, the stories, the worship, the shared meals, the elevator conversations, etc. all provided me with pride in the membership of the UCC for lifting up the challenges and then listening to the wisdom offered by individuals from every decade of life.”
HEALTH OBSERVATION DATES IN JULY AND AUGUST:
JULY:
Juvenile Arthritis awareness month: https://www.arthritis.org/warriors-2018/
https://www.arthritis.org/about-arthritis/types/juvenile-arthritis/
July 28, 2019: World Hepatitis Day: https://www.cdc.gov/hepatitis/worldhepday.htm
AUGUST:
National Immunization Awareness Month: Important vaccination information for babies, children, pre-teens, teens, and adults.
Children’s Eye Health and Safety: https://yoursightmatters.com/august-childrens-eye- health-safety-month/
NOTE: There are many health observance days in September. Here are few you can review to advance plan for educational sessions and bulletin board displays:
- Ovarian Cancer Awareness: https://www.ovariancancerawareness.org/
- National Preparedness Month: https://www.epa.gov/natural-disasters/september-preparedness-month
- Prostate Cancer Awareness Month: https://www.pcf.org/blue/
- Childhood Cancer Awareness Month: https://www.acco.org/childhood-cancer-awareness-month/
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IDEAS:
JULY:
Boating and Water Safety:
This is the time of the summer when people are vacationing and enjoying recreational boating, jet skiing, and waterboarding on lakes and rivers. Choosing the right life jacket, knowing the “rules of the road” in water navigation, and performing equipment checks can all help to ensure safety. This poster from the water safety campaign of the National Safety Council includes helpful information: https://safeboatingcampaign.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/08/nsbc-wear-it-fact-sheet-boating-safety-tips.pdf
The American Academy of Pediatrics notes that the toddler years have a higher drowning risk than any other time. Drowning is the leading cause of injury death in children ages 1-4. Preventing unintended, unsupervised access to water is proven to be one of the most effective ways to reduce drowning deaths among young children. Visit this site for many helpful tips:
https://www.healthychildren.org/English/safety-prevention/at-play/Pages/Water-Safety-And-Young-Children.aspx
Mosquito Borne and Tick-Borne illnesses:
Increased time in the outdoors can result in exposure to mosquitos and ticks. Preventive approaches and awareness of symptoms are timely topics for summer health education materials.
Mosquito-borne diseases include Zika, dengue, West Nile, and Chicungunya virus. Tips to prevent mosquito bites from the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) include dressing in light-colored clothing, long pants, and long sleeves; avoiding areas where mosquitoes are present; and taking other actions such as removing sources of standing water to prevent breeding can also help. The EPA site also includes information on types of repellents to protect against mosquito-borne illnesses. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/using-repellent-products-protect-against-mosquito-borne-illnesses
Tick-borne diseases are a significant public health problem. While Lyme disease is the most commonly reported vector-borne illness, other illnesses – babesiosis, human granulocytic anaplasomosis (formerly called granulocytic erlechiosis) and human monocytic erlechiosis - are also transmitted by the deer tick. The American Dog Tick, Brown Dog Tick, Rocky Mountain Wood Tick can cause Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever. Prevention guidelines and proper techniques for removal of a tick can become a valuable teaching poster: https://www.cdc.gov/ticks/removing_a_tick.html
The EPA has a website tool that provides guidance on which insect repellant is most effective based on the insects it repels, duration of exposure, season, and regions of county. https://www.epa.gov/insect-repellents/find-repellent-right-you
Another resource is from Consumer Reports: https://www.consumerreports.org/outdoor-safety/mosquito-and-tick-diseases-guide/
AUGUST:
Back to School Health:
For children and their parents, the transition of going from summer days to school days may be associated with both anticipation and anxiety. One article, 10 Ways To Help Kids Handle Back-to-School Anxiety: Teacher Tips for Parents addresses back to school anxiety: https://www.teacherlists.com/blog/10-ways-to-help-kids-handle-back-to-school-anxiety/
Getting back into routines and a regular sleep schedule can make the transition easier. Several sites have tips emphasizing healthy activities and preparation: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health/educational/wecan/downloads/tip-back-to-school.pdf
https://www.consumerreports.org/children-s-health/back-to-school-health/
Back to school often means using a backpack to carry books and lunches. Backpacks that are too heavy can cause back, neck and shoulder pain as well as poor posture. Points about choosing a good backpack and minimizing weight can be part of your teaching content for promoting back to school health: https://www.nsc.org/home-safety/safety-topics/child-safety/backpacks
KEEP CONNECTED:
Visit our FaceBook and Linked-In pages: share information about your health ministries and join in conversations and postings.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6951713/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCFCN/posts/
Previous issues of the newsletter:
Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics: http://www.ucc.org/ucc_faith_community_nurse_network_newsletter
Contact us:
- Have something you want to share with your colleagues?
- Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry?
- Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC?
Let us hear from you.
Contact:
Alyson Breisch and/or Deb Stankiewicz
###
Mind Body Spirit - General Synod 32 Letter
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
Special Announcement, June 3, 2019
Greetings from the UCC Wellness Ministries Leadership Team!
Are you attending General Synod 32 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin June 22-26, 2019? If so, we would love to chat with you at the UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses table in the Health and Wholeness Advocacy area in the exhibit hall.
- We want to learn about your health ministries and the faith community nurse role within your congregation and/or community.
- We would love suggestions from you about resources that would facilitate your ministries.
- We would like to gain your insights around a new initiative the UCC Wellness Ministries and Faith Community Nurses will be offering local churches beginning in autumn 2019.
If you will be at General Synod 32, please reply with your name and local church information and we’ll look forward to meeting you in Milwaukee!
Contact:
Alyson Breisch and/or Peggy Matteson
Mind Body Spirit - May-June 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
May-June 2019, Volume 4, Issue 4
“The butterfly counts not the months but moments, and has time enough”. Rabindranath Tagore.
Spring flowers are blooming, and young emerging plants rise upward to welcome the growth and sustenance summer will bring. This is a season of marking celebrations within the cycle of life: Mother’s Day, commencements, graduations, Father’s Day, marriages, new ventures, joys and sorrows.
This issue marks another beginning. We now plan to produce the newsletter on a bi-monthly basis. The remaining issues for 2019 will be the July-August issue, September-October issue, and the November-December issue.
HEALTH OBSERVATION DATES IN MAY AND JUNE:
MAY:
National High Blood Pressure Education Month
Many health ministries programs and faith community nurses provide blood pressure screening. These sessions are also an opportunity for education to promote healthy living. Educational sessions can be offered on selection of blood pressure monitoring equipment and proper technique for obtaining home blood pressure readings. The Mayo Clinic has a webpage, Get the Most out of Home Blood Pressure Monitoring with helpful tips:
An inactive or sedentary lifestyle has recently been identified as increasing the risk for cardiovascular disease, hypertension, stroke, high cholesterol, metabolic syndrome, type 2 diabetes and certain cancers. During National High Blood Pressure Education Month in May, the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) is challenging Americans to participate in a national pledge to #MoveWithHeart to help reduce their risk of high blood pressure. NHLBI is asking people to pledge by posting a photo or uploading a video being physically active and using the hashtag. http://www.movewithheartpledge.com/
A fact sheet is available for posting with tips on moving more: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/sites/default/files/media/docs/Fact_Sheet_Move_More_508.pdf
Connect here for information on Hypertension risk factors, causes, symptoms, diagnosis, treatment, complications, and living with hypertension: https://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/health-topics/high-blood-pressure
Bike Safety Awareness Month
The National Highway Traffic Safety Administration has information on bike safety tips for parents and kids. There are also videos on bike riding safety, fitting a bike helmet, rules of the road, and Driving Safely. A bulletin board poster can be downloaded at https://www.nhtsa.gov/sites/nhtsa.dot.gov/files/811557.pdf
National Melanoma Skin Cancer Prevention Month
Prevention and early detection of skin cancer is emphasized as we move into the warmer season with increased sun exposure. This is the time to help spread sun-safety messages and increase public awareness about skin cancer. The American Academy of Dermatology is promoting National Melanoma Skin Cancer Prevention Month. The website includes 18 free educational resources to help others learn how to prevent and detect skin cancer. You can download these free at this link:
https://www.aad.org/public/spot-skin-cancer/free-resources
JUNE:
Alzheimer’s Disease
Worldwide, 50 million people are living with Alzheimer's and other dementias. The Alzheimer’s Association is asking people to go purple and raise awareness this June. Purple is the official color of the Alzheimer's movement. People are invited to share a photo on Instagram or Twitter using the hashtags #ENDALZ or #EndAlzheimers.
https://www.alz.org/abam/overview.asp#goPurple
On the Alzheimer’s Association’s website, you can find educational information and professionals and support options located near you. See section of page titled Find Local Resources:
https://www.alz.org/
Men’s Health Month
The purpose of Men’s Health Month is to heighten the awareness of preventable health problems and encourage early detection and treatment of disease among men and boys. Consider celebrating Wear Blue Friday, the Friday before Father’s day. Use the on-line Tool Kit to help enhance your outreach efforts.
The webpage http://www.menshealthmonth.org/ also includes a link to the Men’s Health Network, a national non-profit organization whose mission is to reach men, boys, and their families where they live, work, play, and pray with health awareness and disease prevention messages and tools, screening programs, educational materials, advocacy opportunities, and patient navigation. The Free Health Care listed under the Resources Section on the website is a search feature for Free and/or Low-Cost Health Care by state and city location.
National Safety Month
The National Safety Council holds National Safety Month each June. Each week has a focus:
Week 1: Hazard Recognition
Week 2: Slips, Trips and Falls
Week 3: Fatigue
Week 4: Impairment
You can use this month to raise awareness about important safety issues like preventing poisonings; medication safety and prescription drug abuse; driving, biking, and working safely; first aid and emergency preparedness; preventing slips, trips, and falls. http://safety.nsc.org/national-safety-month-2019-post-launch
The US Department of Health and Human Services Healthfinder.gov website offers a toolkit for National Safety Month. https://healthfinder.gov/NHO/JuneToolkit2.aspx You can sign up to receive free safety materials: http://safety.nsc.org/national-safety-month-2019-post-launch
EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING IDEAS:
Speaking of safety – this is a good time to provide educational information about food preparation and safety. Outdoor picnics and parties may provide opportunity for spoilage and the potential for food poisoning. Proper techniques for food handling, cooking, and storage are essential for preventing food-born illnesses. The United States Department of Agriculture (USDA) offers the Basics for Handling Food Safely. It also has numerous fact sheets on topics such as Grilling and Food Safety, Handling Food Safely on the Road, Food Safety While Hiking, Camping, and Boating. Another fact sheet that is helpful for Health Ministries Meal Ministries is titled Food Safety Tips for Home Delivered Meals Program Participants.
DATES ON THE UCC CALENDAR:
May 2019:
Mental Health Sunday: The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network invites you to highlight mental health on the third Sunday in May or any Sunday that suits your schedule. Worship resources and inserts are available http://www.ucc.org/mental_health_sunday_2017 The UCC Mental Health Network Congregational Toolkits are also available:
http://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/p/congregational-toolkits.html
If your health and wellness ministries committee wants to explore becoming designated by the UCC Mental Health Network process as a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) Congregation for Mental Health can be accessed at this link: http://moredomainsforless.com/mhnucc/becomingaWISEcongregationformentalhealth2019ed.pdf
GENERAL SYNOD UPDATE:
Registration is open. https://www.synod2019.org/en/uccsynod2019
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC will be participating at General Synod 32 in several ways. Peggy Matteson will be moderating a workshop on the Opioid Crisis Response. Alyson Breisch will be doing a short presentation about the Wellness Ministries at the General Synod 32 Health Wholeness & Human Service Lunch. Both are participating with representatives of the UCC Disabilities Ministries and the UCC Mental Health Network, and Rev. Sarah Lund in the planning for a quiet room and adjoining wellness-focused space at General Synod.
KEEP CONNECTED:
Visit our FaceBook and Linked-In pages: share information about your health ministries and join in conversations and postings.
https://www.linkedin.com/groups/6951713/
https://www.facebook.com/pg/UCCFCN/posts/
Previous issues of the newsletter:
Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics: http://www.ucc.org/ucc_faith_community_nurse_network_newsletter
Contact us:
Have something you want to share with your colleagues?
Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry?
Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC?
Let us hear from you.
Contact:
Alyson Breisch and/or Deb Stankiewicz
Mind Body Spirit - April 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
April 2019, Volume 4, Issue 3
APRIL 2019
“April hath put a spirit of youth in everything.” William Shakespeare
April surrounds us with its beauty, renewal, and rebirth: a cardinal carrying strands of pine straw for a new nest in a shrub’s deep center; peony and asparagus stalks rising toward the sun; lilac and azalea buds pushing out at the ends of branches; local baseball and softball teams and the “ping” of a metal bat cracking in the air; a fresh garden plot tilled and readied for this year’s plantings; the welcomed births of lambs, kittens, puppies, piglets, calves, and the young of many species; longer days and walks along creeks, forest trails, and open meadows. You are invited to venture out and see where April is astounding you with its glorious signs of spring.
TAKE ACTION / SHARE YOUR VOICE:
Mental Health:
The National Council for Behavioral Health has issued an action alert asking members of Congress to sign a Dear Colleague letter in support of increased funding for the Substance Abuse Prevention and Treatment Block Grant in FY20. The block grant is the largest funding stream going to states for substance use prevention, treatment, and recovery systems.
The Council also notes that bipartisan legislation has been introduced to increase access to mental health care. Two bills are currently in process:
- The Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 286/H.R. 945) would allow marriage and family therapists (MFTs) and licensed mental health counselors to directly bill Medicare for their services. This simple change would immediately increase patients' access to needed mental health care. You are urged to contact your legislators to cosponsor the Mental Health Access Improvement Act (S. 286/H.R. 945).
- The Excellence in Mental Health and Addiction Treatment Expansion Act (S. 824/ H.R. 1767), a bill to extend and expand the Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) demonstration, has been reintroduced in the House and Senate.
https://www.thenationalcouncil.org/policy-action/write-your-legislators/
HEALTH OBSERVATION DATES IN APRIL:
Autism:
April is World Autism Month and April 2nd is the twelfth annual World Autism Awareness Day. You are invited to join the pledge to go blue to increase global understanding and acceptance of people with autism by wearing something blue on April 2 in support of understanding and acceptance for people with autism. On April 2nd, many landmarks around the globe will light up blue! You can purchase a special Autism Speaks Blue LED Colored Light Bulb at stores and join in the event by lighting your home or business BLUE! A portion of the proceeds on bulbs benefits Autism Speaks.
http://www.autism-society.org/get-involved/national-autism-awareness-month
National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD):
April 10th is National Youth HIV & AIDS Awareness Day (NYHAAD). NYHAAD is the first annual observance day set aside to recognize the impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic on young people. In the United States, 1 in 5 new HIV diagnoses were in young people aged 13-24 years. Despite the disproportionate number of new HIV infections occurring among youth, the percentage tested for HIV is low compared to other age groups. Only 10% of U.S. high school students have ever been tested for HIV. Infographics and other Resources can be found at this link:
https://www.cdc.gov/features/youth-hiv-aids/index.html
National Healthcare Decisions Day:
April 16, 2019. : The purpose of this day is to inspire, educate, and empower the public and providers about the importance of advance care planning. The Conversation Project is dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Its pamphlet can be downloaded at this link:
Multiple Starter Kits are available to download and print for free. Starter kits are available in 14 different languages as well as an audio version in English.
http://theconversationproject.org/starter-kits/
National Infant Immunization Week 2019 is April 27-May 4, 2019.
This annual observance is meant to highlight the importance of protecting infants from vaccine-preventable diseases and to celebrate the achievements of immunization programs and their partners in promoting healthy communities. https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/events/niiw/index.html
Educational materials including videos, infographics, fact sheets and booklets are available: https://www.cdc.gov/vaccines/partners/childhood/multimedia.html
Immunization Schedules can be downloaded:
National Prescription Drug Take Back Day is April 27th
According to the 2016 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, 6.2 million Americans misused controlled prescription drugs. The study shows that a majority of abused prescription drugs were obtained from family and friends, often from the home medicine cabinet. The DEA’s Take Back Day events provide an opportunity for Americans to prevent drug addiction and overdose deaths. https://www.getsmartaboutdrugs.gov/content/national-take-back-day
The intent is to provide a safe, convenient, and responsible way to dispose of unused or expired prescription drugs. Click on this link to locate a site near you: https://takebackday.dea.gov/
OTHER APRIL EVENTS:
Earth Day – April 22nd This year’s focus: Protect Our Species. Activities are designed to:
- Educate and raise awareness about the accelerating rate of extinction of millions of species and the causes and consequences of this phenomenon.
- Achieve major policy victories that protect broad groups of species as well as individual species and their habitats.
- Build and activate a global movement that embraces nature and its values.
- Encourage individual actions such as adopting plant-based diet and stopping pesticide and herbicide use.
Multiple Toolkits available: https://www.earthday.org/earthdayinabox/
EDUCATIONAL HAPPENINGS:
Westberg Symposium: April 8-10, 2019 in Memphis, TN. Theme: In These Times: Serving Through Adversity
UCC Insurance board: Check the website for upcoming and previous webinars. One of the previous webinars, Risk Management for Keeping Youth Safe at Camp, is timely with Youth Camps beginning as we move into the season of summer.
https://www.insuranceboard.org/online-learning/
DATES ON THE UCC CALENDAR:
UCC Earth Sunday: April 28, 2019 http://www.ucc.org/earth_day_sunday_2019_20190428
Earth Day Sunday and Easter fall on the same day this year, so faith communities are encouraged to celebrate Earth Day when it makes sense for the individual community.
The UCC Environmental Justice Ministry joined with the ecumenical Creation Justice Ministries to author and produce reflective materials on generational justice for this Earth Sunday. The 2019 theme is "Next Generation Rising" and focuses on children and youth leading the way for creation justice. Download a copy of this resource today.
May 2019:
Mental Health Sunday: The United Church of Christ Mental Health Network invites you to highlight mental health on the third Sunday in May or any Sunday that suits your schedule. Worship resources and inserts are available http://www.ucc.org/mental_health_sunday_2017 The UCC Mental Health Network Congregational Toolkits are also available:
http://mhn-ucc.blogspot.com/p/congregational-toolkits.html
This may be a time for your health and wellness ministries committee to explore the process to be designated by the UCC Mental Health Network as a WISE (Welcoming, Inclusive, Supportive and Engaged) Congregation for Mental Health. The pdf explaining the 10 steps to becoming a WISE congregation can be downloaded from this link: http://moredomainsforless.com/mhnucc/becomingaWISEcongregationformentalhealth2019ed.pdf
GENERAL SYNOD UPDATE:
Registration is open. https://www.synod2019.org/en/uccsynod2019
Pulitzer Prize-winning author Matthew Desmond, winner of numerous awards for his book which chronicles the lives of several families in the poorest neighborhoods in Milwaukee, will be the keynote speaker at the United Church of Christ General Synod 32 in June. Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, a New York Times Bestseller, will also be the subject of the denomination’s 2019 All Church Read.
A Faith-Based Reading Group Guide is available for groups using this book as a Book Club selection:
https://www.uccfiles.com/synod/2019/Evicted-Faith-Based-Discussion-Guide.pdf
Keep Connected:
Previous issues of the newsletter: Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics: http://www.ucc.org/ucc_faith_community_nurse_network_newsletter
Contact us: Have something you want to share with your colleagues? Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry? Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC? Let us hear from you.
Contact
Alyson Breisch and/or Deb Stankiewicz
Mind Body Spirit - March 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
March 2019, Volume 4, Issue 2
“Daffodils that come before the swallow dares and take the winds of March with beauty.”
William Shakespeare
March – the month that heralds the close of winter’s grip and beckons vernal spring’s arrival. This year, March is also the harbinger and onset of the Easter season.
March 2019 includes these celebrated days:
March 5th is Shrove Tuesday or as it is better known in many locations, Pancake Day. This day is associated with eating fatty and rich foods that cannot be eaten during Lent. In Pennsylvania - German communities it is called Fasnacht Day (translation: the night before the fast). Fasnachts are donuts made to use up the lard, sugar, butter, eggs and other rich foods in a house before the austere diet of Lent begins. Other areas of the country call this day Fat Tuesday or Mardi Gras. It is the last day of the Carnival season which began on January 6th, the Feast of the Epiphany (King’s Day). Churches may host pancake dinners as part of their preparation for Lent.
March 6th is Ash Wednesday. This day marks the beginning of Lent. It is always 46 days before Easter Sunday. During Ash Wednesday services, parishioners receive ashes on their foreheads. In many congregations the ashes are prepared by burning palm branches from the previous Palm Sunday as a reference to Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem.
Lent: March 6 – April 21. Not counting Sundays, Lent is 40 days in length and marks a time for repentance, fasting, reflection, and ultimately celebration. Lent is an intentional season focusing on the life, ministry, sacrifice, and resurrection of Jesus Christ.
Sunday, March 10, 2019: Daylight Savings Time: begins at 2:00 A.M. Remember to “spring forward” in the spring and set your clocks forward one hour (losing one hour of sleep).
Wednesday, March 20th is the March Equinox; also called the vernal Equinox: This year it falls on Wednesday, March 20th at 5:58 pm EDT. It marks the astronomical first day of spring in the Northern Hemisphere. The sun sits directly over the equator so day and night all over the world are of equal length.
Observe World Water Day March 22, 2019: World Water Day. Support various campaigns and check out the water resources provided by Creation Justice Ministries: http://www.creationjustice.org/water.html
Observe Earth Hour 2019 on March 30, 2019: Turn off the lights for one hour to observe how much energy will be saved if people around the world cooperate with energy saving. Click here to see the impact from years before and how you can get involved.
Living In The Lenten Season:
Lenten Program Ideas:
Our thanks to First Congregational Church (UCC) Western Springs, Illinois for sharing their activities planned for Lent:
- Walking the Way of the Cross - This labyrinth walk is held on Good Friday evening. The Passion Story from Luke is read as participants walk a candle-lit labyrinth. The area around the labyrinth is embellished with symbols of the scripture story. Walkers are instructed to stop on the labyrinth each they hear a prayer bell rung. With the ringing of the bell, a section of the scripture is read. Taize music is played during the walk. By the time a participant walks the labyrinth, they have heard the whole scripture story.
- Lenten Devotional - About six weeks before Lent begins, congregation members are invited to submit a personal devotion, poem or story which speaks to a specified Lenten theme. Some examples of themes used are: God Was There, Pray without Ceasing, Sharing the Cross, and We are Pilgrims. Members of all ages are invited to participate. The pieces submitted are organized into a booklet with each submission being assigned a day during Lent. Members enjoy the Devotional for daily spiritual reflection and feel more connected to fellow congregants during their Lenten journey.
- Lenten Connection Groups - Congregation members are invited to join small groups of 8-12 led by congregation members trained to lead the scripture reading process of Lectio Divina. It is a way of studying the scriptures using repetitive reading, meditation, reflection and discussion to discern how God is speaking to the individual and the group through selected scripture.
Self-Care:
Moonlight Reflections: A. Breisch
I have had a fascination with looking at the moon since a young age. In adult life I discovered that I was born on a night of a full moon! This February the “Super Snow” Moon occurred on February 19th. It was also called a “Supermoon” because the moon was at its closest point to the earth. In fact, it was the largest, nearest, and brightest full moon of the year. Gazing up at the moon draws us into quiet reflection. It reminds us to “look up”. As noted by Galileo in 1610, “it’s a beautiful and wondrous sight to behold the body of the moon”. Watch this short video, A New View of the Moon, to see the awe and wonder experienced as Wylie Overstreet invites everyday people to view the moon up-close through a powerful telescope: https://www.mountainfilm.org/media/a-new-view-of-the-moon
A looking up moment: D. Stankiewicz
While working in nursing administration years ago, I would often vent my frustrations to my administrative assistant, Rosebud. She was an especially spiritually mature woman who would respond “Just keeping looking up Deb”. I try to remember to do that each day especially in my work as a faith community nurse. I am finding it increasingly difficult to endure Midwestern winters. This winter in Chicago has been particularly bad with unprecedented arctic temperatures and frequent prolonged ice storms. My work visiting congregants requires me to be out in the weather. Most days I have railed against the winter and fall into the habit of counting the days until it’s over, as if wishing my life away. Recently, I found myself gingerly driving to visits in the aftermath of a night-long ice storm. On that day, I looked up in the literal sense. The sun was shining, but it was still so cold that the treetops were encased in ice! Voila! Crystals sparkling everywhere I looked in the light of the God-given sun. The beauty of it was breathtaking and my heart lifted in gratitude for having had a glimpse of it. I brought that experience into my visits with congregants that day; realizing that coping with extreme climate and helping those I serve also do so, might best be enhanced by focusing on the beauty in every season.
Health Observation Dates in March:
Sleep Awareness Week: March 3-10, 2019. This is a good topic for health ministries bulletin board displays or newsletter articles. World Sleep Day: March 15, 2019. World Sleep Day is held the Friday before the spring vernal equinox each year. Sleep Hygiene tips can be incorporated into a bulletin board display:
http://sleepeducation.org/essentials-in-sleep/healthy-sleep-habits
https://www.cdc.gov/sleep/about_sleep/sleep_hygiene.html
Good Sleeper or Bad Sleeper: Dr. Darius Loghmanee, a pediatric sleep medicine physician at Advocate Aurora Health System in the Chicago area, is on a mission to help parents realize that good sleep is a learned behavior made by promoting good sleep habits. He teaches parents and teachers about the science of sleep and the importance of good diagnostic assessment to determine why children have trouble getting good sleep. Poor sleep in children may manifest in symptoms such as emotional outbursts, learning difficulties, and daytime sleepiness. These are some of the same symptoms of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Children may be misdiagnosed and medicated for ADHD when in fact they are suffering from Sleep Pattern Disturbance. Medications prescribed for ADHD often worsen the sleep difficulties. A comprehensive diagnostic work-up for behavioral problems should include assessment of sleep pattern and quality to rule out such physical problems as sleep apnea. To learn more about healthy sleep in children and strategies to help children become good sleepers, check out this link: https://www.dailyherald.com/entlife/20170820/are-good-sleepers-born-or-made
National Nutrition Month: this initiative focuses attention on the importance of making informed food choices and developing sound eating and physical activity habits. https://www.eatright.org/food/resources/national-nutrition-month/national-nutrition-month-celebration-toolkit
American Lung Association: Year of Air Pollution and Health 2019:
During 2019, The American Lung Association (ALA) will celebrate progress in reducing pollution in the air we breathe and highlight remaining obstacles to healthy air for all. Each month will spotlight the lifesaving importance of healthy air, focusing on different themes such as how air pollution harms health, who is at risk and ways to act to protect our communities. Their topics may be a resource for Bulletin Board displays, educational articles, or small group discussions. The focus for March is Where Does Air Pollution Come From? The topic for April is State of the Air. The ALA website will feature resource content each month. https://www.lung.org/our-initiatives/healthy-air/outdoor/fighting-for-healthy-air/year-of-air-pollution-and-health/
Educational Happenings:
Healing touch: Deb S. recently attended the 2019 Healing Touch Worldwide Conference, Being the Healing Bridge: Expanding Spirit Into Practice, in San Diego, California. Over 400 Healing Touch Practitioners gathered to learn how to use personal stories to constructively impact healing work. The Keynote Speaker, Zelda Lockhardt, MA, PhD, spoke on Building Community Through the Mutual Vulnerability of Shared Stories. Her latest book, due out this spring, is The Soul of the Full-Length Manuscript. Learn more about this excellent storyteller: https://zeldalockhart.com/
Religion and Public Health Collaborative at Emory University: Emory University is conducting an assessment to guide them in the development of a continuing education program for religious and health professionals. They are asking for input from practitioners in the fields of religion, community-based health programs, and public health. You may participate in the survey which will take about 15 minutes to complete and is available through the link below:
Religion and Public Health Collaborative Survey
NOTE: Deadline to complete the survey is March 15, 2019
Webinar: Tuesday, March 19, 2019: Free webinar by the Insurance Board: Training Parishioners to Recognize and Respond to the Active Shooter Threat. www.anymeeting.com/insuranceboard
Connecticut conference: The CT Council of Parish Nurse Coordinators is offering a one-day conference April 3rd, 2019 for lay health ministers and parish nurses. Alyson Breisch MSN, RN-BC will speak about trends in faith community nursing and the revised Faith Community Nursing Scope and Standards of Practice,3rd ed. on behalf of Health Ministries Association, Inc. Reverend Carl Anderson will provide insight on caring for people with dementia. Join us to network with vendors and colleagues promoting the integration of faith and health. click the link for full details: CCPNC Symposium Health Ministry/ Parish Nursing Trends for 2019
April 8-10, 2019: Westberg Symposium for Faith Community Nursing. In These Times: Serving Through Adversity. Memphis, TN https://westberginstitute.org/symposium2019/
Dates for Your UCC Calendar:
Plan Early to Go Green: One of the UCC’s 3 Great Loves initiative is Love of Creation. April is Earth Month and the UCC has designated Sunday April 22 as Earth day. March is the time to plan for your church’s activities focusing on care of creation.
April 22: Earth Day Sunday – UCC Creation Justice Ministries. http://www.creationjustice.org/earth-day-sunday.html
Keep Connected:
Previous issues of the newsletter: Use previous year’s monthly newsletters to aid your search for links to resources on health ministries and wellness topics: http://www.ucc.org/ucc_faith_community_nurse_network_newsletter
Contact us: Have something you want to share with your colleagues? Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry? Interested in joining the Leadership Team for the Wellness Ministries of the UCC? Let us hear from you.
Contact
Alyson Breisch alyson.breisch@gmail.com and/or Deb Stankiewicz debbie@wscongo.org
Mind Body Spirit - January-February 2019
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Wellness Ministries of the UCC Newsletter
(formerly The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter)
January/February 2019, Volume 4, Issue 1
As we embark into the new year, 2019, there are two important announcements to share with you:
- First, two new editors have been selected to serve in this fourth year of the newsletter. We start this edition with our heartfelt thanks to Peggy Matteson for her leadership and strong editorial skills serving as editor for the first three years. Deb Stankiewicz, MS, RN-BC, HTCP, Parish Nurse at First Congregational UCC of Western Springs, Illinois and Alyson Breisch, MSN, RN-BC, former Parish Nurse and Director of Congregational Care at United Church of Chapel Hill UCC, Chapel Hill, NC are now sharing the editorial work; we hope that you will continue to support this newsletter and keep in touch with us by sharing information for upcoming issues and feedback.
- Second, The UCC Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry also has a new name selected by the leadership group: Wellness Ministries of the UCC. This new title reflects the broad dimensions of Health Ministries and Faith Community Nursing activities that promote and support activities of health, healing, and wholeness within our congregations and the communities served. The leadership group chose this new title after discussions about the scope of health, wellness, and healing ministries within local congregations and review of the intent and mission from the Resolution passed at the Twenty-first General Synod in 1997 titled Reclaiming The Church's Ministry Of Health And Healing. http://www.ucc.org/justice_health_general-synod-21-reclaiming
JANUARY NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES:
1. Alzheimer’s Awareness Month: A common misperception among lay people is that any type of memory loss is dementia and that all dementia is Alzheimer’s disease. In reality, dementia describes a set of signs and symptoms whose etiology is varied. Treatment depends on the etiology. Alzheimer’s Disease is just one type of memory disorder. According to the Mayo Clinic, “Dementia indicates problems with at least two brain functions, such as memory loss, impaired judgment or language, and the inability to perform some daily activities, such as paying bills or driving.”
The burden of Alzheimer’s Disease and related memory disorders on family caregivers is becoming increasingly apparent to Faith Community Nurses. To be responsive faith community nurses need to be both well- educated about the disease process and have a firm grasp on available resources for patients and caregivers.
Alzheimer’s Association- www.alz.org is a comprehensive, detailed educational resource on disease etiology, symptoms, diagnosis and treatment as well as stages of dementia and dealing with behavioral issues. These pieces are well-written and understandable for lay people. There is an extensive section for family caregivers that provides information on caregiving at every stage of the disease, support resources and caregiver health and well-being. For professionals, there is an extensive research section which details current research progress, available clinical trials for patients and specific instructions for professionals who wish to pursue research grants. This website should be a go-to referral source for any faith community nurse working with patients and their caregivers with Alzheimer’s Disease and other dementias.
2. Cervical Health Awareness Month:
Nearly 13,000 women in the United States are diagnosed with cervical cancer each year, but the disease is preventable with vaccination and appropriate screening (Pap and HPV tests).
With our interest in educating and advocating for increased knowledge of cervical cancer and Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) disease, there are resources available through this link: http://www.nccc-online.org/hpvcervical-cancer/cervical-health-awareness-month/
There is also a continuing education series (each viewing awards 0.25 contact hour) you can access here: https://www.medscape.org/viewcollection/34363?src=acdmpart_asha_34363
3. National Glaucoma Awareness Month:
Nearly three million people ages 40 and older have glaucoma and those numbers are projected to increase steadily as more baby boomers move into retirement. In the early stages, glaucoma has no symptoms, no noticeable vision loss or pain, which is why it is called the “sneak thief of sight.” Prevent Blindness offers a dedicated web page providing patients and their caregivers with additional free information at https://www.preventblindness.org/glaucoma.
FEBRUARY NATIONAL HEALTH OBSERVANCES:
1. Age-related Macular Degeneration (AMD) and Low Vision Awareness Month:
- AMD: there are videos and publications available at this site: https://nei.nih.gov/health/maculardegen
- Resources from National Eye Institute are available in English and Spanish: https://nei.nih.gov/catalog/by-type
2. American Heart Month:
There are many online resources available related to heart disease, hypercholesterolemia, hypertension, stroke. One resource that is very comprehensive is the Million Hearts website of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. This year’s focus is on young adults. More younger adults are dying of heart disease, and their rates of risk factors—such as physical inactivity, tobacco use, and hypertension—are also increasing. https://millionhearts.hhs.gov/news-media/events/heart-month.html
Another resource is The American Heart Association website: https://www.heart.org/
A Different Approach to Heart Health: Personal Perspective Deb Stankiewicz, MS, RN-BC, HTCP, Faith Community Nurse
As February approaches many faith community nurses will want to plan educational events to promote heart health. Logical approaches are to focus on blood pressure, heart healthy diet and exercise promotion. As important as these are to good heart health, emphasis on them can run the risk of ignoring the mental and spiritual aspects of heart health. As a faith community nurse, I am always on a quest to find user-friendly ways to better my health.
What I have learned in thirty years practicing as a faith community nurse is that members will usually embrace that which is at their finger-tips, doesn’t take a lot of time and is easy to use. I have also learned that through sharing stories of my own experience successfully using a health promotion strategy, members are more likely to try suggested strategy! Peace of mind and spirit are vital to good heart health and self-care in general. Last fall, I came across an article in the Health section of the Chicago Tribune describing an app for meditation, called Insight Timer. The article said it is one of the most popular meditation apps. I started using it first daily and then during the night when I had difficulty sleeping. After several weeks of using it I was not only sleeping better but noticing a difference in mood, a palpable sense of spiritual grounding and eating habits changing for the better. Four months later, I am absolutely loving using this app which for me has become a daily health habit.
As a follow-up to annual health screening during one-on-one consultations with participants, I introduced them to the app. In the three months since, several members continue to use the app and are reporting health improvements similar to those I noticed. Regular meditation is known to decrease heart rate and blood pressure, to improve mood and to promote neuroplasticity. You don’t have to be an expert to do Meditation Facilitation or to cultivate your own meditation practice. All you need is a Smart Phone or an iPad on which you can use the meditation app. Did you know there is a standardized nursing intervention named Meditation Facilitation? Why not implement Meditation Facilitation as part of your February efforts to promote heart health? See my description of the app below and feel free to use it in your newsletters or bulletins as a promo for this heart healthy strategy!
Insight Timer is a wonderful free meditation app which can be downloaded from the App Store or Google Play. It is “the largest library of free meditations on earth”. The app contains guided meditations on a multitude of topics including things such as stress, anxiety, motivation, gratitude and sleep to mention a few. There is also a large collection of meditative music tracks within the app. The user can filter their search by how much time they want to meditate as well as by topic. Educational podcasts within the app can be purchased for a nominal fee but are optional. Check it out! https://insighttimer.com/
PREPARATION FOR LENTEN SEASON:
This year Ash Wednesday falls on March 6th. Lent is often described as a time of prayer, fasting, charitable giving, and service. Lent is also a time for self-reflection. Walking offers us an opportunity to be outdoors in nature – either alone or with friends – and make time for quiet reflection. Many churches invite members to walk a labyrinth or participate in a community Walk to Jerusalem which includes teams cumulatively walking the distance between your faith community’s location and Jerusalem and can also include reflective readings and discussion.
Begin now to plan for Lenten activities that promote whole-person wellness during Lent.
UCC GENERAL SYNOD 2019 UPDATE:
Wisconsin is hosting General Synod from June 21 through June 25, 2019. The theme is “Shine”.
The Rev. Franz Rigert, Wisconsin Conference Minister notes “When we light just one candle in the darkness, it illuminates dimly, but when many candles are lit, and all let their lights shine, together we can bring brightness to the world.”
Complete General Synod information is now available on the national UCC website: ucc.org/synod
EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES:
The Health Ministries Association Annual Conference will be held October 11-14, 2019 in the Cincinnati area at Erlanger, KY. The theme is Faith-Based Approaches to Cultivate Healthier Communities. The speakers and schedule are being finalized. Watch for registration information to be posted at https://hmassoc.org/news-events/upcoming-conference/
Westberg Institute for Faith Community Nursing will be held in Memphis, TN April 8-10, 2019. The theme is In These Times: Serving Through Adversity. Registration is now open. https://westberginstitute.org/symposium2019/
Deborah Ringen, a member of our leadership team was recently interviewed by Rev. Kent Siladi, Conference Minister of the Connecticut Conference of the UCC; the webinar focused on health ministry and faith community nursing. You can view the webinar (32.5 minutes length) through either of these links:
Zoom link:
https://zoom.us/recording/share/eHswMs6hiwnptdPstB6ZUz4AhCD9ClWsMJE2nPe0iRiwIumekTziMw
Facebook link:
https://www.facebook.com/CTUCC/videos/364750871004710/
FUTURE 
ISSUES
Have something “you want to share with your colleagues?
That which we share with others multiplies immeasurably”.
Contact
Alyson Breisch alyson.breisch@gmail.com and/or Deb Stankiewicz debbie@wscongo.org
Mind Body Spirit - November-December 2018
Mind, Body, Spirit: Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness
The Faith Community Nurse Health Ministry Newsletter
October/December 2018, Volume 3, Issue 10
A Message of Gratitude
Thank you for the privilege of serving you and your ministries for the past three years ago. In the fall of 2015 I started gathering information for the first issue of our newsletter “Mind, Body, Spirit – Linking Lives for Health and Wholeness”. Since January 2016 there have been 30 issues. (They are archived at ucc.org.) Thank you to those who shared information to include. Also, thank you to all who expressed appreciation for this resource.
A call to another facet of health ministry is now unfolding for me. As a result the Leadership Team is planning that with the January/February 2019 issue a new editor will continue the process of compiling this newsletter. I will continue to support that ministry. With prayer for abundant blessings on our diverse ministries, Peggy Matteson
The Opioid Epidemic and the Role of Your Church
Churches are not neutral bystanders:
what they don’t say is just as important as what they do say.
-A West Virginia pastor
Background information
All opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors on nerve cells in the body and brain. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused (taken in a different way or in a larger quantity than prescribed, or taken without a doctor’s prescription). Regular use—even as prescribed by a doctor—can lead to dependence and, when misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to addiction, overdose incidents, and deaths.
Substance use disorders affect people from all walks of life and all age groups. About 11.5 million Americans age 12 and older misused prescription pain medicine in 2016 (Key Substance Use and Mental Health Indicators in the U.S. 2017). As the misuse of prescription drugs grew so did the number of people who had to ultimately turn to cheaper and m ore available non-prescriptive opioids. The use of the illicit drugs heroin and fentanyl has grown exponentially in recent years. On average 115 Americans die from opioid-related drug overdoses every day.
What can churches do?
The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) recognizing that churches are willing to reach out to meet the needs of their families, friends, neighbors and colleagues have developed an Opioid Epidemic Practical Toolkit that can be easily downloaded. The toolkit is segmented into seven key areas and briefly covers practical ways you can consider bringing hope and healing to those in need. The labeled key areas with a brief description are:
- Open Your Doors – Host or offer space to recovery programs and support groups
- Increase Awareness – To increase awareness partner with local community health experts to help educate your community about the reality of who this epidemic is affecting. Better understanding leads to compassion which then encourages action.
- Build Community Capacity – Offer training programs provided by community partners to train members of the congregation to become peer-recovery coaches, understand where to make referrals, know how to respond in an emergency situation, and provide ongoing support for those in recovery.
-
Rebuild and Restore – Individuals and families when attempting to rebuild their lives. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) has identified the four dimensions that support moving to a successful life in recovery as:
- Health – overcoming or managing one’s disease or symptoms;
- Home – having a stable and safe place to live;
- Purpose - conducting meaningful daily activities; and
- Community – having relationships and social networks that provide support, friendship, love, and hope.
- Get Ahead of the Problem – Focus efforts on youth and prevention. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) can increase a person’s risk for substance abuse. Read below more about the lifelong effect of ACEs below and ideas for how a church might assist individuals.
- Connect and Collaborate - Join local substance-use prevention coalitions to inform, connect, and strengthen your efforts. Review One Voice, One Community: Building Strong and Effective Partnerships Among Community and Faith Organizations. This guide offers strategies for churches to collaborate with community organizations to address the needs of people living with mental illness, substance use disorders, or both.
- Utilize Federal Resources – Government agencies have developed many tools that are available free from websites. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the National Institute for Drug Abuse (NIDA) and other HHS divisions are very helpful.
What is the best way to respond to a person having an overdose?
If there are prescription opioids in your house Naloxone (Narcan) should be there, too. It is an easy to administer, safe, and effective way to save a life by stopping the effect of an opioid overdose. Understanding that its use can easily save a life Narcan is becoming available to the public without a prescription.
In April of 2018 Dr. Jerome Adams, the U.S. Surgeon General stated that carrying and knowing how to use Narcan should become as “ubiquitous as knowing CPR and calling for a defibrillator when someone is having a heart attack, or using an EpiPen when someone’s having an allergic reaction”. In our churches we support the tools of CPR, a defibrillator, and an Epi-Pen. It’s time to consider the availability of Narcan. The Steward, the newsletter of our Insurance Board has a very helpful article in the Summer Issue titled Opioids and your Church: What you should know. It provides guidelines for a church choosing to include naloxone (Narcan) as part of their first aid program.
SELF-CARE
Who are your Caring “Cs”?
There are five kinds of people that we need in our lives so we may each grow towards our fullest God given potential. Rev. Nancy Grissom Self has labeled them the Five Caring “Cs”.
People that comfort us,
People who clarify issues with us,
People who challenge us,
People who collaborate with us, and
People who celebrate with us.
God provides people in our lives who provide one or more “Cs”. Identify them, celebrate them (even the ones who challenge you) and thank God for each of them.
(Hollies,L., 2006, p. 105). Learn more specifics about each “C”
in the Appendix of her book Inner Healing for Broken Vessels.
RESOURCES FOR OUR PRACTICE
Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)
Adverse childhood experiences (ACEs) are stressful or traumatic events, including abuse and neglect. They may also include household dysfunction such as witnessing domestic violence or growing up with family members who have substance abuse disorders. ACEs are strongly related to the subsequent development and prevalence of a wide range of health problems throughout a person’s lifespan, including those associated with substance misuse. The CDC provides an extensive list of resources at Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs) Resources.
As more is learned about the causes and effects of adverse childhood experiences, new efforts are emerging nationwide that help families raise healthy children and increase resilience. The RWJF website: Adverse Childhood Experiences collection contains resources for churches and communities working to raise awareness about and mitigate the impact of adverse childhood experiences, and help every child have a healthy start in life.
Sometimes, congregations must back up and start again
If your ministry is no longer achieving its intended impact, it may be time to ask why. Probing a ministry’s purpose and progress may reveal that it’s time to reverse course and start again. Have you wondered about the ministry you lead, is it still achieving its intended impact? You may find the article Sometimes Congregations Must Back-up and Start Again written by Dave Odom in the learning resource Faith & Leadership available from Leadership Education at Duke Divinity.
Loneliness and Isolation
In the October 7th, 2018 stillspeaking Daily Devotional – Lonely Hunter, Vince Amlin writes about the study released by the insurer Cigna earlier this year. The study found that loneliness and isolation have reached epidemic proportions in the U.S. Loneliness (also known as subjective isolation) is how people perceive their experience and whether or not they feel isolated. Isolation is a growing health epidemic. More than 8 million adults age 50 and older are affected by isolation. The health risks of prolonged isolation are equivalent to smoking 15 cigarettes a day.
We speak of being a church family or a church community. Our opportunity to worship and fellowship together develops connections between individuals. We can assist in reducing the isolation of individuals by:
- Addressing transportation challenges
- Addressing health issues such as hearing loss, mobility impairments and supporting chronic disease self-management
- Identifying life transitions, role loss or change as times of risk and offering options
- Addressing social barriers with intergenerational programs, lifelong learning events, and identifying opportunities for individuals to engage and contribute
- Increasing access to a variety of community based programs
RESOURCES FOR OUR ONGOING PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
New edition of Manual on Ministry is now available
After a four-year process of discernment and conversation, the newest edition of the UCC Manual on Ministry is now available to support Committees on Ministry in the work of authorizing and overseeing ministers of the 21st century Church.
The role of the Manual on Ministry (MOM) in the United Church of Christ is to serve as a living guide, a grounding perspective, and a resource for shared expectations in the essential ministry of Committees on Ministry. The 2018 edition of the Manual on Ministry is the work of the Habakkuk Group, a 17-member committee called together by the Ministerial Excellence, Support, and Authorization (MESA) Team to write the vision of authorized ministry in the 21st century and to make it plain for the United Church of Christ. You may order the new edition of the Manual on Ministry from UCC Resources: $25.00. Shipments of pre-orders will begin in mid-November.
If you seek to become an authorized minister of the UCC with a focus on a ministry of wellness, (this is now an opportunity in place of the former formal commissioning process) this guide provides the steps to follow. It is recognized that what we do is ministry. The Committee on Ministry of your Association guide you in the discernment of your role in ministry and the steps that are to be followed on that journey.
Addressing Social Determinants of Health: Progress and Opportunities.
New articles in the ANA Online Journal of Issues in Nursing (OJIN) discuss aspects of these determinants in clinical settings. Of special interest to our various practices are:
- Child Poverty, Toxic Stress, and Social Determinants of Health: Screening and Care Coordination
- Mobile Traveling Healthcare Teams: An Innovative Delivery System for Underserved Populations
- A Nurse-Led Intervention to Address Food Insecurity in Chicago
If you are an ANA member you may log in now to read them. As of January 31st the topic will be available to all viewers.
7 States Now Report Obesity at or Above 35%
The CDC released new data on self-reported adult obesity prevalence for all 50 states. The 2017 Adult Obesity study found that obesity prevalence ranged from a low of 22.6% in Colorado to a high of 38.1% in West Virginia. Adults with obesity are at an increased risk for many serious health conditions, such as heart disease, stroke, type 2 diabetes, some cancers, and poorer mental health. Children with obesity are more likely to become adults with obesity.
Turning the tide on obesity will take a comprehensive by all parts of society. To protect the health of the next generation support for healthy behaviors such as healthy eating, better sleep, stress management, and physical activity should start early and expand across the lifespan. There are many evidence-based resources available through the Health and Human Services (HHS) websites that will guide your choice of programing.
A resource that provides a new perspective is the site Weight of the World – Connecting individuals through the power of the personal story. There are several resources here that haven’t appeared elsewhere.
Monthly Announcement of Mental Health Resources
Mental Health First Aider eNews is a bi-weekly newsletter that provides news, updates, and useful resources. Previous newsletters are posted at https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/first-aider-newsletter/#
Mental Health First Aid Blog is available at: https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/news-and-updates/
Conferences and Meetings
Jan. 23-27 Creating Change Conference – Detroit Marriott at the Renaissance Center. Presented by the National LGBTQ Task Force. More Information and Registration
March 18th 2019 Refresh Your Soul Conference Living Well with Purpose at Xavier University Cintas Center. For more information contact Jeanne Palcic at jpalcic@erslife.org
June 18-20th National ONA Gathering, Milwaukee, WI
DATES TO PUT ON YOUR PLANNING CALENDAR
Some of these dates provide the opportunity to integrate your health ministry activities with other activities in your church such as advocating for a just wage, working with the building and grounds committee addressing access issues, collaborating with the Christian Education committee regarding the health needs of students with medical or behavioral issues, etc.
Dec. 1st World AIDS Day – A day to honor those who have died and re-commit to ending the AIDS epidemic. Worship materials are available on the UCAN pages of the UCC.org website.
Dec. 10th Human Rights Day – Advocating for all God’s children.
Search the UCC.org site using the words Human Rights Day to find a liturgy to use in worship, an Intercessory Prayer as well as stories of the actions the UCC and other denominations have taken to advocate for human rights for all.
Jan. 27th Health and Human Services Sunday
June 21st – 25th UCC General Synod, Milwaukee, WI
FUTURE ISSUES
Have something you want to share with your colleagues?
Are you looking for something to assist you in your ministry?
That which we share with others multiplies immeasurably.
Contact: Peggy Matteson