With spread of the coronavirus in
both New York and Pennsylvania, an Allegany County group is examining the
potential for establishing a Faith Community Health Ministry Network of
churches and other Christian organizations to help build awareness for this and
other health issues encountered on an ongoing basis by county individuals and
families.
The
Hope Center, which helps equip churches and other groups and individuals to
enhance outreach to congregants and residents of their communities, is gauging
interest for such an activity, intensifying after governors of both New York
and Pennsylvania issued a states of emergency or disaster declaration as the
deadly virus spreads within these states, the nation and internationally.
The
local initiative is a broader application of national and international faith
community nurses or parish nurse endeavors which focus on current and retired
nurses working within and through churches to address a wide variety of public
health needs.
The
Center is determining interest by current and retired nurses, doctors and other
medical personnel, human services professionals and workers, and others who may
be interested in such efforts.
Casey
Jones, Hope Center Planning Group chair, said that establishment of Faith
Community Health Ministry Networks within and among churches, fits with its own
focus on creating ambassadors or liaisons between the Center and churches and
Christian organizations in order to expand efforts to assist individuals and
families who may be struggling with any number of issues.
“Although
we pray the coronavirus does not reach Allegany County directly,” Jones said,
“associated impacts involving family members and friends in other parts of the
state, country and internationally, along with economic impacts, can have
traumatic results locally.”
The
initiative also helps to establish a foundation for awareness involving other
physical, mental and spiritual health issues and can serve as a liaison between
health and human services entities and the faith community.
“The
time to start planning for a hurricane or tornado is not when a flood or wind
is coming through the front door, or for a winter storm when there is a
foot-and-a-half of snow on the ground and it still is coming down, but in
advance of such potentials,” Jones said, likening it to the growing potential
for a coronavirus epidemic or pandemic.
A
large part of the proposed effort is in gathering and disseminating information
to churches and their congregations since they generally meet at least once a
week, along with connecting individuals within congregations and communities
they serve with resources that can aid in addressing life issues.
The
Hope Center already serves in this capacity in some areas and is open to
addressing others as issues and volunteers are identified.
The
Center has been involved in public awareness related to early childhood and
other traumas, substance abuse issues, various types of prevention focuses
particularly those related to children, dyslexia and other reading assistance
for children and adults, mental health, information and referral for
individuals and families who are struggling with many types of life issues, and
more. It also has partnered with
Celebrate Recovery – Allegany County to increase the number of volunteers and
groups in churches throughout Allegany County to help meet the needs of both
teens and adults who are struggling with any type of hurt, hangup, habit or
life issue, including addictions.
During
March, the Center is focusing on reading issues which negatively impact a
significant portion of Allegany County's children and adults and building true
church and community collaborations which can expand services while reducing
costs of doing so. In April, substance
abuse will be highlighted, following by mental health in May and general
prevention, particularly associated with summer activities, in June.
The
Mission Genesee Valley coalition of churches and other Christian organizations,
the umbrella entity for the Hope Center, also will be holding community prayer
gatherings on the fourth Sundays of the month, with a March focus on suicides and April
on drug and alcohol issues. Locations
still are being determined.
The
Hope Center, a Weather-Ready Nation Ambassador, already posts weather alerts
directly from the National Weather Service on its Facebook page and began
posting basic coronavirus information, which it also distributed directly to
churches and Christian organizations, earlier this month.Further information on the Hope Center and this new initiative is available at www.facebook.com/HopeCenterAlleganyCounty or from Jones at bps461@msn.com or (484) 435-0503. Information on Mission Genesee Valley is at www.facebook.com/TransformationJourneyUSA and Celebrate Recovery at www.facebook.com/CelebrateRecoveryAlleganyCounty.
