Mission | Vision | How to become a partner
Working together for a healthy community
In 1996 Baptist Health, like other health systems nation-wide, faced significant shifts in healthcare. The rise of Health Management Organizations and health insurance plans (from 33 million enrolled in 1999 to 71 million enrolled in HMO’s in 2003) brought increased scrutiny, from length of hospital stays and to treatment plans, resulting in shorter hospital stays and a shift to outpatient surgeries. In 1997, the average length of stay was 5.1 days and the average length of stay was 4.9 days in 2002. A second major shift in health care: outpatient surgeries increased 33% since 1992. Most of surgery patients enter and leave the hospital the same day of surgery. These shifts have significantly impacted the Home Care Industry, the medically uninsured and vulnerable families.
Under these circumstances, the Congregational Health project proposal was conceptualized and discussed in Pastoral Care. Chaplains Robert W. Jakoby and Dale A. Young took the case to the Vice President of Nursing, Charlotte Dison. She enthusiastically supported, provided suggestions on how to proceed, and had an active role in promoting participation in the project among key administrative and health professionals. We not only had the green light from hospital administration but also were blessed with solid backing and support.
In order to develop a faith/health partnership appropriate to the contextual situation of South Florida, we formed an Advisory Board that reflected the knowledge base of the hospital system as well as the cultural and theological perspective of the multicultural and diverse faith community.
For that purpose, we looked for representation from a broad spectrum of hospital disciplines and community faith groups. Hospital participation included: Vice President of Nursing, Vice President of Homestead Hospital, Vice President of Mariner’s Hospital, Directors of Social Services, Community Wellness, Home Health, Marketing, and Pastoral Care. From the community, participation included: Community Health Nurse, a Priest, a Pastor, a Rabbi and laypeople from a congregation.
The Advisory Board chose a Steering Committee to participate in Advisory Board meetings and to advise pastoral care on the planning details. The committee provided more hands-on practical advice. Strategies, issues, and suggestions raised by the Advisory Board were discussed in more detail by a smaller group with larger faith-community participation.
Congregational Health serves the Miami-Dade County area congregations of all denominations. The two pillars of Congregational Health are:
1) Health education: through health risk assessment; health screenings; health education and promotion.
2) Supportive care of the needy: Bereavement Support, Care Teams and Faith-Based Health Support Groups programs.
Our mission
The Congregational Health mission is to develop and strengthen a network of viable health ministries in faith communities.
Our vision
The Congregational Health vision promotes intentional congregation-based programs of health education, health screenings, home visitation of the sick, bereavement support, care teams, and practical/spiritual support to individuals with health challenges.
About Congregational Health partnership
Congregations of any denomination in the area of Miami-Dade County interested in working together with Congregational Health for a healthy community are welcome to be part of our network and obtain the benefits of being a partner such as:
Training opportunities
Organization of health related topics presentations
Community referrals
Spiritual support
Health fairs
The steps for becoming a Congregational Health partner are very simple:
1) A meeting with the clergy leader to present the program; know the congregation expectations and plans; and how to work together for a healthy community.
2) A 4-hour training with the laypeople that the congregation determines will participate in the health ministry program. During the training we will explore the Congregational Health model, explain the benefits, and how to work together for the community well-being.
Should you need a presentation packet, please contact our office at 786-594-6360.