Health and Wellness Programs

Parish Health Ministry provides partnering congregations with a variety of holistic activities and tools that focus on helping members live well. Last year, PHM touched the lives of nearly 30,000 people through health screenings, educational efforts, and programs. The following are some of the programs PHM offers:

Detecting Diabetes Free Screenings: Diabetes is a serious disease, and its incidence is growing in the United States every year. People most often develop diabetes as adults and frequently have no noticeable symptoms of the disease in spite of the harm it may be doing to their body. Early detection of diabetes is key to preventing or minimizing complications. Screenings are being offered free of charge to partnering churches by ERH Parish Health Ministry in partnership with the Central Ohio Diabetes Association.

Kindness Quotes & Holy Humor CD: This CD offers a number of meaningful quotes and humorous brief stories presented in a colorful and creative way. They can be used in church bulletins, newsletters, email communications, table tents or as part of a Powerpoint slide show at church functions, and much more. Also included are two articles on the effect of kindness and humor on a person's overall health.

Backdoor Reading: This program provides a unique means of communication with the congregation regarding health matters. Carol Sullivan, a parish nurse at St. Anne's Parish in Annapolis, Maryland, has developed 33 one-page informational sheets with colorful pictures and information about various health topics. This program is available through National Episcopal Health Ministries Association. Episcopal Retirement Homes' Parish Health Ministry has received permission from Carol Sullivan and the National Episcopal Health Ministries Association to distribute Backdoor Reading.

Blood Pressure Program: The congregation will be provided with the tools and information needed to implement both a congregational blood pressure screening and a community outreach program. The program includes educational materials and documentation forms. Coordinators may be available for phone or onsite consultation. Blood pressure equipment is available for loan.

Automatic External Defibrillator (AED) Educational Materials: The packet contains the Automated External Defibrillator Protocol for Congregations written by Carrico & Shurtleff (2004) along with the Ohio Revised Code pertaining to AED's in the congregational setting and a list of companies where AED's can be purchased.

Healthy Thoughts: A collection of 24 health and wellness bulletin inserts to share with your congregation in the church bulletin, church newsletter, or on a bulletin board. For your convenience, two sizes of bulletin inserts are included in the binder along with a CD containing all of the bulletin insert information.

5-A-Day The Healthy Way nutrition program: This spiritual nutrition program is designed to help parishioners make a lifestyle change that will enrich their body, mind and spirit.

The Portion Plate Program: The Portion Plate is a fun, family-oriented way to cut down on portion sizes and discover healthy food options for better health. This program is very popular, and has been requested and used in many congregations throughout the country.

Walk 50 Miles in 50 Days: This popular, spiritually based walking program encourages participants to walk 50 miles in 50 days to improve their health and well-being. It also serves as a tool to increase awareness of the benefits of walking.

Friendly Visitor program: ERH offers support to recruit and train volunteers to visit homebound individuals and befriend them as a means to alleviate issues of isolation and loneliness. This service also helps individuals to stay connected with the church.

Support & Networking Group: This group enables individuals involved in the health ministry to network, share ideas, offer support and obtain information on a variety of wellness topics.

Vial of Life: ERH provides free vial containers, forms and magnets to partnering congregations as part of this service. Members use the vials to house health information that is easily accessible to medical personnel during emergency situations.

Walk to Bethlehem: This program encourages walkers to become more physically active while providing a purposeful activity involving body, mind, and spirit. The program was developed by the health ministry team at Lake Shore Presbyterian Church in St. Clair Shores, Michigan in 2002, and distributed through St. John Health System. ERH's Parish Health Ministry has developed additional beneficial tools to this program to further engage participants.

Introduction to Parish Health Ministry Orientation Manual: The independent study manual was created to provide these individuals in partnering congregations who are beginning or enhancing a congregational health ministry with basic information and tools needed to begin their program. Churches outside of ERH's Parish Health Ministrey service area may purchase this independent study packet for $90 (without nursing contact hours) or $115 (including nursing contact hours). The study packet includes the manual, one copy of the Faith Community Nurse Scopes & Standards of Practice (American Nurses Association, 2005), the DVD Called to Care through Faith Community Nursing (Internatinal Parish Nurse Resource Center, 2007), and the book Health & Wellness: What Your Faith Community Can Do (Jill Westberg McNamara, 2006).

*Non-partnering congregations can access Parish Health Ministry Health and Wellness programs by contacting the Jeanne Palcic at (513) 271-9610.

We do ask that our partnering congregations be up to date in submitting their Report of Activities forms before enrolling in new programs.

Click here to donate directly to Parish Health Ministry.