Listed are several Minnesota faith health models with contact information. This page will be updated each month with new models. Please submit ideas for Exemplary Models to Pat Peterson

TRUST, Inc.

9 Rustic Lodge Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN

TRUST is a group of seventeen congregations in South Minneapolis with a mission to “meet the needs of our neighbors and to bring about a greater bond of community among people”.

Contact: Nancy Biele, Executive Director 612/827-6159

Activities: Meals on Wheels, HandyWorks Chore Service, Parish Nurse Program, Trusty Salers (disposal of household goods, estate sales); School Partners (tutoring); Wreath of Love (Christmas gifts to nursing home residents); Loaves and Fishes (free meals) and TRUST Family Center at Judson (counseling services).

Emerging program: TRUST Recovery Support and Addiction Prevention Project

Family Opportunities for Living Collaboration (FOLC)

1807 Riverside Avenue, Suite 3
Minneapolis, MN 55454

FOLC has stated goals to:

• Develop a strong cross-cultural (East African and American born) and interfaith (Muslim and Christian) collaboration that will provide successful and accountable programs
• Develop, implement and sustain an effective exercise and socialization program for all peoples living in the public housing units of the Cedar Riverside neighborhood in Minneapolis
• Increase the leadership capabilities of the neighborhood leaders

Contact: Pam DeShaw, RN, MPH - Director or Africa Abdi, Associate Director, 612/747-2046

Activities: Fit and Friendly, an exercise and socialization class for immigrant women living in Cedar Riverside. In addition to exercise, the class participants practice saying simple phrases in each other’s language. Persons that attend the class are Somalian women and elderly Korean women. The class is led by Africa Abdi.

A youth soccer program has also been established as a part of FOLC.

Collaborative partners are Trinity Lutheran Church, Fairview University Medical Center, Augsburg College, Hennepin County.

Diabetes Prevention Program in Parishes
Body and Soul: Bringing Faith Communities Together for Healthy Living

Collaborative Partners: City South Cluster (six Lutheran churches); CoAM-Cooperative Adult Ministries (30 interdenominational churches); Fairview Health Services Community Health Department, and the MN Faith Health Consortium working together with primary funding provided by Wheat Ridge Ministries.

Contact: Diane Grigsby, City South Cluster Coordinator, 612/728-9221

Activities: Nine interdenominational sites, each with a site coordinator, will engage in diabetes prevention education and wellness support groups with the goal of preventing Type 2 diabetes. Persons will be screened for Type 2 diabetes; those identified as being at risk for developing the disease will self-select to participate in an intervention group that will meet together over a one year period to lose weight and develop healthier diets. Two-year project starting in Spring 2005.

Plymouth Congregational Church

1900 Nicollet Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN

Contact: Vicki Gustafson, RN, PHN, Parish Nurse Vickig2@plymouth.org
612/871-7400

Background: Started in 2000, the parish nurse program at Plymouth Congregational Church has a vision to integrate the spiritual and physical aspects of health, provide advocacy in a complicated healthcare system, refer persons to community resources, provide health counseling for persons and families needing to make decisions and coordinate volunteers in health ministry.

Activities of the Health Ministry at Plymouth:

• Blood Pressure Screening
  Blood pressure screening is offered the first Sunday of every month. Volunteer nurses, following the guidelines of the American Heart Association, provide this ministry.
• Home Visitation – At Home At Plymouth
  The parish nurse does home visitation to seniors, members in nursing homes and members who have health needs.
• Telephone Consultation
  Health counseling, referrals, information and follow-ups are often done via telephone
• Referral and Information
  Members are given referrals for community resources as well as information aon emerging health issues and disease prevention strategies
• Health Education
  Health education has been provided through a variety of forums, newsletters, noontime roundtables, home visits, and group meetings. Health literature is available in the library.
• Health Outreach Examples
  Community flu clinic; CPR instruction offered by the American Heart Association; Memory Loss Caregiver’s Support Group; Spirituality and Healthcare forum for healthcare professionals; Women’s Health Fair

"The growing theological understanding that God made us as whole beings, that the body and the soul or spirit cannot be split off from one another but are, in fact, intricately and inextricably bound up with one another, leads us, by implication to offer ministry that takes our members physical needs seriously. Health Education offered by a parish nurse, then is rightfully a part of a holistic church program".

Jim Gertmenian, Senior Pastor, Plymouth Congregational Church

Calvary Lutheran Church Health and Caring Ministry

Calvary Lutheran Church, 7520 Golden Valley Road, Golden Valley, MN 55427

The Calvary Health Ministry promotes the well being of individuals and families.

Contact: Annette Langdon, RN, MA, Parish Nurse 763-545-5659, ext. 135 or alangdon@calvary.org Annette has a Masters in Pastoral Theology and Ministry from Luther Seminary.

Calvary website: www.calvary.org Calvary website path to Health and Caring Ministry: click on Ministries – Adults –Congregational Care – Health and Caring Ministries

Background: Started in November 1987, the Health and Caring Ministry at Calvary Lutheran, has engaged in ground-breaking faith health activities for almost two decades. Led by Parish Nurse Annette Langdon, the Health and Caring Ministry encompasses congregational care, support groups, educational programs, prayer teams and a bevy of volunteers ready to work in health ministry. As one of the largest health ministries in the Twin Cities, Calvary has four parish nurses, one part-time (Annette) and three unpaid staff, who give leadership to the multitude of health ministries. A Health Ministry Team of 12 volunteers meets monthly to determine the programmatic focus such as a Mini-Health Fair and adult educational opportunities. Another 10 volunteers are committed to help with Health Ministry events.

The Health and Caring Ministry sponsors several support groups and events and regularly opens the Calvary facility to other health support groups within the community.

Sponsored by Calvary:

• BeFrienders – Trained laypersons offering emotional and spiritual support
• Blood pressure checks – Second Tuesday, Third Sunday of each month
• Care Teams – in formation stage; 20 volunteers committed to engage
• Disabilities Awareness – works to make Calvary accessible to persons with disabilities
• Divorce Care- Healing Hearts – meeting twice monthly
• Grief Support Groups – Six week sessions held twice yearly
• Infertility, Infant Loss and Miscarriage Support Group – meets monthly
• Job Seekers Support Group-meets twice monthly
• Living With Cancer – Six week sessions; as scheduled
• Prayer and Healing Ministry – meets twice monthly; prayer teams available after each Sunday service; prayer chain; prayer shawls (given to bereaved family members
• RESOLVE – Educational and Peer Counseling for Infertility
• Yoga Classes – held weekly

Hosted by Calvary Lutheran:

• Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) – two groups, meets weekly, daytime and evening
• Compassion Friends – Death of a Child support group, meets monthly
• Depression and Bi-Polar Support Alliance (DVSA) - Depression Support Group, meets twice monthly for persons experiencing depression and/or family members
• Family to Family – National Alliance for the Mentally Ill – 12 week sessions for persons with family members experiencing mental illness; also, Family to Family support group

Community Wellness & Healing Center - a collaboration of St. Luke’s Lutheran Church and St. Stephen Lutheran Church in Bloomington, MN. Classes and sessions are held on both campuses.

St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1701 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431

St. Stephen Lutheran Church, 8400 France Avenue South, Bloomington, MN 55431

We serve: people of all ages, incomes and faiths, focusing on resolving the affects of daily and cumulative stress to create a balanced, centered and joyful life.

Contact: Lynda Whisney, RN, MA c/o St. Luke’s Lutheran Church, 1701 W. Old Shakopee Road, Bloomington, MN 55431 952-881-5801, ext. 19, lyndaw@stlukes.ws or Jean Berry, 952-943-9472.

Background: Started in October, 2003, the Center began as a six month pilot program in response to the stress epidemic in society in general, and specifically, the south suburban area of the Twin Cities. During the pilot program, the Center served 166 people with direct services and an additional 514 persons through education and programming. This led the organizers to respond by calling members of the Bloomington community together to form a consortium that would focus on physical, spiritual, emotional and mental health. At present (November 2004), the Center is in the process of relocating the physical site but continues its programming through both church facilities.

Programs and Classes: Special focus each month; call for information

• Art Therapy
• Chi-lel Qigong
• Healing Services
• Walking Team
• Yoga

Individual Sessions*

• Family Counseling
• Healing Touch Therapy
• Massage Therapy
• Life Coaching
• Transformational Imagery
• Wellness Coaching/Counseling

* Certified practitioners, operating as independent contractors, schedule time for Wellness Center clients. Each practitioner is required to carry insurance and maintain all State required licensure. Sliding fee scale payments accepted.

The following programs are emerging faith health models:

Carver County Worksite Health Promotion Team

P. O. Box 291
Chaska, MN 55322

The Carver County Worksite Health Promotion Team works with leaders from business and the faith community to empower persons in worksites to make healthy lifestyle choices.

Contact: Gracia Hegener 952/466-8802

Actitivites: A dialogue between business leaders and faith community leaders is planned for April 2005.

Richfield Community Nursing Program

C/O House of Prayer Lutheran Church
7625 Chicago Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55423

A collaborative of community organizations, faith communities and health care entities have joined to provide nursing care for the elderly, immigrant and low-income populations of Richfield, a first ring suburb of Minneapolis.

Contact: Barbara Zell, Parish Nurse, House of Prayer Lutheran Church, Richfield, MN 612/866-8471

Activities: The lead organization for the Community Nursing Program is the House of Prayer Nursing Center which serves from 850-1,000 persons at no cost. Partners for the city wide nursing program include Fairview Southdale Hospital, Assumption Catholic Church and the Mira Latino Resource Center, Bloomington Public Health, Community Building Associates, the City of Richfield, and Oak Grove and Woodlake Lutheran Churches.

Overcomers Outreach Ministriess

2020 Bloomington Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55404

Overcomers Outreach Ministries is a non-denominational Native led ministry with a goal to stabilize the lives of Native American persons affected alcohol.

Contact: Sheila Thayer, 612/788-2722

Activities: More Than Conquerors support group for persons suffering with alcohol addictions; On Eagles Wings affordable housing apartments for Native persons who are maintaining sobriety; Outpatient alcohol treatment program.

Kenneseth Israel

4330 W. 28th Street
St. Louis Park, MN 55411

The DERECH Program Cooking Kosher Healthy Ways
A Cooking Class Series to Reach and Enrich the Care of Your Health

Contact: BJ Goldman, Kenneseth Israel. 952/920-2183 or Rabbi Chaim Goldberger,
rabbi@kenessethisrael.org

Activities: A Wednesday night cooking and nutrition education program that includes guest speakers, a cooking demonstration, and a hands-on cooking experience for participants.

Topics: Marvelous Main Dishes, Amazing Appetizers and Scrumptious Salads, Splendid Side Dishes, Delectable Desserts, Spice Up Your Life

Masjid An Nur

1729 Lyndale Avenue South
Minneapolis, MN 55411
Community Health Care Services

Contact: Arlene El-Amin, 612/521-1749

Activities: Food distribution program (partnering with Second Harvest); quarterly health education presentations, visits to neighborhood elderly high-rise for blood pressure checks and a health fair.