faith based challenges in social service delivery: the covenant wellness center christine y. wiley,...
Post on 22-Dec-2015
217 Views
Preview:
TRANSCRIPT
Faith Based Challenges in Social Service
Delivery: The Covenant Wellness Center
Christine Y. Wiley, D.Min., MSW
Ph.D. Candidate Howard University School of Social
Work
Agenda
1. Demographics Covenant Baptist United Church of Christ
2. Historical Legacy of Trauma for African Americans
3. Physical Health Care
4. Interventions- Behavioral Health Care
5. Policy and Practice Implications
Role of Social Work in religious institutions
Given the pervasiveness of religion and spirituality throughout people's lives and cultures, social workers need to understand religion and spirituality to develop a holistic view of the person in environment and to support the professional mission of promoting satisfaction of basic needs, well-being, and justice for all individuals and communities around the world.
CONTEXT
Most impoverished area in the city
Most densely populated area of the city
92 % Black non-Hispanic
73% female headed households
14% low birth weights
20% births to teen mothers
53% High School graduation rate
TraumaPhysical Trauma is an injury or wound produced violently, and the resulting physical and psychological condition.
Psychic Trauma is an emotionally shocking experience which has a lasting psychic effect, usually categorized as posttraumatic stress disorder.(Kaplan)
Collective Trauma
Historical Trauma: historical trauma is a legacy of cumulative emotional and psychological wounding over the lifespan and across generations, emanating from massive group trauma; as in slavery for African Americans. Also called Intergenerational and Multigenerational Trauma
LEGACY OF SLAVERY
Even after slaves were emancipated, slavery has had a constant malignant impact on the lives of African American culture.
Slavery was approved of in the Christian, Jewish, and Islamic tradition. Sexual violence was condoned by religion.
The Christian and Jewish laws of slavery and marriage for women were nearly identical. Slavery is deeply embedded within Christian scripture.
Historical TraumaPost-Traumatic Slave Syndrome –The
persistent presence of racism, despite the significant legal, social, and political progress made during the last half of the twentieth century, has created a physiological risk for black people that is virtually unknown to white America.
“Dilemma, duality, contradiction, confusion, entrapment, craziness, schizophrenic existence. . .characterize the reality of Black people’s existence in America since slavery (Pinderhughes, 1990)
Residual Effects of Slavery
The impact of historical trauma on African Americans has included lingering psychological and emotional injuries, but has also led to the development of unique survival strategies
African Americans receive inadequate mental health care and physical health care.
African Americans are less likely than Caucasians to receive mental health counseling and psychotherapy, but are more likely to receive medication and to receive treatment for physical illness in emergency rooms.
Epidemiology: Stroke
African Americans Die at a higher rate than other race-
ethnic groupsBetween the ages of 45 to 64, African
American die at 3 times the rate of whites
This high death rate remains after adjustment for socioeconomic status
Not related to in-hospital death treatment
11
©2011 American Heart Association, Inc. All rights reserved Cruz-Flores Published online May 26, 2011
Communities At Risk
Blacks lose 1/3 of their potential life-years compared to Whites due to Cardio Vascular Disease (CVD)
High Blood Pressure in African Americans is the highest in the world
Defining Health Equity: When ALL people have the opportunity to attain their full health potential and no one is disadvantaged from achieving this potential because of their social position or other socially determined circumstance
Greater Risks, Greater Deaths
A person’s race or ethnicity should not put them at higher risk for developing CVD
12
Illness Focused Paradigm
Physical
Spiritual
Mental
Health Care System
State of Wellness
Disease
Community
Illness
Hospital
Prevention
Wellness
WELL-ADULTS CHECKUPS
Well child visits till age 6
Sports physicals
early teens
College entrance physical
late teens
Pre-employment
physical (20’s)
Wellness Focused Paradigm
Physical
Spiritual
Mental
Health Care System
State of Wellness
Disease
Community
Illness
Hospital
Prevention
Wellness
The Covenant Wellness Center Mind, Body, Spirit Connection
Spirit
Body
Mind
Mental Health
Physical Health
Spiritual Well being
The Covenant Wellness Center Mind, Body, Spirit Connection
1. We surveyed over 150 people. (Community and church members)
2. Based on the results of the survey, we defined 4 areas of needs to focus our programs:
1. Oral/Dental Health2. Physical Health3. Behavioral Health4. Re-entry
Health Disparities
Definition: Health People 2020 defines health disparities as a particular type of health difference that is closely linked with social, economic, and/or environmental disadvantage. (May be related to race/ethnicity, socio-economic status, gender, age, geographic region, etc.)
http://www.healthypeople.gov/hp2020/advisory/PhaseI/sec4.htm#_Toc211942917
The Covenant Wellness Center Mind, Body, Spirit Connection
1. Physical Health Activities: A.) Weekly exercise programs (boot camp, Zumba, yoga, etc.) B.) Bi-annual health fairs (BP, glucose, BMI, HIV, Hep C, etc.) C.) Nutrition and Diabetes education programs D.) Monthly BP screening E.) Recognition of (Breast cancer, prostate cancer, Go-Red,
Heart month, Stroke awareness month, etc.) F.) Partner with local organizations to participate in evidence
based interventions: Families Choosing Healthy Lifestyles (FCHL) Program Get-to-Goal Heart 360 Blood pressure self management Program in
GWR Leadership Council for Healthy Communities (REACH-Racial and
Ethnic Approaches to Community Health)
Modified Daniel Plan 5 F’s
1. Faith
2. Food
3. Fitness
4. Friendship
5. Focus
Modification of program by Pastor Rick Warren
Covenant Wellness Center – A model for healing
Evidence Informed Practice
Spirituality incorporated into mental/physical healthcare practices/ Mindfulness Practice
Integration of spiritual, emotional, physical and social
Covenant Wellness Center – A model for healing
Multidisciplinary team of practitioners (focus on body, mind, and spirit)
Community-based participatory research
Seminars
Classes
A Model for Healing
The Daniel Plan
Support Groups
Screenings
Individual, Group and Family Therapy
Pre-marital Counseling
Recovery coaching
NA & AA Groups
Theological Reflection Groups – “Where is God in This?”
Partnerships
Benefits and Issues
Benefits:
Familiar and safe place
Communication through formal and informal channels
Scheduled at times that were convenient – evenings/weekends
Issues:
Confidentiality
Dual relationships
Marriage of theology and therapy
Implications for Policy and Practice
Faith Based Initiatives – need for more research in communities of color
Curriculum content in Schools of Social Work
Field Practicum settings
Continuing education – SW has a responsibility to support and educate pastors/counselors
References
Danzer, G., (2012). African Americans historical trauma: Manifestations in and outside of therapy. The Journal of Theory construction and Testing, 16 (1).
Wilkins, E. J., Whiting, J.B., Watson, M. F., Russon, J. M., Moncrief, A. M. (2013). Residual effects of slavery: What clinicians need to know. Contemporary Family Therapy, 35: 14-28
Brooten, B. J.(Ed.) (2010). Beyond slavery: Overcoming its religious and sexual legacies. New York: Palgrave Macmillan
top related