July Newsletter
Dear Health Ministries Network Community,
Happy summer! Today, I hope that you are finding balance between reconnecting with family, friends and faith community as well as taking rest and staying safe. I hope that you're keeping cool during days of heat. And I know you're continuing to serve our faith communities, geographic communities and most vulnerable populations well. Thank you!
This is a time of careful cultivation.
On June 23rd, our HMN Board met for Strategic Planning and reflected on where we have been and where we are "growing." We honored our "roots" in parish nursing and affirmed the strong "trunk" of our organization. We discussed the "branches and leaves" of enrichment and service to faith and geographic communities.
Carefully cultivated growth is something to celebrate. We have grown in our flexibility, serving online and in person. We have grown in our organization, graduating 5 new FCNs/HM. We have grown in how we serve others, supporting vaccination clinics and applying for a grant to bring FCNs/HMs to eastern Whatcom County, and we continue to grow in our responsiveness to faith community needs across our four-county area and beyond.
This month, I invite you to share the ways in which your health ministry is growing--as well as how Health Ministries Network can help in your own careful cultivation!
On Friday, July 16th, 12-1:30pm, via Zoom, we'll hold our monthly meeting, but we'll extend our invitation to FCLs and Health Ministries. Supported by Whatcom County, Chuckanut Health Foundation and others, we'll take a look at the pandemic landscape today. And we will spend part of the meeting discussing and troubleshooting challenges you may be facing as communities come back together. Bring your victories, challenges and questions to share. Together, we grow stronger. All are welcome!
Wishing you continued peace, health, and compassion in service. Take good care today!
Yours in growth and gratitude,
Sarah Lane
Executive Director
director@healthministriesnetwork.net
Our HMN Board met for strategic planning in June, and oh, the places we'll go (thank you, Dr. Suess!) in the next few months and years! Left to right: Joni Hensley (President), Pam Colyer, Kevin Majkut (Treasurer), Dr. Emily Gibson, LeAna Osterman (Vice Chair), Dick Cathell (guest, former Director, & unofficial HMN historian), Kate Massey (Board Secretary), Dr. Mike Massanari (Medical Advisor) and Charles (Chaz) Nelson. Thank you to Dr. Emily Gibson for hosting us in this beautiful outdoor space!
You are invited! Faith Community Leaders & Health Ministries
July Monthly Meeting - Friday 7/16, 12-1:30pm
Back in April (has it been that long?) Faith Community Leaders and Health Ministries came together to share victories and challenges and ask: where are we going next? We had the Health Department and others at our meeting to help you work through some of the concerns we have about reopening. When we left, we had a big question on our minds: What happens when we bring those who are vaccinated and those who are not yet vaccinated together in the same space?
We'd like to come together again in community on July 16th, 12-1:30pm. We'd like to share experiences, challenges and questions that remain or have arisen around reopening. We will have guests from WCHD and other organizations available to help us answer remaining questions.
We'd love to connect with you, wherever you are!
Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/87031301954?pwd=cm51M2tTRDluS1U3YnErQWQ2Zi94QT09
Meeting ID: 870 3130 1954
Passcode: 780083
One tap mobile
+12532158782,,87031301954#,,,,*780083# US (Tacoma)
+13462487799,,87031301954#,,,,*780083# US (Houston)
For questions contact director@healthministriesnetwork.net
Congratulations and Welcome to the 2021 HMN Faith Community Nursing and Health Ministries Course Graduates
We are so pleased to announce the names of our Foundations Course graduates. Congratulations to Kim, Karen, Valerie, Sunny and Sarah! The graduation video is available below!
Kim Clark, RN (North Park University), MSN (Walden University) is recently retired who took this course to help her home church, Northwest Hills Community Church in Corvallis OR with their health ministry. Kim served as nursing faculty at Linn Benton Community College doing teaching, group facilitation and simulation training.
Karen Broostrom, RN ( Texas Women's University) and Master's in Nursing Education (University.of Washington) completed the Health Minister's curriculum in 2020. She recently retired after 25 years as an ER nurse Karen felt God’s call to serve as a Faith Community Nurse at South Hills Christian Church in Puyallup WA.
Valerie Wicks, RN (Excelsior College, Albany NY) with an Associate Degree in Nursing. She is a certified Hospice Nurse and worked in that specialty area of nursing practice for 20 years. Valerie plans to serve Quinault Baptist Church in Kennewick WA as a Faith Community Nurse.
Sarah Lane, MPA (University of Oklahoma) and MA (National University) is the Executive Director of Health Ministries Network. Sarah is a personal trainer/health coach and Education Specialist for Diabetes Prevention and Parkinson's interventions. She will serve as a Health Minister in Bellingham WA.
Sunny Garza RN (Skagit Valley Community College) and BSN (Western Wash. University) Sunny’s areas of nursing specialty include, rehabilitation, infusion, home health and medical inpatient. She is affiliated with Jake's House Church in Arlington WA, and plans to serve as a Faith Community Nurse for diverse and underserved populations.
Thank you to the people who provided their time and talent that enriched the learning experience
Bill Lonneman, DPN, RN Lead Instructor for content delivery and managing on-line instruction
Carol Nicolay, EdD Course Coordinator for managing the course logistics
Sarah Lane, HMN Executive Director for leadership and direction
And to Faith Community Nurses, Health Ministers, and HMN Board Members:
Dennis Taylor, Kathryn Selleriet, and Mary Lynn Palmer for discussing their faith community ministries
Elizabeth Hart, DVSAS Guest Instructor on the topic: Violence
Emily Gibson, MD Guest Instructor on the topic: Behavioral Health
Melanie Cool, LMHC Guest Instructor on the topic, Loss Suffering and Grief
Kate Massey, Chaz Nelsonand Pam Colyer, for dedication service participation
Joni Hensley, HMN Board President for leadership at the dedication service
A very special "thank you" to Christ the Servant Lutheran Church's dedicated Prayer Shawl Ministry! Our FCNs and HMs will carry these and the prayers that went into them throughout their ministries. HMN was able to share a beautiful, bright and warm prayer shawl with each of our graduates from both the classes of 2020 and 2021 this year.. Thank you!
June 2021: The New Advance Directive & POLST Documents
Thank you to all who attended our monthly meeting! We had an information-rich hour of training on the new Advance Directive and POLST documents by Hilary Walker of PeaceHealth and Kate Massey from Northwest Regional Council. If you missed the meeting, you can get all the good information by watching the recorded video here.
Please find a one-page educational flyer to use if helpful in the community. It includes the PeaceHealth website and the various ways people can get their documents on file as part of their medical record. Link to flyer.
Resources:
https://www.honoringchoicespnw.org
https://wsma.org/advance-directives
https://www.peacehealth.org/advance-care-planning
Points of Contact for Support:
Hilary Walker, hwalker@peacehealth.org
Kate Massey, kate.massey@dshs.wa.gov (particuarly for clients who are not patients at PeaceHealth)
For questions contact director@healthministriesnetwork.netVideoThank you to all who attended our monthly meeting! We had an information-rich hour of training on the new Advance Directive and POLST documents by Hilary Walker of PeaceHealth and Kate Massey from Northwest Regional Council. If you missed the meeting, you can get all the good information by watching the recorded video here.
Please find a one-page educational flyer to use if helpful in the community. It includes the PeaceHealth website and the various ways people can get their documents on file as part of their medical record. Link to flyer.
Resources:
https://www.honoringchoicespnw.org
https://wsma.org/advance-directives
https://www.peacehealth.org/advance-care-planning
Points of Contact for Support:
Hilary Walker, hwalker@peacehealth.org
Kate Massey, kate.massey@dshs.wa.gov (particuarly for clients who are not patients at PeaceHealth)
For questions contact director@healthministriesnetwork.net
Baptist Hospitals of Southeast Texas Presents:
“A Virtual-Live Summer Workshop”
From: The BHSET Faith Community Nurse Resource Center
Date: August 3, 2021
Time: 8:00 am – 4:00 pm
Cost: $20
This summer workshop includes a morning session and afternoon session and includes 6.5 Contact Hours for Nurses after Successful Completion.
Morning Session
8:00 am – 12:30 pm
Dr. Cynthia Stinson, PhD, APRN, CNS, RN-BC, Chair, Joanne Gay Dishman School of Nursing
Topic: Jurisprudence: 2.0 Hours, Geriatrics 2.0 Hours
Afternoon Session
1:00 pm-4:00 pm
Dr. Sharon T. Hinton MSN, RN-BC, NPD-BC, D. Min, BCC, Executive Director for the Institute for Faith Community Nursing
Topic: Dealing with the Aftermath of COVID: Personally & Professionally: 2.5 Hours
To register, click here to complete and submit the registration form.
Upcoming Foundations Course: The Faith Community Health Network of the Mid-Willamette Valley
The Faith Community Health Network of the Mid-Willamette Valley provides training and support for faith community nurses and health ministers to serve their congregations and community by promoting advocacy, improving health literacy, health equity and overall access to care, and promoting spiritual, emotional, and physical well-being.
Is a Faith Community Health Ministry in Your Future?
A Faith Community Nurse is not simply a registered nurse who happens to be a member of a faith community. Faith Community Nursing is a recognized nursing specialty. The Foundations of Faith Community Nursing Course prepares nurses to stand in the gap; to bridge the health care system and faith community. Faith Community Nurses and Health Ministers work together to open the door for important conversations about health and wellness of the mind, body and spirit and provide additional caring connection and support for faith community members facing the many challenges of today.
Linn-Benton Extended Learning will be partnering with the Faith Community Health Network to offer the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing for active and retired nurses and a parallel Foundations for Health Ministry course for lay members of faith communities. The course will be held via Zoom from 8:00am-5:00pm on October 18-19, November 1-2, and November 15 and from 8:00am until 2:00pm on November 16, 2021, providing nearly 40 hours of supported instruction. The Foundations Course is open to all religions, faiths and beliefs. Course cost will be determined based on grant funding available at the time.
Reserve your spot in this valuable course today: Deb Fell-Carlson, BSN, RN, MSPH Foundations Course Coordinator and Lead Educator Email: faithcommunityhealthnetwork@gmail.com or text 541-248-0595
Video Available: CHF Trauma Stewardship Institute Workshop
In case you missed this valuable workshop (or if you attended and wish a replay) in which Laura van Dernoot Lipsky covered the impacts that overwhelm and trauma have on us and the strategies we can use to build sustainable well being, we can make the video available to you upon request until July 30th. You may also request resources to support Trauma Stewardship. Please email director@healthministriesnetwork.net to request the link.
If you did attend, CHF would love to hear your feedback about the workshop and how they can continue to support you in the future – you can share your thoughts with us via this brief survey: CHF - TSI Workshop Follow-Up Survey.
Win a Truck Whatcom!
In collaboration with the Bellingham Regional Chamber of Commerce and the Whatcom County Health Department, the Chuckanut Health Foundation is hosting a drawing for a new truck, with the goal of encouraging Whatcom County residents to get their COVID-19 vaccinations before the end of July. Registration is open to Whatcom County residents 18 and over, regardless of citizenship, who initiate vaccination between June 1 – July 31, and the winner will be awarded a credit of up to $60,000 to purchase a vehicle of their choice from participating auto dealers.
Dr. Chao-ying Wu, a Family Care Network physician and Chuckanut Health Foundation board member, initiated this community-driven project to help drive up our community’s vaccination rates and steer Whatcom County closer towards the end of the pandemic. “When our community comes together in support of each other, great things can happen,” said Dr. Wu. “I hope this contest will be one more good reason to go ahead and get this job done. It’s been a long and hard trip, and we are so close to wrapping this up. A really high vaccination rate means that our community can come out of the pandemic strong and ready to thrive again.”
Learn more at winatruckwhatcom.com!
We also want to share our gratitude for all of our neighbors who have already received their vaccinations - thank you for doing your part to keep our community safe and healthy!
Updated COVID-19 and Vaccination Resources for Faith Communities in Washington and Oregon
June 30th brought change around COVID-19 guidance. With vaccination and subsequent reopening, we have new rules, information and support. Please see updated links below for both Washington and Oregon, and feel free to send questions to director@healthministriesnetwork.net.
But please don't forget that the pandemic is not over. According to Health and Human Services (HHS): "US Surgeon General Dr. Vivek Murthy warned about the Delta coronavirus variant, saying it is doubling nearly every two weeks. But, 'the good news is that the vaccines that we have appear to be effective against Delta variant. ... My worry is for those who are not vaccinated because this virus tends to spread even more quickly than other variants in the unvaccinated. That’s what we’re seeing in Missouri and Nevada and unless we quickly get more people vaccinated, we will see this in other states, as well.'"