H1N1 Influenza 2009-2010 and Faith Communities

To keep communities healthy during the upcoming flu season, it will take all of us—community and faith-based organizations, government, businesses and schools—working together.  Leaders and members of faith communities know their members well.  As trusted leaders, you can communicate important health information in an effective and motivating manner.  You know the people in your community who are most vulnerable and hard to reach.

You can play a vital role in ensuring that accurate public health information is communicated effectively.  When information is shared by trusted messengers, people are more likely to respond and change their behavior.  Here are some strategies for sharing messages:

·     Check http://www.flu.gov for the most up-to-date information and share what you learn with your faith community.

·     Provide timely and accurate information.  You are uniquely positioned to share information with community members in both culturally appropriate and easy-to-understand ways.

·     Communicate to populations that are vulnerable and hard to reach, including people who are homeless, homebound, low-income, non-English-speaking, etc.  Work closely with your local health department to educate community members on flu.  Your organization could:

·     Institute a “Healthy Habits” or “Flu Facts” section in your newsletter,

·     Sponsor a community lecture series on preventing and treating flu,

·     Or develop a buddy system to help members stay connected to flu-related news and services.

This disease affects a younger population than the seasonal flu, so the kind of assistance needed may differ.  For example, families with young children may need assistance with childcare and meals if the primary caretaker becomes ill.  If H1N1 becomes widespread throughout your faith community, it will be important for people to get in touch with you in alternate ways.  You might consider:

·     Organizing a phone tree,

·     Maintaining an up-to-date

      Web site,

·     Creating an e-mail list serve

·     Pre-recording messages on a designated call-in phone number,

·     Or posting notices at frequently accessed places.

Visit http://flu.gov/professional/community/cfboguidance.html to download a copy of H1N1 Flu: A Guide for Community and Faith-based Organizations.

Readers’ Response to CNP Board Plea

Thank you for your calls, E mails, prayers and financial donations in response to the plea from the Congregational Nurse Project Board in the October newsletter.  Unfortunately, the financial response was not enough to sustain CNP for the long term. 

At the October Board meeting, a decision was made to again appeal to our readers for financial support.  Please read the article below in this newsletter asking you to become a friend of the Congregational Nurse Project.  The Board is asking you to prayerfully consider this request and to give generously to the Project that you value. 

If your congregation or another organization where you hold membership, would like more information about the Project, a Board member would be happy to meet and personally discuss our mission, future and how they may become a part of the effort to bring health and healing to other faith communities in Northwest Ohio. 

Rebecca Zechman, R.N., M.S.N.

Congregational Nurse Project Board,

Chair