New Community Health Models
Faith and Community Health Innovations
Reframing health through the lens of faith
In the 1800's, the urbanization of America created a tremendous social need for new ways to care the sick. With a mission of hope & healing, religious organizations and faith communities answered the call and built hospitals across major U.S. cities. This was the beginning of our modern-day healthcare system.
Today, we face a new health crisis in America. Our culture, modern lifestyles and food system are contributing to a broad reaching decline in physical and mental health. Half of American adults suffer from at least one chronic disease, and nearly a quarter struggle with a mental health issue each year (Source: CDC). Our health care system is designed to treat the sick. What institution has the reach, trust and social purpose to help keep our American (& global) population healthy?
We believe that faith communities represent a powerful ally to address our modern day health crisis. Faith communities are broad reaching and serve people from all walks of life. 84% of American's affiliate with a faith tradition and 39% report attending a worship service each week (Pew Research). And, faith-based fellowship is a powerful setting to support positive healthy behavior change and address the inter-relationships between our spiritual, emotional, mental, social and physical wellbeing.
We have been studying faith and community health innovations for many years and are witnessing a shift that suggests faith communities are increasingly willing to embrace health as an issue when the approaches are thoughtful and aligned with rhythm of how faith communities operate.
Today, we face a new health crisis in America. Our culture, modern lifestyles and food system are contributing to a broad reaching decline in physical and mental health. Half of American adults suffer from at least one chronic disease, and nearly a quarter struggle with a mental health issue each year (Source: CDC). Our health care system is designed to treat the sick. What institution has the reach, trust and social purpose to help keep our American (& global) population healthy?
We believe that faith communities represent a powerful ally to address our modern day health crisis. Faith communities are broad reaching and serve people from all walks of life. 84% of American's affiliate with a faith tradition and 39% report attending a worship service each week (Pew Research). And, faith-based fellowship is a powerful setting to support positive healthy behavior change and address the inter-relationships between our spiritual, emotional, mental, social and physical wellbeing.
We have been studying faith and community health innovations for many years and are witnessing a shift that suggests faith communities are increasingly willing to embrace health as an issue when the approaches are thoughtful and aligned with rhythm of how faith communities operate.
We designed a new health model that taps the power of small groups across America's 350,000 churches
Our founder co-founded the non-profit LIVING ABUNDANTLY MINISTRIES to develop and incubate a Center of Excellence to strengthen the capabilities of churches, colleges and community based orgainizations to create a culture of healthy living in their congregations and neighborhoods.
With 78% of Americans affiliating with a Christian faith tradition, a new approach to healthy living that aligns with the rhythm of the church may be the single biggest opportunity to improve America’s health.
The ministry has developed Come Alive®, an interactive small group program that connects spiritual and physical wellbeing. It is delivered in a familiar format that is easily adopted by small groups across America’s 350,000 churches. Come Alive! is uniquely Christ-centered and evidence-based. A successful study of our pilot program is published in the CDC's Preventing Chronic Disease Journal.
Funded with grants from Wheat Ridge Ministries, Come Alive! has generatied interest from faith communities, colleges, large cities, NGOs, hospitals, & worksite wellness organizations seeking to improve the health of the populations and communities they serve.
With 78% of Americans affiliating with a Christian faith tradition, a new approach to healthy living that aligns with the rhythm of the church may be the single biggest opportunity to improve America’s health.
The ministry has developed Come Alive®, an interactive small group program that connects spiritual and physical wellbeing. It is delivered in a familiar format that is easily adopted by small groups across America’s 350,000 churches. Come Alive! is uniquely Christ-centered and evidence-based. A successful study of our pilot program is published in the CDC's Preventing Chronic Disease Journal.
Funded with grants from Wheat Ridge Ministries, Come Alive! has generatied interest from faith communities, colleges, large cities, NGOs, hospitals, & worksite wellness organizations seeking to improve the health of the populations and communities they serve.
We developed a system to connect faith and community health in Large Cities
We developed a new city-based approach to faith and community health in partnership with the non-profit BUILDING A HEALTHIER CHICAGO (BHC) and a coalition represented by more than 3-dozen leading health and faith organization in Chicago including the Chicago Department of Public Health, the American Heart Association, and The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation.
Powered by Faith, Chicago is a new evidence-based faith and community health model that serves as a trusted partner to strengthen the capacity of faith communities seeking to create a culture of healthy living in
their congregations and neighborhoods. The Powered by Faith model is designed to be replicated in major
cities across the U.S.
Powered by Faith, Chicago is a new evidence-based faith and community health model that serves as a trusted partner to strengthen the capacity of faith communities seeking to create a culture of healthy living in
their congregations and neighborhoods. The Powered by Faith model is designed to be replicated in major
cities across the U.S.
Economic Development and Community Health Innovations
We envisioned a fresh attitude to healthy living for Latino & Multicultural communities
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We believe that the convergence between public health and economic development represents a major opportunity for sustainable community health innovation that can lead to more vital neighborhoods and stronger cities.
Cherry Street partnered with a social entrepreneur in Los Angeles to create KITCHEN HABITS, a new community health innovation model that empowers healthy living among Latino and multi-culural communities. The unique go-to-market approach provides income for individuals and incremental revenue for community-based organizations working in their neighborhoods, while bringing fun & engaging healthy living programs to multi-cultural communities. |
