Disseminating Addiction-Related Health Information within Churches: The Need for TRUE Collaboration
Panelists: Andrea Clements, PhD, East Tennessee State & Uplift Appalachia; Natalie Cyphers, PhD, RN, DeSales University; Deborah Whittaker, EdD, RN, Chair Undergraduate Nursing Program, Associate Professor, Clinical Nursing, DeSales University
There is a space for the sacred, a vital role of the church, in the care of people living with addictions. Problematic substance use is a global health concern requiring dissemination and implementation of information on prevention, treatment, and recovery. Faith communities and religious groups offer an opportunity to reach communities with vital health information; however, that health information often does not contain or represent anything sacred at all. We propose that a lack of trusting, collaborative, bidirectional communication between the clinical/scientific communities and religious/faith communities impedes the development, dissemination, and effectiveness of health information.
The purpose of this multidisciplinary interactive session is twofold: First, we will explore the veracity of the claims about current science/health/faith communications. Those claims include that (1) each group feels that their perspectives are misunderstood or undervalued by the other and (2) that each group feels that the other’s perspective is incomplete without their own contribution.
After that discussion, we will present a suggested framework to enhance collaboration: namely, using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) tenets of trauma informed practice to provide a framework for health communication to occur in a bidirectional, collaborative manner within, with, and through religious groups and churches.
Presentation of this framework will be followed by a moderated conversation about the possible benefits and challenges of implementing such a framework.
The purpose of this multidisciplinary interactive session is twofold: First, we will explore the veracity of the claims about current science/health/faith communications. Those claims include that (1) each group feels that their perspectives are misunderstood or undervalued by the other and (2) that each group feels that the other’s perspective is incomplete without their own contribution.
After that discussion, we will present a suggested framework to enhance collaboration: namely, using the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration’s (SAMHSA) tenets of trauma informed practice to provide a framework for health communication to occur in a bidirectional, collaborative manner within, with, and through religious groups and churches.
Presentation of this framework will be followed by a moderated conversation about the possible benefits and challenges of implementing such a framework.