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

Weekly Food Pantry

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

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©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

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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

What does therapy look like in this context?

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

Faith Based Challenges in Social Service Delivery: The Covenant Wellness Center

Thank You !

Christine Y. Wiley, D.Min., MSW

Ph.D. Candidate Howard University School of Social

Work