Faith, Health and Technology: Addressing Disparties

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Faith, Health and Technology Addressing
Disparties

• By
• Tom Nash, State
• Coordinator For Health\Wellness And
• Computer Technology
• OSDH Community Development Service
• 405-271-9444 Ext. 56534

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Defining Terms

• FAITH
• HEALTH
• TECHNOLOGY
• DISPARTIES

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FAITH

• Noun, 1) confident belief in the truth, value,
  or trustworthiness of a person, idea, or thing
  2.) belief that does not rest o logical proof or
  material evidence, 3.) loyalty to a person or
  thing allegiance keeping faith with ones
  supporters, 4) often Faith Christianity, The
  theological virtue definined as secure belief in
  God and trusting acceptance of Gods will.
• Source The American Heritage Dictionary of
  Idiom by Christine
• Ammer.

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Faith

• Noun, 1.) a strong belief in a supernatural power
  or powers that control human destinysyn
  religion, religious belief.
• Source WorldNet 2003 Princeton
  University
• Noun, 2.) faith is the substance of things hope
  for and the evidence of things unseen.
• Source New International Version
  Bible

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HEALTH

• Noun, 1.) the overall condition of an organism at
  a given time 2.) Soundness, esp. of body or mind
  freedom from disease or abnormality 3.) A
  condition of optimal well-being.
• Source The American Heritage Dictionary
• Wellness-Health) Multi-dimensional or mind body
  and spirit
• Source National Wellness Conference (NWC)

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Technology

• Technology is the technical means people use to
  improve their surroundings. It is also a
  knowledge of using tools and machines to do tasks
  efficiently.
• People use technology to improve their ability
  to do work. Through technology, people
  communicate better. Technology allows them to
  make more and better products. Our buildings are
  better through the use of technology. We travel
  in more comfort and speed as a result of
  technology. Yes, technology is everywhere and can
  make life better.

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Disparities

• Inadequate access to health care is a major
• barrier in health care for racial and ethnic
• communities.
• Inability to pay is the greatest barrier to
• accessing health care whether in terms of
• direct payment of doctor bills or directly
• purchasing expensive health insurance.

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Even among the employed, participating in
employer coverage is not an affordable
choice.

• Other barriers to accessing quality healthcare
• include not having a regular doctor,
• unequal treatment with respect to
• prevention and specialty care , lack of
  adequate
• transportation, language interpretation and
• culture appropriate service. Source National
  Summit to Eliminate Racial and Ethnic Disparities
  In
• Health, Office of Minority Health,
  July 10-12, 2003.

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Disparities

• The gap between those people and communities
• who make effective use of information
• technology and those who cannot.
• Now, more than ever unequal adoption of
  technology excludes many from reaping the fruits
  of the economy.

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• The term digital divide refer to the gap
  between those who can effectively use new
  information and communication tools, such as the
  internet and those who cannot. Source U.s.
  Department of Commerce digital divide and
  Beaumont Foundations Association of Christian
  Community Computer Centers (AC-4).

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Launching the Partnership
FBPHWCT
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Introduction of Faith-Based Health\Wellness and
Computer Technology Centers
Faith-Based Organizations
Temple
Church
Assembly
Mosque
Synagogue
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Senior Citizen Health\Wellness and Computer
Technology Centers
Senior Citizens' Organizations
Temple
Church
Assembly
Mosque
Synagogue
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Faith-BasedPartnership For Health\Wellness
Computer Technology
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Background and History of the Initiative

• Faith and Health Side OF Initiative
• Understanding the relationship between faith and
  health, referred to as divine health.
• Report of the 1986 Secretary Task Force on Black
  and Minority Health.
• In 1993 the term holistic health mind body and
  spirit became a national concept at the National
  Wellness Conference.
• Faith-based health initiative drew national
  attention during the Bush and Clinton
  administration.
• The Oklahoma State Board of Health 2002 State Of
  the State s Interim Report (Minority Health
  Disparity Report).

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Partnership Structure

• Major partners
• Faith Organizations
• OSDH/OCCHD
• Contact Crisis
• Helpline, Inc.
• Arising Faith Technology Inc.
• Skyline Urban
• Development, Inc.

• Participating partners
• Health Organizations
• Hospitals
• Clinics
• Prevention Organizations
• Faith Organizations
• Colleges and Universities
• Social Service
• Organizations
• Public Private Schools
• Others

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Mission Statement

• The Faith-Based Community Partnership for
  Health/Wellness Computer Technology will
  foster and promote productive faith-based
  health/wellness ministries, programs, activities,
  and services through computer technology
  ministries, programs, activities and services
  aimed at eliminating disparities in health and
  computer technology to include racial, ethnic,
  minority, underserved and unserved populations.

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Faith Communitys Legacy

• Providing safety net services for the poor and
  underserved in their communities.
• There are many untapped resources in faith
  community.
• They have the ability to recruit volunteers.
• They have built-in support centers and other
  resources that focus on serving the whole person,
  mind, body and spirit.

• Some of the Created
• Strengths
• -To convene, bless,
• and to endure.
• - To frame stories.
• - To pray.
• - To provide a place of
• sanctuary.
• - To connect.

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Why Faith Communities Can Work To Eliminate
Disparities

• Health and computer technology have become major
  social issues around disparities because both
  mostly affect the racial and ethnic populations,
  and are interrelated to their quality of life
• Computer literacy is becoming almost as important
  as basic reading, and for obtaining employment.
• Combining health and computer technology in
  partnership and collaboration with faith-based
  community organizations can be effective toward
  eliminating disparities in health and computer
  technology among ethnic minorities, underserved
  and unserved populations.

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Some Of The Focus Areas

• Computer Technology educations, training, etc.
• Health data collections.
• Grant information and assistance.
• Health and computer ministries, activities,
  programs.
• Health fairs and computer technology workshops.
• Parish nursing programs.
• Social service programs.
• Faith-based health transportation programs.
• Health and computer technology counseling,
  assistance, etc.
• Nutrition and physical activity programs.

• Youth Tutoring Ministries, programs, activities,
  etc.
• Data access, contacts and assistance to doctors,
  health clinics, hospitals and other health
  related agencies.
• Health Risk Assessments.
• Faith-based e-mail and website design.
• Faith-based violence education and assistance.
• Health evaluations, surveys, etc.
• Health and Computer outreach assistances
• Others as needed.

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Delivery of Services

• By Participating Partners
• Hospitals and Clinics
• Social Service Agencies
• Health Related Agencies
• Health Education and
• Prevention Service
• Agencies
• Colleges and Universities

• By Major Partners
• OSDH\OCCHD-(health services, grant assistances,
  consultation, etc.).
• Arising Faith Technology- (computer technology
  services, consultation, training, grant
  assistance, etc.).
• Contact Crisis Helpline, Inc-(resource data
  services).
• Faith-Based organization-( staff, volunteers,
  space, contact person, etc.)

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Major Partners

• Computer Technology Services
• Assist faith community in developing e-mail
  connections, websites, training, and technology
  tracks for faith programs, ministries, after
  school coordinators and youth ministry leaders.
• Assist in developing technology tracks for faith
  community computer centers.
• Assist in grant proposal development, writing,
  partnership and collaboration.

• Coordinate Health and Related Services
• Assist in developing and coordinating
  health/wellness activities, ministries, outreach
  (health educations and information, prevention
  activities, ministries, etc.).
• Assist faith communities in searching for and
  forming collaborative partnerships to submit
  grant proposals.
• Assist in conducting confidential health
  evaluations, surveys, etc on health matters in
  their community.

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Major Partners (continued)

• Faith-Based Organizations Services
• Agree to the partnership as outlined in the
  agreement proposal.
• Serve as a intermediary for the community.
• Develop faith-based partnership and
  collaborations.
• Develop on-going holistic (mind, body and spirit)
  ministries, programs, activities, etc.
• (ex walking trails, nutrition programs,
  ministries, activities, etc.).

• Contact crisis Help, Inc. Services-
• Assist to develop a computerized data resource
  contact list on health-care providers, services,
  contact person, free clinics, hospitals,
  pharmacies, agencies, etc.
• Maintain a bimonthly update of the resource list.
• Provide resource data disks to each faith
  organization involved in the partnership.
• Partnership in submitting grant proposal
  application.

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Participating Partners Service

• Form partnerships and collaboration between
• faith-based organizations.
• Assist in providing health/wellness and computer
  technology programs, ministries, activities, etc.
• Develop a basic understanding and/or awareness of
  different races, cultures, beliefs, language,
  etc.
• Approach faith organizations with an attitude
  asking them, How may I assist or empower you to
  reach out your communitys needs.
• Other question should begin with who, what,
• when,where?
• Always keep an open mind.

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FAITH BASED PARTNERSHIP FOR HEALTH\WELLNESS AND
COMPUTER TECHNOLOGY Building Healthy Communities
In Oklahoma Through Partnerships
Harper Shaffer
Grant Shaffer
Kay Shaffer
Beaver Shaffer
Alfalfa Shaffer
Osage Bush
Nowata Bush
Craig Bush
Ottawa Bush
Texas Shaffer
Woods Shaffer
Cimarron Shaffer
Washington
Garfield Shaffer
Delaware Bush
Rogers Bush
Noble Shaffer
Mayes Bush
Woodward Shaffer
Ellis Shaffer
Major Shaffer
Pawnee Bush
Tulsa Williams
Payne Shaffer
Dewey Shaffer
Kingfisher OConnor
Blaine OConnor
Creek Bush
Wagoner Bush
Cherokee Bush
Logan Shaffer
Lincoln Shaffer
Adair Bush
Roger Mills OConnor
Custer OConnor
Muskogee Bush
Okmulgee Bush
Oklahoma Williams
Canadian OConnor
Sequoyah Bush
Okfuskee Butler
McIntosh Bush
Beckham OConnor
Washita OConnor
Caddo OConnor
Cleveland Butler
Pottawatomie Butler
Haskell Bush
Hughes Butler
Seminole Butler
Grady OConnor
Pittsburg Copeland
Kiowa OConnor
Latimer Copeland
Greer OConnor
LeFlore Copeland
McClain
Harmon OConnor
Comanche OConnor
Garvin Butler
Pontotoc Butler
Stephens OConnor
Coal Copeland
Jackson OConnor
Murray Butler
Pushmataha Copeland
Tillman OConnor
Atoka Copeland
Cotton OConnor
Johnston Copeland
Carter Butler
McCurtain Copeland
Jefferson OConnor
Marshall Copeland
Choctaw Copeland
Bryan Copeland
Love Butler
Developing Faith-Based Health\Wellness and
Computer Technology Centers
6-Regional Faith-Based Domestic Violence Centers
Field Rep Districts 11-5-04
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Future of Faith-Based Partnerships For
Health\Wellness and Computer Technology!
Unlimited!