Faith-Based Health Needs Assessment: Implications for Empowerment of the Faith Community

Churches are often caught in the middle of the struggle between health care institutions and managed care organizations. A faith-based center of excellence model is proposed that would establish a middle ground between the secular and "sacred" aspects of health care. Such a model would focus on using the faith community to influence the behavior and lifestyle of persons within the organized public health model, thus providing a new model of ministry. This process can increase an understanding of the tools needed for the clergy to be better caregivers, more influential co-change agents, and more informed about data-driven outcome ministry. This integrated process is critical for real change in health outcomes, for the improvement of primary prevention, and for reducing disease mortality.