GOOD AFTERNOON. WELCOME TO
THE NIH RELIGION SPIRITUALLY AND HEALTH
SCIENCE INTEREST GROUPS, FIRST WEBINAR
OF THE YEAR. HAPPY NEW YEAR. WE ARE SO
GLAD YOU ARE HERE FOR WHAT PROMISES TO
BE A VERY INTERESTING INNORMATIVE
PRESENTATION. MY NAME IS JOAN ROMAINE,
I'M FOUNDER AND CHAIR OF THIS GROUP.
WHICH BEGAN HERE AT THE NIH IN OCTOBER
OF 2020. TODAY IT IS MY GREAT PLEASURE
AND HONOR TO INTRODUCE OUR GUEST
SPEAKER, THE REVEREND DR. QUE ENGLISH
WHO IS DIRECTOR OF THE CENTER FOR FAITH
BASED AND NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS AT
THE U.S. DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN
SERVICES. AND SHE WORKS CLOSELY WITH THE
WHITE HOUSE OFFICE OF FAITH-BASED AND
NEIGHBORHOOD PARTNERSHIPS. THE HHS
CENTERS CORE FOCUS AREAS INCLUDE
ADDRESSING COVID-19, MATERNAL HEALTH,
MENTAL HEALTH AND YOUTH, SUICIDE
PREVENTION, AND SUBSTANCE DISORDER
INCLUSIVE OF OVERDOSE PREVENTION.
WORKING WITH THE OPERATING DIVISIONS
HOUSED WITHIN HHS, LIKE THE CENTER FOR
DISEASE AND PREVENTION CONTROL, CENTERS
FOR DISEASE AND PREVENTION CONTROL CDC
AND SUBSTANCE ABUSE AN MENTAL HEALTH
SERVICES ADMINISTRATION, SAMHSA, AND THE
ADMINISTRATION FOR CHILDREN AND
FAMILIES, ACF, REVEREND DR. ENGLISH AND
THE CENTER SEEK TO ADDRESS THE
PRIORITIES IDENTIFIED BY THE BIDEN
HARRIS ADMINISTRATION. REVEREND ENGLISH
RECEIVED MASTER AND DOCTORATE DEGREES
ARE NEW YORK THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY,
RECIPIENT OF EXCELLENCE IN MINISTRY
AWARD, THE HIGHEST AWARD GIVEN TO A
GRADUATING DOCTORAL STUDENT. BEFORE I
TURN IT OVER TO REVEREND QUE I WOULD
LIKE TO ASK THAT EVERYONE PLEASE STAY
MUTED WITH YOUR VIDEOS OFF UNLESS YOU
ARE SPEAKING. OBVIOUSLY AT THE END WHEN
WE HAVE DISCUSSION WE WOULD LIKE TO
INVITE EVERYONE TO KEEP THEIR VIDEOS ON
TO GET TO KNOW EACH OTHER A LITTLE BIT
AND SO AT THIS POINT, AS YOU HAVE
NOTICED WE ARE RECORDING JUST WANT TO
MAKE MENTION OF THAT. IF YOU HAVE
QUESTIONS PLEASE PUT THEM IN THE CHAT.
AND AT THE END YOU CAN ALSO RAISE YOUR
HAND FOR QUESTIONS AND WE WILL TRY TO
GET TO AS MANY QUESTIONS AS POSSIBLE.
REVEREND QUE, PLEASE TAKE IT AWAY. THANK
YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, JOAN. THANK YOU TO
THE RELIGION SPIRITUALTY AND HEALTH
SCIENTIFIC INTEREST GROUP AT NIH, FOR
INVITING ME TO PARTICIPATE IN YOUR
ONGOING CONVERSATIONS. SO WE AT THE HHS
CENTER ARE SO PLEASED THIS GROUP EXISTS
AS IT ENCOURAGES INCREASED ATTENTION AT
NIH AND IN THE RESEARCH COMMUNITY ON HOW
RELIGION SPIRITUALTY AND THE
PARTICIPATION OF FAITH COMMUNITIES HAVE
IMPORTANT IMPACTS AND CONSIDERATIONS FOR
HEALTH AND WELL BEING. SINCE 2001 THE
CENTER FOR FAITH BASED NEIGHBORHOOD
PARTNERSHIPS AT THE UNITED STATES
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
OR AS WE LIKE TO CALL OURSELVES JUST THE
HHS PARTNERSHIP CENTER, HAS SERVED AS
THE DEPARTMENT LIAISON TO THE FAITH
COMMUNITY AND TO GRASS ROOT
ORGANIZATIONS. SO WE EXIST TO ENGAGE
COMMUNICATE AND COLLABORATE WITH THESE
ORGANIZATIONS ENSURING LOCAL
INSTITUTIONS WHICH HOLD COMMUNITY TRUST,
HAVE UP TO DATE INFORMATION REGARDING
HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES AND ACTIVITIES
AND RESOURCES IN THEIR AREA. THROUGH THE
CENTER AS YOU HEARD, WE FOCUS ON KEY
ADMINISTRATION PRIORITIES THAT ALINE
WITH FAITH AND COMMUNITY LEADERS
INTERESTS AND STRENGTHS. THEY INCLUDE
MATERNAL HEALTH, ESPECIALLY AS IT IS
EXPERIENCED IN POPULATIONS WITH
INCREASED DISPARITIES. THIS FOCUS AREA
IS CRITICAL AS UNITED STATES HAS HIGHEST
MATERNAL MORTALITY RATE. ANY DEVELOPED
NATION IN THE WORLD WITH AFRICAN
AMERICAN WOMEN THREE TO FOUR TIMES MORE
LIKELY TO DIE FROM PREGNANCY RELATED
DEATHS THAN WHITE WOMEN AND AMERICAN
INDIAN ALASKA NATIVE WOMEN TWO TIMES
MORE LIKELY. TO THAT END IN SUPPORT OF
THE WHITE HOUSE BLUEPRINT FOR ADDRESSING
THE MATERNAL HEALTH CRISIS, THE HHS
PARTNERSHIP CENTER LAUNCHED THE MOMS
TOUR, ENGAGING IN A DEPARTMENT WIDE
MULTI-AGENCY MATERNAL HEALTH ENGAGEMENT
STRATEGY WITH THE OVERARCHING GOAL OF
MAKING THE U.S. ONE OF THE SAFEST
NATIONS IN THE WORLD FOR WOMEN TO GIVE
BIRTH REGARDLESS OF RACE, ETHNICITY,
GEOGRAPHY OR OTHER FACTORS. THROUGH THIS
PUBLISH PRIVATE PARTNERSHIP, MOM'S TOUR
EVENTS SERVED OVER 5,000 MOTHERS AND
FAMILIES IN 2023 CONNECTING THEM WITH
VITAL SERVICES AND RESOURCES IN THEIR
LOCAL COMMUNITY PROVIDED BY MORE THAN
240 ORGANIZATIONS THAT I CALL THE
VILLAGE IN AN EFFORT TO IMPROVE MATERNAL
HEALTH OUTCOMES IN YOUR NATION. THESE
CONNECTIONS INCLUDED MENTAL HEALTHCARE,
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER SUPPORT,
INFORMATION AND THANK YOU, NIH, DULLES
AND MIDWIFERY SERVICES HEALTHCARE
COVERAGE AND MORE. OUR NEXT FOCUS AREA
IS MENTAL HEALTH INCLUDING YOUTH MENTAL
HEALTH. SUICIDE PREVENTION, WITH
SPECIAL EMPHASIS ON YOUTH SUICIDE
PREVENTION, SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER, AND
LAST BUT NOT LEAST, STRENGTHENING PUBLIC
HEALTH RESPONSE AN ONGOING WORK TO
INCREASE AWARENESS ABOUT COVID-19 AND
NOW RSV AND FLU. IN SUPPORT OF THESE
FOCUS AREAS, THE PARTNERSHIP CENTER HAS
PRODUCED SEVERAL TOOL KITS AND GUIDES
FOR FAITH AND COMMUNITY. WE HAVE A
SUBSTANCE USE DISORDER TOOL KIT, YOUTH
MENTAL HEALTH TOOL KIT, MATERNAL HEALTH
SIDE AND SUICIDE PREVENTION GUIDE FOR
YOUTH IN PARTNERSHIP WITH SAMHSA AND THE
NATIONAL ACTION ALLIANCE FOR SUICIDE
PREVENTION. THESE ARE REALLY AVAILABLEN
OUR WEBSITE AND OUR MATERNAL HEALTH
GUIDE WILL BE AVAILABLE SHORTLY. SO
WITHIN THESE EFFORTS AND EXTENDING
BEYOND THEM, THE PARTNERSHIP CENTER
WORKS IN COLLABORATION WITH ANY AND ALL
THE 27 OFFICES AND AGENCIES THAT MAKE UP
HHS TO EXTEND THE REACH OF AND IMPACT OF
HHS RELATED PROGRAMS INTO COMMUNITIES.
THAT WORK INCLUDES WORKING ALONGSIDE HHS
TO PREVENT HUMAN TRAFFICKING, ADDRESS
CHRONIC HEALTH CONDITIONS, HIV AIDS
PREVENTION, INCREASE IMMUNIZATIONS AND
MANY OF THE OTHER ISSUES THOSE 27
OFFICES AND AGENCIES ADDRESS. WE DO
THIS WORK BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING AND
DIVERSE RANGE OF SERVICES EFFORTS AND
PROGRAMS PROVIDED THROUGH PEOPLE OF
FAITH IN EVERY COMMUNITY IN THE UNITED
STATES. SO I'M EXCITED TO SHARE, JUST A
SAMPLE OF SOME OF THOSE EFFORTS WITH YOU
TODAY. AND AS PART OF THOSE REMARKS, I
WANT TO DRAW YOUR ATTENTION O THE
DIVERSITY OF FAITH TRADITIONS,
ORGANIZATIONS, AND STRUCTURES AS WELL AS
THE DIFFERENT AREAS THAT THESE GROUPS
ARE FOCUSING THEIR EFFORTS. FIRST ON
INDIVIDUAL HOUSES OF WORSHIP. SO
OFTENTIMES WE THINK FAITH BASED WE THINK
OF BRICKS AND MORTAR HOUSES OF WORSHIP,
WE THINK OF LARGE MINISTRIES AS SEEN ON
TV AND HOW THEY MEET LARGE SCALE TRUSTED
MESSENGERS. HOWEVER, ANY HOUSE OF
WORSHIP OR GATHERING OF PEOPLE OF FAITH,
OFFER A WIDE VARIETY OF WAYS THEY CAN
IMPACT THE COMMUNITY. ECONOMICALLY
SPEAKING A STUDY BY PARTNER FOR SACRED
PLACES FOUND THAT THE ECONOMIC IMPACT OF
THE AVERAGE URBAN HOUSE OF WORSHIP IS
1.$7 MILLION ANNUALLY. THERE IS ALSO
REPORTED THEY HAVE STAFF THAT WORK IN
THE COMMUNITY AND IN THE HOUSE OF
WORSHIP. HOUSES OF WORSHIP EMPLOY FIVE
FULL TIME AND SIX PART TIME STAFF ON
AVERAGE ACCORDING TO THE REPORT. HOUSES
OF WORSHIP CAN BE A MAGNET FOR VISITORS
ATTRACTING 780 VISITS EACH WEEK WITH
ONLY 11% A VISIT FOR WORSHIP AND 89% OF
VISITS FOR OTHER PURCHASES AS REPORTED.
HOUSES OF WORSHIP SERVE THEIR COMMUNITY.
87% OF THE BENEFICIARIES OF THE
COMMUNITY, PROGRAMS AND EVENTS HOUSED IN
SACRED PLACES ARE NOT MEMBERS OF THE
RELIGIOUS CONGREGATION. SO THEIR TOUCH
CAN BE MEANINGFUL AND THEIR REACH VAST,
ESPECIALLY IN OUR EXPERIENCES AS IT
RELATES TO THE HEALTH AND WELL BEING OF
THE COMMUNITY. FOR INSTANCE M ENON
TABERNACLE BAPTIST IN PHILADELPHIA,
SORRY NEXT. KEPT GOING AND FORGOT TO
MENTION THAT. THAT IMPORTANT WORD OF
NEXT. YOU CAN GO UP ONE, PLEASE. THANK
YOU. FOR EXAMPLE, AS YOU SEE THERE, ENON
TABERNACLE HAS BEEN DOING GREAT WORK IN
THEIR COMMUNITY. THEY RECOGNIZE THE
CHALLENGE AND DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT IT. THEY HOLD MATERNAL HEALTH
EVENTS AND NOW RECRUIT AND TRAIN DUE LAS
TO PROVIDE CULTURALLY COMPETENT MATERNAL
HEALTH SERVICES IN THEIR COMMUNITY. IN
FACT THEY HAVE NOW STARTED TO WORK WITH
OUR OFFICE TO TRAIN DUHLA'S AND CITIES
PARTNERS ON THE MOMS TOUR. TO DATE THEY
HAVE CERTIFIED OVER 40 DOULAAS
OFFERING PREGNANCY SUPPORT FOR HOUSE AND
MOMS WITHIN THEIR HOUSE OF WORSHIP AS
WELL AS IN THE IMMUNITY. INDIVIDUAL
HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE IMPORTANT AND
CRITICAL BUT ONLY ONE OF MANY EFFORTS WE
CAN CONSIDER WHEN WE THINK ABOUT FAITH
BASED PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES. IT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER THAT MANY OR
MOST HOUSES OF WORSHIP ARE PART OF
ROBUST NETWORKS OF MEMBERS OF THEIR
TRADITION. REGIONALLY, NATIONALLY AND
GLOBALLY. COMMUNITY PARTNERS,
MINISTERIAL ALLIANCES OR INTERFAITH
AND/OR MULTI-FAITH EFFORTS. THESE
CONNECTIONS AND COLLABORATIONS HELP
COMMUNITIES WORK TOGETHER TO AFFECT
GREATER CHANGE ON THEIR OWN. ONE SUCH
EFFORT UNDERWAY FOR MORE THAN A DECADE
IS HOPE MINUTE SRIS PROGRAM COORDINATED
THROUGH THE TRADITIONALLY AFRICAN
AMERICAN CHRISTIAN TRADITION KNOWN AS
NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION USA
INCORPORATED LED BY DR. JERRY WOULDN'T.
HOPE MINISTRIES IS LED BY REVEREND DR.
MICHAEL MINOR, A COLLABORATIVE EFFORT OF
NATIONAL BAPTIST CHURCHES MEDICAL
PROFESSIONALS AND HEALTH RELATED
ORGANIZATIONS COMMITTED TO HEALTH
OUTREACH AND PREVENTION EDUCATION.
WHILE THE MINISTRY HAS A NUMBER OF
DIFFERENT COMPONENTS, LET ME FOCUS ON
TWO THAT HAVE INTERACTED WITH HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES SPECIFICALLY. SO WITH
THE PASSAGE OF THE AFFORDABLE CARE ACT
PARTNERS WERE NEEDED TO ENCOURAGE
CONSUMERS IN HARD TO REACH DIVERSE
POPULATIONS TO CONSIDER THE HEALTH
INSURANCE OPTIONS AVAILABLE TO THEM.
PARTNERS IN THESE ROLES WERE FEDERALLY
FUNDED PARTNERS KNOWN AS NAVIGATORS.
NATIONAL BAPTIST CONVENTION WAS AN EARLY
NAVIGATOR SUB GRANTEE AND IS NOW ONE OF
THE LEADING EXPERTS INCREASING AWARENESS
AND ENROLLMENT THROUGHOUT THEIR NETWORK
AND THE STATE OF MISSISSIPPI. THEY DID
NOT JUST STOP THERE. HOPE MINISTRIES HAS
ALSO BEEN A PARTNER IN THE ALL OF US
CAMPAIGN WHICH IS COORDINATED THROUGH
NIH TO BUILD ONE OF THE LARGEST
BIOMEDICAL DATA RESOURCES OF ITS KIND
WITH A SPECIFIC FOCUS ON DIVERSITY
WITHIN THE STATUS SET. AND ALONGSIDE
OTHER DIVERSE PARTNERS, NBC USA
INCORPORATED HAS ESTABLISHED BEST
PRACTICES FOR ENCOURAGING ITS MEMBERS
AND OTHERS IN THEIR COMMUNITIES TO
PARTICIPATE IN PROGRAMS SO THAT MORE
AFRICAN AMERICAN INDIVIDUALS CAN BE PART
OF THE PRECISION MEDICINE MOVEMENT. AS
YOU LOOK BEYOND HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND
NETWORK HOUSES OF WORSHIP, THERE'S
PEOPLE OF FAITH WHO COORDINATE THEIR
EFFORTS THROUGH ROBUST ESTABLISHED
NON-PROFITS THAT AFFILIATE WITH A FAITH
TRADITION THAT INFORMS THEIR MISSION TO
SERVE THEIR COMMUNITIES SUCH AS CATHOLIC
CHARITY, ISLAMIC RELIEF, CONVOY OF HOPE.
AND LUTHERAN SERVICES IN AMERICA. SOME
GROUPS REMAIN IN CLOSE COORDINATION WITH
THEIR RELIGIOUS FOUNDING AND IS
ESPECIALLY PREVALENT FOR PEOPLE FROM THE
JEWISH TRADITION WHO ORGANIZE THEIR
EFFORTS THROUGH SOCIAL SERVICE ENTITIES
THAT ARE SEPARATE FROM THEIR PHYSICAL
HOUSE OF WORSHIP. ONE SUCH EFFORT IS
UPSTREAM PITTSBURG, UPSTREET IS A BRIEF
INTERVENTION SERVICE FOR YOUTH PROVIDED
THROUGH THE JEWISH FAMILY AND COMMUNITY
SERVICES ALSO KNOWN AS JFCS IN
PITTSBURG, PENNSYLVANIA, UPSTREET OFFERS
DROP IN CONSULTATIONS WITH THERAPISTS,
SCHEDULED THERAPY APPOINTMENTS, NEXT
BASED PEER SUPPORT AND SUPPORT GROUPS
FOR TEENS. SO TEENS CAN TALK ABOUT
WHATEVER IS ON THEIR MIND, AND DON'T
HAVE TO WORRY ABOUT SCHEDULING AN
APPOINTMENT OR COMMITTING TO LONG TERM
THERAPY RELATIONSHIP.
WHILE THIS MENTAL HEALTH INITIATIVE IS
CELEBRATED FOR INNOVATIVE AND DYNAMIC
APPROACH TO YOUTH MENTAL WELL BEING,
JFCS CONTINUES TO BE A LEADER IN
PITTSBURGH AS IT SERVES REFUGEES SENIORS
AND OTHER VULNERABLE POPULATION WITH
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES AND SERVICES.
THERE IS ALSO AN EFFORT -- THERE ARE
ALSO EFFORTS COORDINATED THROUGH
ACADEMIC INSTITUTIONS THAT BUILD THE
CAPACITY OF FAITH COMMUNITIES TO ADDRESS
CHALLENGES. THESE PROGRAMS LEVERAGE THE
RESOURCES OF THE ACADEMY AND OFTEN
TRANSLATE EVIDENCE BASED MODELS INTO THE
CONTEXT OF DIVERSE FAITH COMMUNITIES AND
PARTNERS. ONE SUCH PROGRAM IS THE
STANFORD MUSLIM MENTAL HEALTH AN ISLAMIC
PSYCHOLOGY LAB AT STANFORD UNIVERSITY.
RUN BY DR. RANIA ALLAD. THE MUSLIM
MENTAL HEALTH LAB SERVINGS AS AN
ACADEMIC HOME FOR STUDY OF MENTAL HEALTH
AND PSYCHOLOGY IN THE CONTEXT OF THE
ISLAMIC FAITH AND MUSLIM POPULATION.
THEY ALSO CONDUCT EXTENSIVE RESEARCH
INTO UNDERSTANDING MUSLIM UNIQUE NEEDS
PERTAINING TO MENTAL HEALTH AND THE
ISLAMIC FAITH AND AIM TO TACKLE THE
STIGMA SURROUNDING THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY.
REGARDING SEEKING MENTAL HEALTH SERVICES
AND THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN MENTAL
HEALTH AND SPIRITUALTY. YOU MIGHT NOT
KNOW THAT MUSLIM AMERICANS ARE MORE THAN
TWO TIMES MORE LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE
THAN PROTESTANT AMERICANS AND ARE MORE
LIKELY TO ATTEMPT SUICIDE COMPARED TO
MUSLIMS LIVING IN MUSLIM MAJORITY
COUNTRIES. DESPITE BEING A PARTICULAR
RISK DISCUSSION OF SUICIDE WITHIN ISLAM
IS SOMETIMES SEEN AS TABOO. TO RESPONSE
TO THIS CONCERNING RESEARCH AND ADDRESS
SUICIDE PREVENTION AMONG THE COMMUNITY,
DR. ALLAD AND COLLEAGUES AT STANFORD
UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF MEDICINE CREATED
THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY SUICIDE RESPONSE
MANUAL. THE MANUAL PULSE TOGETHER
EVIDENCE BASED PRACTICES FOR REDUCING
SUICIDE, AND REINTERPRETS THEM THROUGH
AN ISLAMIC LENS. THE MANUAL INCLUDE
VERSION THE KORAN, INTEGRATES SCIENCE ON
SUICIDE WITH ETHICAL AND MORAL
UNDERSTANDING OF SUICIDE WITHIN THE
MUSLIM FAITH AND ARTICULATES IN ISLAMIC
MANDATE TO INTERVENE WITH THOSE WHO ARE
STRUGGLING WITHIN THE MUSLIM FAITH AND
ARTICULATES AN ISLAMIC -- AND HER TEAM
DEVELOPED SERMONS INFORMED BY EVIDENCE
BASED PRACTICES THAT IMAMS CAN TAKE BACK
TO THEIR COMMUNITIES. IMAMs
ACKNOWLEDGE THE RAIL VALUE OF THE
RESOURCE NOTING WITHOUT THE PHYSICAL
TEXT IN FRONT OF THEM IT WOULD BE MORE
DIFFICULT TO EFFECTIVELY ADDRESS SUICIDE
IN THEIR COMMUNITY. AND WE CAN'T FORGET
ABOUT A MINORITY FAITH TRADITIONS, VERY
IMPORTANT, MINORITY FAITH CONDITIONS.
CAN WE I THINK WE ARE NOT ON THE SAME
SLIDE. GO UP ONE, ANOTHER PLEASE. WE ARE
DEFINITELY NOT ON THE SAME SLIDE HERE.
THERE WE GO. NOW WE ARE HERE. THANK YOU.
I'M HAVING A HARD TIME SEEING THE
SLIDES. THANK YOU SO MUCH. SO LET'S NOT
FORGET ABOUT MINORITY FAITH TRADITIONS
AS WE THINK ABOUT HOW RESEARCH FIELD CAN
CONNECT WITH LEADERS TO SET UP EFFORTS
LIKE THE ONES I HAVE MENTIONED, IT IS
ALSO IMPORTANT TO CONSIDER AND ENGAGE
MINORITY FAITH TRADITIONS IN GROUPS IN
THESE EFFORTS. IT IS IMPORTANT TO
CONSIDER COMMUNITIES THAT GO BEYOND THE
GROUPS YOU MIGHT FIRST THINK ABOUT WHEN
YOU THINK ABOUT FAITH BASED GROUPS. FOR
INSTANCE, IT IS INTERESTING TO CONSIDER
THE SECOND LARGEST RELIGION TRADITION BY
STATE TO BETTER UNDERSTAND THE RELIGIOUS
DIVERSITY IN A COMMUNITY IN WHICH A
RESEARCHER IS TRYING TO ENGAGE FAITH
COMMUNITIES. BASED ON DATA FROM THE
2020 RELIGIOUS CENSUS, YOU MIGHT NOT
KNOW THAT THE SECOND LARGEST RELIGIOUS
TRADITION IN SOUTH DAKOTA AND SOUTH
CAROLINA IS THE BAHA FAITH TRADITION. IN
MONTANA AND MENTION EXTHE BUDDHIST
TRADITION. THE SECOND LARGEST IN
NEBRASKA IS THE HINDU RELIGIOUS
TRADITION. SO WE SHARE IT TO ENCOURAGE
RESEARCHERS NOT JUST TO CONSIDER THE
FIRST FAITH TRADITION THAT MIGHT COME TO
MIND IN YOUR COMMUNITY. IN FACT WHEN WE
WORK WITH THESE COMMUNITIES WE HEAR HOW
MUCH THEY APPRECIATE THE ENGAGEMENT AND
HAVING THEIR VOICES BE PART OF THE
CONVERSATION. THIS WAS OUR EXPERIENCE
WITHOUT -- WHEN WE DEVELOPED OUR PUBLIC
SERVICE ANNOUNCEMENTS OR PSAs ON
ACCESSING HELP THROUGH 988 AND THE
SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE. WE WORKED
WITH THE HINDU AMERICAN FOUNDATION TO
DEVELOP A PSA ENGAGING THE VOICE OF
HINDU LEADERS TO ADDRESS SUICIDE
PREVENTION AND STIGMA AROUND SEEKING
CRISIS HELP. HAVING JUST ONE SET OF
VOICES SPEAK WITHIN THEIR CULTURAL
TRADITION CAN INCREASE CONNECTION AND
REDUCE INTRACULTURAL PRESSURE. WE ALSO
CREATED ONE WITH THE AFRICAN AMERICAN
COMMUNITY AND THE MUSLIM COMMUNITY. SOME
OF THESE CHALLENGES CAN INCREASE RATHER
THAN DECREASE, IF AUDIENCES CANNOT
CONNECT THE SPEAKER ADDRESSING WHAT
MIGHT BE CONSIDERED CHALLENGING SUBJECTS
WITHIN CERTAIN COMMUNITIES. RESEARCH
CAN CONSIDER THE WAY THEY CAN ENGAGE
DIVERSE LEADERS, COMMUNITIES, AND
TRADITIONS AS THEY CONSIDER CONNECTING
THEIR WORK TO THE COMMUNITY. WHILE WE DO
THIS WORK BECAUSE OF THE AMAZING AMAZING
WORK IMPLEMENTED IN COMMUNITIES, WE ALSO
KNOW THAT THIS WORK MAKES A DIFFERENCE.
FOR EXAMPLE, THE DIABETES PREVENTION
PROGRAM OR DPP DELIVERED IN A COMMUNITY
SETTING. DPP IS A CDC CERTIFIED PROGRAM
IN WHICH PARTICIPANTS ATTEND UP TO 16
WEEKLY MEETINGS WITH THE LIFESTYLE COACH
WHO TRAINS THEM FOR LONG TERM DIETARY
CHANGE, INCREASE THEIR PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
AND TO MAKE THE BEHAVIORAL CHANGES THAT
WILL HELP TO CONTROL THEIR WEIGHT AND TO
DECREASE THEIR RISK OF GETTING TYPE 2
DIABETES. THROUGH A PILOT FUNDED BY CMS
AND CMMI BETWEEN 2013 AND 2015, THE
PROGRAM OUTCOMES WERE SUCCESSFUL.
MEDICARE BENEFICIARIES ENROLLED IN THE
PROGRAM LOST 5% OF THEIR BODY WEIGHT
WHICH IS ENOUGH TO SUBSTANTIALLY REDUCE
THE RISK OF FUTURE DIABETES, THE AVERAGE
WEIGHT LOSS WAS 4.73% BODY WEIGHT FOR
PARTICIPANTS ATTENDING AT LEAST FOUR
WEEKLY SESSIONS, PARTICIPANTS WHO
ATTENDED AT LEAST NINE WEEKLY SESSIONS
LOST AN AVERAGE OF 5.1% OF THEIR BODY
WEIGHT. IN FACT, WHEN COMPARED WITH
SIMILAR BENEFICIARIES NOT IN THE PROGRAM
MEDICARE ESTIMATED SAVINGS OF $2,650 FOR
EACH ENROLLEE IN THE DIABETES PREVENTION
PROGRAM, OVER A 15 MONTH PERIOD, MORE
THAN ENOUGH TO COVER THE COST OF THE
PROGRAM. AND AS A RESULT OF THESE
CHANGES CMS EXPANDED DPP TO BE INCLUDED
IN THE MEDICARE PHYSICIAN FEE SCHEDULE
PROPOSED RULE ALLOWING MEDICARE FUNDS TO
BE USED TO SUPPORT THE PROGRAM. SO WHILE
DPP MIGHT BE A WIDELY PUBLISHED SUCCESS
STORY, WHAT MIGHT BE LESS WELL KNOWN IS
THE FAITH BASED COMPONENT OF THE STORY.
THIS PILOT WAS IMPLEMENTED BY THE YMCA
AND YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW BUT THE C IN YMCA
STANDS FOR CHRISTIAN. YMCA STANDS FOR
YOUNG MEN'S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION. IN
FACT, MANY OF THE PHYSICAL LOCATIONS
WHERE DPP WAS IMPLEMENTED IN THIS PILOT
WERE FAITH BASED. T SO THIS STORY
ENCOURAGES US TO CONSIDER EVIDENCE BASED
MODELS DETERMINED TO BE SUCCESSFUL IN
THE FIELD CAN ALSO FIND IMPLEMENTATION
WITHIN OUR FAITH COMMUNITIES. THIS
WORKS BEST WHEN THERE IS ALIGNMENT AND
INTEREST WITH THE COMMUNITY BEING
SERVED. BUT ALSO CONSIDER A RECENT
PUBLICATION IN JOURNAL OF MEDICAL
SCIENCES WHERE OFFICE CONDUCTED A
SYSTEMIC REVIEW OF 181 STUDIES AND 17 --
81 STUDIES AN 17,000 PATIENTS ADDRESSING
CARDIO VAS QUE RASH DISEASE RISK
FACTORS. COMMON INTERVENTION TYPES
INCLUDE ADDRESSING DIET, PHYSICAL
ACTIVITY AND STRESS MANAGEMENT. AND MANY
OF THESE STRATEGIES FOR ADDRESSING THESE
INTERVENTIONS INCLUDED EDUCATIONAL
CLASSES, HEALTH COACHING FROM COMMUNITY
HEALTH WORKERS AS WELL AS INCLUSION OF
RELIGIOUS THEMES IN TO INTERVENTION
TYPES. SO ACROSS THESE STUDIES, THESE
CHURCH BASE INTERVENTIONS WERE
ASSOCIATED WITH SIGNIFICANT REDUCTIONS
IN RISK KNACK TORRS FOR CARDIOVASCULAR
DISEASE. FURTHERMORE THE RESEARCHERS
NOTE THESE OUTCOMES IN THESE PROGRAMS,
ARE ACHIEVED PARTICULARLY IN POPULATION
WITH HEALTH DISPARITIES. ALL THIS WORKS
AND THEY ARE AMAZING PARTNERS WHO YOU
CAN ENGAGE, HOW DO WE ENGAGE THEM? LET'S
START WITH WHAT NOT TO DO. AND GET THAT
OUT THE WAY. LET ME START WITH THREE
THINGS RESEARCHERS SHOULD TRY TO AVOID.
TRY NOT TO TELL LEADERS WHAT THEY NEED
OR SHOULD CARE ABOUT. KNOW FAITH LEADERS
ARE VERY AWARE OF WHAT THEIR COMMUNITY
IS CONCERNED ABOUT. AS RESEARCHERS YOU
CAN ASK THEM FOR INSIGHT INTO THOSE
CONCERNS. CONSIDER WAYS YOU CAN HELP
EDUCATE LEADERS ON ISSUES OF CONCERN AND
SEEK THEIR INPUT HOW THOSE CONCERNS
MIGHT RELATE TO THEIR COMMUNITY. SECOND,
ALL FAITH LEADERS ARE NOT THE SAME.
DIFFERENT TRADITIONS DIFFERENT LEADERS
AND DIFFERENT COMMUNITIES ALL HAVE A
DIVERSE RANGE OF PERSPECTIVES IDEAS AND
EXPERIENCES, RESEARCHERS CAN WITH
CURIOUS AND LEARN ABOUT EACH LEADER
RESPECTIVELY. NOTE AS WELL WITHIN ONE
RELIGIOUS TRADITION THERE MAYBE A
DIVERSE RANGE OF VIEWS AND PERSPECTIVES
ABOUT THE ISSUE YOU ARE SEEKING TO
ADDRESS. SO JUST BECAUSE YOU MAY NOT BE
ABLE TO ENGAGE EVERYONE IN A COMMUNITY,
BECAUSE OF DIVERSE VIEW POINTS AND
PERSPECTIVES THAT SHOULD IS NOT KEEP YOU
FROM ENGAGING THE FAITH COMMUNITIES AND
PARTNERS AND TO WORK WITH YOU AS A
RESEARCHER. WE HAVE TO BE CAREFUL NOT TO
GIVE FAITH LEADERS ANOTHER THING TO DO.
ONE RECENT POPULAR ARTICLE AMONG CLERGY
HIGHLIGHT HOD FAITH LEADERS, AT LEAST IN
THE CHRISTIAN TRADITION HAVE SEVEN JOBS
THAT IN OTHER CIRCUMSTANCES COULD BE
CONSIDERED FULL TIMES IN AND OF
THEMSELVES. IN FACT THESE ROLES CAN BE
SO OVERWHELMING THERE IS A SIGNIFICANT
CONCERN ABOUT THE ROLE OF BURN OUT AND
CLERGY LEADERSHIP AS MANY ARE LEADING
WHILE BLEEDING. CONSIDER STRATEGIES AND
EFFORTS ENGAGING FAITH COMMUNITIES THAT
SUPPORT RATHER THAN BURDEN CLERGY
LEADERSHIP. SO YOUR ENGAGEMENT WITH THE
COMMUNITY CAN OFFER STRATEGIES THAT
EMPOWER AND SUPPORT CON DEGREE GANTS TO
THE HOUSE OF WORSHIP. RATHER THAN COMING
WITH AN ASK THAT PUTS SOMETHING ELSE ON
THE LEADERSHIP PLATE COME WITH AN OFFER
DESCRIBING WHO U YOU WORK SUPPORTS THEIR
WORK IN THE COMMUNITY AND THEIR WORK
WITH THEIR CONGREGATION AND PROVIDE
RESOURCES SO IF WE ARE ASKING THEM TO
INVEST, A SIGNIFICANT AMOUNT OF TIME, WE
SHOULD ALSO INVEST EVEN WITH FUNDS. NOW
LET'S CONSIDER THREE STRATEGIES TO
IMPROVE ENGAGEMENT WITH FAITH LEADERS.
THREE STRATEGIES TO IMPROVING ENGAGEMENT
WITH FAITH PARTNERS. FIRST LET'S START
WITH LISTENING. CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES
TO ENGAGE WITH THE COMMUNITY BEFORE YOU
REACH OUT. IT MAY BE HELPFUL AND
APPROPRIATE TO VISIT COMMUNITY IN PERSON
FOR ONE OF THEIR EVENTS OPEN TO THE
PUBLIC. I NOTE MANY HOUSES OF WORSHIP
ARE ALSO ENGAGING THEIR COMMUNITY
THROUGH ONLINE RESOURCES. SO CHECK THE
COMMUNITIES YOUTUBE CHANNEL AND THEIR
WEBSITE FOR WAYS TO LEARN MORE ABOUT
THEIR COMMUNITY, SEEK OUT FRIENDS OR
PROFESSIONAL COLLEAGUES WHO IDENTIFY
WITH THE RELIGIOUS TRADITIONS FOR ADVICE
ON ENGAGING A PARTICULAR ISSUE WITHIN
THAT COMMUNITY AND REACH OUT TO CONNECT
WITH THE COMMUNITY. WHILE ENGAGING WITH
THEIR SENIOR LEADERSHIP WILL BE
IMPORTANT AT SOME POINT, RECOGNIZE
ENGAGEMENT STARTS WITH THE PERSON WHO
ANSWERS THE PHONE. SO YOU MIGHT MEET
WITH SOMEONE WHO MANAGES OUTREACH FOR
THE CONGREGATION BEFORE YOU MEET WITH
THE SENIOR LEADERSHIP. SO WHEN YOU
IMMEDIATE WITH ANY LEVEL OF LEADERSHIP
CARE ABOUT THE RELATIONSHIP MORE THAN
THE COMMITMENT TO PARTICIPATE IN THEIR
RESEARCH. KNOW THAT FAITH LEADERS
PRIORITIZE RELATIONSHIPS AND CONNECTIONS
MORE THAN THE RESEARCH OR SCIENTIFIC
ENDEAVOR YOU ARE TRYING TO ENGAGE THEM
AROUND. IN FACT, THEY ARE IN FOR THE
POSITION THEY ARE IN BECAUSE THEY
PRIORITIZE THOSE COMMUNITY
RELATIONSHIPS. SO PUTTING RELATIONSHIPS
FIRST IS IMPORTANT TO BUILDING A
CONNECTION AND RELATIONSHIP WITH THESE
LEADERS. SECONDS, SEEK TO LEARN.
AGAIN, BEFORE YOU REACH, LEARN MORE
ABOUT IMMUNITY, THE RELIGIOUS TRADITION
OR ISSUES THAT ARE IMPORTANT TO THAT
TRADITION. AND/OR PEOPLE GROUP,
DETERMINE IF THERE'S EFFORTS UNDERWAY IN
THAT COMMUNITY THAT CONNECT TO THE
RESEARCH ISSUES THAT MAY BE RELATED TO
WORK. YOU ALSO HAVE UNDERWAY. SO IF YOU
ARE FOCUSED ON ENCOURAGING POSITIVE
HEALTH BEHAVIOR, DOES THE COMMUNITY
PROMOTE ANY AREAS OF PHYSICAL ACTIVITY
SUCH AS SOFTBALL LEAGUE, PICKUP
BASKETBALL GAMES OR EXERCISE CLASSES? IF
YOU ARE HEALTHY EATING DOES THE
RELIGIOUS TRADITION PRESCRIBE ANYTHING
RELATED TO WHAT COMMUNITY EAT?
WHEN YOU REACH OUT TO COMMUNITY, ASK
QUESTIONS FROM A POSITION OF CURIOSITY
RATHER THAN PRESCRIPTION TO BETTER
UNDERSTAND HOW THEIR PERSPECTIVES RELATE
TO THAT PARTICULAR HOUSE OF WORSHIP.
BROADLY STATED, WHEN YOU FIRST CONNECT
ASK MORE QUESTIONS THAN THE NUMBER OF
ANSWERS YOU PROVIDE AS A RESEARCHER. ASK
MORE QUESTIONS, I'M GOING TO SAY THAT
AGAIN, ASK MORE QUESTIONS THAN THE
NUMBER OF ANSWERS YOU PROVIDE PASS A
RESEARCHER. THIS CAN HELP ENSURE YOU ARE
ENGAGING LEADSERS FROM A POSTURE OF
LEARNING WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES. LASTLY
I WANT TO ENCOURAGE YOU TO THINK WAYS
YOU CAN LEAD WITH FAITH COMMUNITIES
RATHER THAN TELLING FAITH COMMUNITIES
WHAT AND HOW TO IMPLEMENT SCIENCE-BASED
EVIDENCE BASED EVIDENCE INFORMED
STRATEGY. HOW AND LEVEL OF COMMUNICATION
IS EQUALLY IMPORTANT. SO WORK WITH THE
TRADITION AND COMMUNITY TO TRANSLATE THE
SCIENCE AND RESEARCH INTO THE LANGUAGE
CUSTOMS AND PRACTICES THAT ALREADY EXIST
WITHIN THE COMMUNITY. ENGAGE WISDOM OF
THE LEADERSHIP IN THE COMMUNITY TO
CONNECT TO EXISTING KNOWLEDGE AND WISDOM
FROM RESEARCH LITERATURE. NEXT AND MY
LAST SLIDE, JUST A FEW SUGGESTION, AS WE
INCREASINGLY VIEW -- LET ME SKIP OVER
THIS I KNOW WE ARE AT TIME. LET ME
CONCLUDE. AS WE MOVE TOWARD A TIME OF
QUESTIONS, THE LAST TIME WE BROUGHT
TOGETHER ACADEMIC, LAST TIME ACTUALLY IN
AUGUST OF 2023 WE BROUGHT TOGETHER
ACADEMIC AND RESEARCH LEADERS AT HHS AND
WHEN WE DID BRING THEM TOGETHER, THEY
WERE SURPRISED AND ENERGIZED AS WE
SHARED MODELS AND STRATEGIES THAT
CONNECTED RELIGION AND SPIRITUALLY TO
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELL BEING. THE
PURPOSE OF THIS MEETING WAS TO BRING
TOGETHER ACADEMIC PROGRAMS THAT PREPARED
FAITH LEADERS FOR WORKING IN COMMUNITIES
MAINLY THEOLOGICAL SEMINARIES INCLUDING
HOUSES OF WORSHIP AND HOW THESE
INSTITUTIONS COULD INCREASE ATTENTION ON
MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS DURING THIS
CRITICAL TIME OF TRAINING EDUCATION.
THAT IS MENTAL HEALTH AND WELLNESS FOR
STAFF AS WELL AS STUDENTS. THE MEETING
SHOWCASE THE WAYS THESE ACADEMIC
PROGRAMS WERE INTEGRATING MENTAL HEALTH
INTO THEIR CURRICULUM. THIS PRESENTED
OPPORTUNITY FOR THESE PROGRAMS AND THEIR
PARTNERS TO ENGAGE IN RESEARCH ABOUT
THESE PROGRAMS AND THEIR OUTCOMES THIS
RESEARCH WAS NOT JUST TO INFORM AND
STRENGTHING THESE PROGRAMS, IT WAS
CONSIDERING THE OPPORTUNITIES TO SUPPORT
GROWTH AND DEVELOPMENT OF CLERGY AND
TRAINING AS WELL. THE MEETING BROUGHT
TOGETHER FEDERALLY FUNDED PROGRAMS
BUILDING PARTNERSHIPS AN ENGAGEMENT WITH
FAITH COMMUNITIES AROUND MENTAL HEALTH
AND SUBSTANCE USE PROGRAMS. THESE
PROGRAMS ENGAGED DIVERSE PARTNERS FROM
TRIBAL RURAL AND URBAN CLERGY TO NAME A
FEW. THEY DESCRIBED EFFORTS FROM
DOWNSTREAM -- BACK UP ONE, PLEASE. FROM
DOWNSTREAM PREVENTION EFFORTS TO
INTERVENTION STRATEGIES FOR INDIVIDUALS
AFFECTED BY THESE CHALLENGES. AND AT
THE END OF THE DAY AS THE GROUP
REFLECTED ON THE PRESENTATIONS ONE
RESEARCHER NOTED THEY HAD NO IDEA ABOUT
THE WORK THAT COULD BE IMPLEMENTED IN
THIS SPACE. IN FACT, SHE WAS LEAVING
ENERGIZED, EXCITED FOR THE WORK AHEADS
AND HOW FEDERAL ENTITIES AND PARTNERS
COULD BE PART OF THOSE EFFORTS. AT LEAST
IN PARTS I WISH THAT AND I HOPE THAT
THIS PRESENTATION HAS GOTTEN YOUR
IMAGINATION WORKING AND THAT YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN CONSIDERING WAYS TO
CONNECT YOUR WORK AND INTEREST IN
RELIGION AND SPIRITUALLY TO THE TREASURE
THAT IS OUR COUNTRY'S FAITH COMMUNITY.
BEING ABLE TO CONVENE SOMETHING WITH NIH
AS WE DID WITH THIS -- WITH SAMHSA AND
THIS COMMUNITY WOULD BE WELCOME. AGAIN,
THE HHS PARTNERSHIP CENTER CAN SUPPORT
THESE CONNECTIONS, AND CAN WORK WITH YOU
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR OR THINK THROUGH
TECHNICAL ASSISTANCE OR FAITH
COMMUNITIES THAT CAN BEST SERVE NIH AND
ULTIMATELY THE ADMINISTRATION'S NEEDS.
SO WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO REACH OUT TO US.
WE STAND AT THE -- WE STAND READY TO
SUPPORTS INCREASED RESEARCH WITH AND
ENGAGEMENT OF FAITH COMMUNITIES ACROSS
THE COUNTRY. AND THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR
THE OPPORTUNITY TO PRESENT. AND THE LAST
SLIDE IS BASICALLY SOME RESOURCES THAT
WE HAVE READILY AVAILABLE. AS I
MENTIONED THE MATERNAL HEALTH WOULD BE
COMING OUT SOON SO IF YOU WANT TO
DOWNLOAD THAT, ON YOUR PHONE VIA THE QR
CODE THAT IS LISTED, PLEASE FEEL FREE
TOE DO SO AT THIS TIME. WE WILL ALSO
DROP THE LINKS INTO THE CHAT. SO THAT IF
YOU ARE NOT ABLE TO DOWNLOAD THE CODE
ITSELF, YOU WILL BE ABLE TO COPY THE
LINKS FROM THE CHAT. MY LAST SLIDE,
LET'S JUST STAY CONNECTED. LET'S STAY
CONNECTED. BACK TO YOU, JOAN.
>> AND THANK YOU, REVEREND QUE. THAT WAS
FANTASTIC. I'M ALWAYS REALLY AMAZED TO
HEAR ALL THE WONDERFUL WORK YOU ARE
DOING IN SO MANY MANY DIFFERENT HEALTH
AREAS AND PRIORITY AREAS AS WELL. I'M
GOING TO STOP SHARING SO WE CAN SEE EACH
OTHER BETTER AND I HAVE BEEN SITE PEOPLE
TO TURN ON THEIR VIDEOS. -- INVITE
PEOPLE TO TURN ON THEIR VIDEOS. I'M
STARTING TO LOOK IN THE CHAT HERE FOR
WHAT QUESTIONS WE HAVE. LET'S SEE. SO
THERE IS A QUESTION HERE REVEREND QUE,
IS IT (INDISCERNIBLE), SORRY IF I
MISPRONOUNCE YOUR NAME. WONDERING WHY
PRIORITIES ARE MAINLY TARGETED THE
YOUTH. WHAT IS THE RATIONALE OF CHOOSING
THAT AGE GROUP?
>> OKAY. SO WE ARE ACTUALLY FOR MENTAL
HEALTH WE HAVE A SPECIAL EMPHASIS WITH
YOUTH. IF YOU THINK ABOUT IT THE SURGEON
GENERAL DECLARED NATIONAL EMERGENCY FOR
YOUTH MENTAL HEALTH IN 2021. WE HAD AN
UPTICK OF OVER 51% IN EMERGENCY ROOM
VISITS AGE 12 TO 17. WE ARE SEEING A
MAJOR UPTICK OF AS YOU HEARD IN OUR
RELIGIOUS COMMUNITY MUSLIM YOUTH
UNFORTUNATELY LEADING THE WAY THERE. WE
ALSO HAVE SEEN AN UPTICK OF SUICIDE IN
OUR AFRICAN AMERICAN TEENAGE BOYS. SO
THERE IS A REASON FOR THAT SPECIAL
EMPHASIS AND PARTICULARLY WHEN YOU HAVE
THE SURGEON GENERAL DECLARE A NATIONAL
EMERGENCY THAT IS SOMETHING WE FOCUS ON.
IT IS NOT THE ONLY THING WE FOCUS ON IN
MENTAL HEALTH. MENTAL HEALTH IN GENERAL.
WE SPEAK TO CLERGY, WE SPEAK TO FRONT
LINE RESPONDERS. WE HAVE A SPECIAL
INTEREST IN HELPING FRONT LINE RESPONDER
PARTICULARLY CLERGY WHO I MENTIONED
LEADING WHILE BLEEDING. SO WHEN WE THINK
ABOUT THE SUICIDE PREVENTION AND SPECIAL
EMPHASIS ON THAT. AGAIN, WE THINK ABOUT
THE EMERGENCY ROOM VISITS, THEY WERE
BASED ON SUICIDAL IDEATIONS. SO AND
ATTEMPTS IN THIS CASE. SO THAT IS PART
OF THE REASON WHY THOSE PARTICULAR TWO
AREAS THAT WE ARE DOING ADULT AND YOUTH
IN THOSE SPACES. WHEN YOU THINK ABOUT
OUR -- THE WORK IN OUR SUBSTANCE USE
DISORDER, WHILE WE HAVE HAD AN UPTICK IN
YOUTH RELATED -- SUBSTANCE USE RELATED
DEATHS AMONG YOUTH, NOT JUST BECAUSE THE
DRUG IS SO COMMON, NOT BECAUSE IT IS
INCREASING AS FAR AS YOUTH BUT MORE SO
BECAUSE IT IS SO DANGEROUS. SO SO THERE
IS A LOT OF WORK TO BE DONE WITH OUR
INDIAN HEALTH SERVICE. WHEN THERE ARE
COMMUNITY AND AGENCY NEEDS TO STUDY
COMPARATIVE AND SPECIFIC EFFICACY AND
EFFECTS OF CONGREGATION IN HEALTHCARE
COOPERATION. SUCH AS LOCAL REFERRALS,
SERVICE, CASE COORDINATION TOOL DATA AND
COMMUNICATION INTEGRATION. DAVID, MAYBE
IF YOU WANT TO PROVIDE A LITTLE BIT MORE
ON YOUR QUESTION? THANKS.
>> YEAH. DR. ENGLISH, THANK YOU FOR YOUR
PRESENTATION. I APPRECIATE THAT.
GOOD JOB. IT IS INTERESTING INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE WE ARE WORKING WITH OVER
500 SOVEREIGN TRIBE, THOSE COMMUNITIES
ARE DIVERSE THEMSELVES. THERE IS NO
SIMPLE ANSWER BUT THERE IS A HUGE
APPRECIATION AND PUSH FOR QUESTIONS OF
SPIRITUAL HEALTH DEVELOPMENT WORKING
WITH CONGREGATIONS COACHING THROUGH
CHAPLAINS AND SUCH. BUT WHEN IT COMES TO
EVALUATING THE NEEDS AND THINKING OF IT
MORE SCIENTIFICALLY WHERE WE TRY TO
FIGURE OUT WHAT IS APPLICABLE TO THE
SYSTEM ITSELF AND O THE TRIBES
NEGOTIATING WITH THE SYSTEM, IT WOULD BE
HELPFUL FOR US TO KNOW HOW THOSE HHS
OFFICES YOUR OFFICE OR OTHER OFFICES
BREAK THIS COORDINATION BETWEEN INDIAN
HEALTH SERVICE, WE ARE HEADS DOWN TRYING
TO FOCUS ON OUR TRIBAL CONSTITUENTS AND
MINI DOING INSTITUTIONAL RESEARCH WITH
UNIVERSITIES AND OTHER BODIES. SO IT
SEEMS LIKE I APPRECIATE EVERYTHING YOU
SAID BUT SEEMS LIKE THERE NEEDS TO BE
ONE MORE STEP IN THE COORDINATION
PROCESS. I THINK NIH WOULD FOLLOW
TRANSLATIONAL RESEARCH WHERE IT BECOMES
MORE APPLICABLE TO THE SYSTEMS THAT ARE
DELIVERING SERVICES.
>> THAT IS A VERY, VERY GOOD POINT.
THANK YOU FOR FLAGGING THAT, DAVID. ONE
OF THE THINGS WE ARE DOING RIGHT NOW IS
WORKING WITH IHS ON SOME OF THE
MOVEMENTS TO YOUR POINT BECAUSE FOR US,
IT IS EDUCATION FOR US. WE CAN'T AS
I MENTIONED EARLIER, THERE'S SUCH
DIVERSITY AROUND OUR NATION THAT THERE
IS SENSITIVITY, THERE'S CULTURAL
COMPETENCY, CULTURAL INSENSITIVITY THAT
NEEDS TO BE CONSIDERED SO EVEN WHEN IT
COMES TO OUR MATERNAL HEALTH TOUR THAT
WE ARE DOING, WE ARE TARGETING TRAVEL
LIKE IN 2024 WE WILL BE IN SOME OF THEIR
LAND SACRED SPACES AND THE NEED FOR US
TO BE EDUCATED IS CRITICAL SO WE ARE
WORKING WITH IHS AND WITH ACF AND THEIR
TRIBAL SPACES. AND WORKING WITH THE
PERSON THAT LEADS OUR TRIBAL EFFORTS AT
IEA. ALL COLLABORATED TOGETHER TO SEE
HOW BE MORE EFFECTIVE TO YOUR POINT IN
THE CONVERSATION, PENETRATION, IT HAS --
IT HAS TO BE LED BY TRUSTED MESSENGER OF
THOSE COMMUNITIES. WE CAN'T JUST --
JUST BECAUSE WE ARE HHS AND BECAUSE I'M
REVEREND, WE CAN'T JUST SHOW UP, I HAVE
TO HAVE A TRUSTED MESSENGER IN THAT
SPACE TO OPEN THAT DOOR THEN START
CREATING OPPORTUNITIES OF DIALOGUE TO
SEE WHAT APPROACH WORKS BEST AND HOW DO
WE BRING THESE RESOURCES AND CONTINUED
COLLABORATION IN THIS AREA. SO TO YOUR
POINT THOSE ARE THE CONVERSATIONS WE
STARTED HAVING WITH IHS IN 2023.
>> THANK YOU.
>> THANK YOU FOR THE QUESTION AND
REVEREND QUE FOR THAT ANSWER. I HAVE A
QUESTION HERE. WHAT ARE SOME OF THE
BENEFITS OF CONDUCTING RESEARCH WITH
FAITH BASED PARTNERS?
>> I THINK IF WE JUST LOOK AT THE FACT
THAT THEY ARE THE TRUSTED COMMUNITIES IN
THE -- THEY ARE THE TRUST MESSENGERS IN
COMMUNITY. IT IS ONE THING TO HANG OUT
WITH THESE -- A LOT OF TIMES WE FIRST
THINK OF THESE MEGA ORGANIZATIONS TO DO
THE BEST WORK. BUT IT IS ANOTHER THING
TO THINK ABOUT THE TRACTION YOU CAN GET
WITH THOSE THAT ARE ALREADY IN
COMMUNITY, ALREADY HAS THE PULSE OF THE
COMMUNITY, ALREADY KNOW WHAT IS GOING
ON. I REMEMBER IN SOME OF THE WORK THAT
I DID IN NEW YORK, WHEN IT CAME TO
CRIMINAL JUSTICE REFORM OR I GUESS YOU
CAN'T PUT JUSTICE AND CRIMINAL BUT
CRIMINAL HUMAN JUSTICE REFORM. WE WENT
AND GOVERNMENT TAGGED THOSE THAT WERE
ALREADY DOING THE WORK ON THE GROUND.
WHO ARE SOME OF THOSE ENTITIES? A LOT OF
TIMES WE HAVE THIS CONCEPTION THAT WE
DON'T HAVE A LOT OF FAITH COMMUNITIES
DOING WORK IN THE HEALTH SPACE OR DOING
WORK IN THE SPACE THAT WE ARE TARGETING
BUT YOU WOULD BE SO, SO SURPRISED ABOUT
HOW MANY FAITH LEADERS AND COMMUNITIES
AN ENTITIES ARE DOING WORK IN THIS
SPACE. AND MANY OF THEM ARE DOING IT
BECAUSE THEY FEEL IT IS WHAT THEY CALL
QUOTE UNQUOTE THEIR CALL. SO THEY ARE
DOING IT WITHOUT FUNDING SO FOR ME I
FEEL IT IS CRITICAL FOR US TO THINK
ABOUT WAYS TO ENGAGE THEM MORE. WHEN I
SAY TRUSTED MESSENGERS THAT MEANS YOU
CAN FUND SOMEONE -- FIND SOMEONE ELSE TO
DO THE RESEARCH AND THEY ARE TRYING TO
GET A FOCUS GROUP TOGETHER AND CAN'T GET
MORE THAN TWO AT A TABLE BUT YOU GET A
TRUSTED MESSENGER OUTS THERE, THE
COMMUNITY WILL GRAVITATE TOWARD BECAUSE
THEY TRUST THEIR US V THEY TRUST IF THEY
INVITE THEM TO THE TABLE THERE IS A
REASON. AND THEY WILL COME BECAUSE
SOMETIMES THEY ARE NOT GOING TO COME
BECAUSE WE HAVE DOT GOV. BUT THEY WILL
COME IF IT IS SOMEONE FROM THEIR
COMMUNITY TO THESE TYPES OF CONVENING.
SO FOR MY SUCCESS EVEN IN DOING THE WORK
IN THE HUMAN TRAFFICKING AND DOMESTIC
VIOLENCE IN NEW YORK CITY I INTENTIONAL
LIVE CREATED IT WHERE I LED THE
CONVENING AS A COMMUNITY LEADER AND
INVITED GOVERNMENT TO THE TABLE. SO WE
ENDED UP WALKING SIDE BY SIDE BUT I WAS
ABLE TO GET EVERY SINGLE SERVICE
PROVIDER THAT HAD ANYTHING TO DO WITH
HUMAN TRAFFICKING TO THAT TABLE TOGETHER
COLLABORATIVELY WE ARE ABLE TO CREATE
THE FOCUS NEEDED ON HUMAN TRAFFICKING IN
NEW YORK AND CREATING AN OFFICE THAT
FOCUSED ON THAT OR PART OF EXISTING
OFFICE THAT FOCUSED ON THAT AND GET
MILLION DOLLAR INTO THE BUDGET TO
ADDRESS IT. MY POINT SAYING THAT IS IT
IS IMPORTANT THAT RESEARCHERS FINDS
WAYS, AGAIN, WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU.
THAT IS WHY WE ARE HERE. THE PARTNERSHIP
CENTER WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, WE
ARE HERE TO HELP NAVIGATE THOSE, WE ARE
HERE TO FACILITATE INTRODUCTION AND HAVE
CONVERSATIONS THE WAY WE DID IN AUGUST.
WITH THE ACADEMIC COMMUNITY. THAT WAS
REALLY, REALLY HELPFUL EVEN AS SAMHSA
WAS INVOLVED IN THAT AS WELL. SO LET'
THINK ABOUT WAYS WE CAN -- LET'S THINK
ABOUT WAYS WE CAN MOVE AHEAD WITH THOSE
PARTNERSHIPS. THERE'S CHALLENGES.
RIGHT? THE CHALLENGES ARE GOING TO BE
THE CHALLENGES ARE GOING TO BE THE FACT
THAT COMMUNITY DOESN'T NECESSARILY TRUST
GOVERNMENT. THOSE THAT IS
ONE CHALLENGE. THE MOTIVE BEHIND IT. AND
WITH A LOT OF THE FUNDINGS -- FUNDING
STREAM THAT PASSES OVER THEM, THIS IS A
CHALLENGE, RIGHT? IT GOES TO AN ENTITY
THEN THE ENTITY CREATES THE FAITH
COMMUNITIES AS SUB GRANTEE GIVING THEM
PENNIES ON THINGS THEY ARE NOW RUBBING
WITH BUT YET -- RUNNING WITH BUT THEY
WERE ABLE TO GET THE FULL FUNDING FOR SO
BEING ABLE TO SWITCH UP THOSE DYNAMICS
IS CRITICAL AS WELL. THEN THERE'S
CHALLENGES JUST BASED ON THE OTHER
THINGS GOING ON IN OUR WORLD. WHAT ARE
OUR PRIORITIES SO WE HAVE TO BE
STRATEGIC AND EFFICIENT IN IDENTIFYING
WHAT THE TARGET -- WHERE TO TARGET. ET
CETERA. SO I'LL STOP THERE IN CASE
THERE'S OTHER QUESTIONS, SORRY JOAN,
WENT A LITTLE LONG ON THAT.
>> NO, THANK YOU. ALL GOOD STUFF. LOOKS
LIKE THERE IS A QUESTION FROM ALICIA,
DID YOU WANT TO ASK YOUR QUESTION ABOUT
-- DURING THE COVID PANDEMIC?
>> YEAH. I CAN. WONDERFUL PRESENTATION,
DR. ENGLISH. I WAS INTERESTED AS YOU
KNOW THERE WAS A MASSIVE PUSH WHEN DR.
FAUCI WAS THE NIAID DIRECTOR TOWARDS
FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES ESPECIALLY AT
THE BEGINNING OF COVID DURING THE
PANDEMIC WHEN THINGS ARE QUITE SERIOUS.
I WAS WONDERING IF YOU THOUGHT NIH PLACE
MORE EMPHASIS AS YOU SPOKE UPON THE
IMPORTANCE OF BUILDING COMMUNITY
RELATIONSHIPS BEFORE ADVANCING THEIR OWN
AGENDA. AND IF YOU THOUGHT THAT THEY
WERE SUCCESSFUL IN DOING THAT OR WAS THE
VACCINE AGENDA MORE PUSH PER SE DURING
THAT TIME, DURING THAT CRISIS? AS NIH
WAS GOING ABOUT TRYING TO REACH OTHER
FAITH BASED COMMUNITIES. BECAUSE OF
COURT THE STIGMA OF CERTAIN COMMUNITIES
THAT DIDN'T TRUST SCIENCE BECAUSE OF
EXPERIMENTATION, TUSKEGEE AND SO FORTH
LIKE THAT SO IT WAS A HARD TIME TO
ENCOURAGE OTHER ETHNICITIES AND SO
FORTH, TO TAKE THE VACCINE. I WAS JUST
CURIOUS ON YOUR THOUGHTS ABOUT THAT.
>> I'M NOT TOO FAILURE WITH WHAT NIH
FAMILIAR WITH WHAT NIH DID SPECIFICALLY
DURING THAT TIME BUT WHAT I AM FAMILIAR
IS THAT WE HAVE LIKE STELLAR EXAMPLES IN
THE FAITH COMMUNITY THAT ROLLED UP THEIR
SLEEVE AND BECAUSE OF THEIR EFFORTS
PEOPLE RECEIVED THE VACCINATION AT THE
TIME I WAS WORKING WITH THE GOVERNORS
OFFICE OF FAITH BASED NEIGHBORHOOD
INITIATIVES DEPUTY DIRECTOR THERE AND WE
SAW AN INCREASE, THERE WAS STELLAR
GROUPS LIKE CHOOSE HEALTHY LIFE. THEY
SPECIFICALLY FOCUSED ON THE AFRICAN
AMERICAN COMMUNITY AND WAS HELD AS
BRINGING, VACCINATING SOME OF THE
HIGHEST AMOUNT -- TRYING TO GET THE
NUMBERS FOR (INAUDIBLE) IT WAS CHOOSE
HEALTHY LIFE LED BY GOVERNOR FRAZIER ON
THE FRONT END OF COMBATING HIV AIDS BACK
IN THE DAY BUT THEY WERE CREDITED FOR
HAVING SOME OF THE LARGEST VACCINATION
RATE AMONG AFRICAN AMERICAN THROUGHOUT
OUR NATION. SO AGAIN, THAT WAS DUE TO
BEING TRUSTED MESSENGER. OBVIOUSLY YOU
KNOW IN THE VERY BEGINNING WE WERE FACED
WITH ALL OF THE FALSE INFORMATION AND
SKEPTICISM AND BEING COMPARED TO CUSS
KEY GEE AND ALL THAT TUSKEGEE,
BUT IT TOOK THE IMMUNITY TO STEP UP TO
THE PLATE TO ENGAGE. SO WHEY SAW WAS
HOUSES OF WORSHIP EVERYWHERE, JUST
POPPING UP AND JUST SAYING YES, AND
ROLLING UP THEIR SLEEVE AND BECOMING
SITES FOR VACCINATION. SO I'M NOT CLEAR,
IF YOU WANTED TO ELABORATE MORE ON
MESSAGING BY NIH BUT IT HAS -- WE HAD --
FAITH COMMUNITY HAD TO BE THE BUFFER.
BETWEEN GOVERNMENT AND COMMUNITY. IN
ORDER FOR US TO EVEN REALIZE THE
VACCINATION RATE IMPROVE. ONE OF THE
THINGS THAT HAPPEN IN NEW YORK, THERE
WAS GRANTS GIVEN TO THE FAITH COMMUNITY
SPECIFICALLY, ONLY TO THE FAITH
COMMUNITY, LOOKING FOR THE FAITH BASED
ENTITIES TO MOVE IN THIS SPACE BECAUSE
OF THE CHALLENGE THEY WERE HAVING IN
CONVINCING OUR UNDERSERVED COMMUNITIES
WHETHER BLACK, BROWN, JUST ACROSS THE
BOARD THE IMPORTANCE OF BEING
VACCINATED.
>> THANK YOU, VERY MUCH. I THINK THAT A
LOT OF WHAT YOU JUST SAID WAS KIND OF
MISSING IN THAT PIECE WHEN THAT TIME,
YOU KNOW SO PEOPLE WOULD RESEARCHERS
WOULD KNOW WHAT WAS GOING ON BEHIND THE
SCENES WITH SUCH IMPACTFUL RESOURCES
THAT WERE BECOMING AVAILABLE. PEOPLE
WERE HUNKERING DOWN TRYING TO REACH
THOSE DIFFERENCE TYPES OF COMMUNITIES AN
FAITH AND SO FORTH. THANK YOU SO MUCH. I
APPRECIATE THAT.
>> ABSOLUTELY. THANK YOU FOR THAT
QUESTION BECAUSE DURING THAT SEASON WE
WERE REALLY DEALING WITH A LOT OF HE IS
HESITANCIES. WE EVEN
FACILITATED MEETINGS WHERE DOCTORS WOULD
COME ON, DOCTORS THAT LOOK FOR US, SO I
THINK WHAT IS THE CULTURAL COMPETENCY
SENSITIVITY AND HOW DO WE SHOW UP, HOW
DID NIH SHOW UP IN THAT SPACE, WHEN WE
THINK ABOUT CULTURE, CASE AND POINTS,
THIS IS TRUE REALLY HAPPENED, I WENT TO
BUFFALO DURING THAT TIME SENSITIVE WHERE
E HAD SO MANY SENSELESS THE KILLING THAT
TOOK PLACE, THE MURDERS THAT TOOK PLACE
AT TOPS MARKET. AND I HAD VISITED
SEVERAL TIMES WITH OTHER FELLOW
COLLEAGUES FROM OTHER CENTERS AND I SRI
ITED IS SEVERAL TIMES ON MY OWN AND ONE
OF THE FIRST THINGS WE ALL HEARD, IT WAS
REPORTED, AND THAT IS, CAN YOU PLEASE
PARTICULARLY IN THE MENTAL HEALTH SPACE,
CAN YOU PLEASE SEND SOMEONE THAT LOOK
LIKE US? SO MY POINTS IN SAYING THAT IS,
IN -- HOWEVER WE MOVE, THAT WE EMBRACE
CULTURAL SENSITIVITY, CULTURAL HUMILITY,
CULTURAL COMPETENCY, AS WE -- WHETHER
AFRICAN AMERICAN, AMERICAN INDIAN,
ALASKA NATIVE, AS MY CONVERSATION WITH
THE GENTLEMAN THAT ASKED A QUESTION
EARLIER, WHETHER HISPANIC POPULATION,
WHETHER WITH DIVERSE RELIGIOUS
COMMUNITY, KNOWING WHAT TO DO, KNOWING
WHAT TO SAY, IS ALL OF THAT PLAYS INTO
WHETHER WE ARE GOING TO BE SUCCESSFUL OR
JUST PARTLY, VERY SUCCESSFUL OR PARTLY
SUCCESSFUL OR NOT SUCCESSFUL AT ALL. SO
WE HAVE TO CONSIDER ALL OF THOSE
DYNAMICS WHEN WE APPROACH THE FAITH
COMMUNITY AS WELL AS OTHER COMMUNITIES.
>> SUCH IMPORTANT INFORMATION REVEREND
QUE. OTHER QUESTIONS? WE HAVE TIME FOR A
COUPLE MORE QUESTIONS OR COMMENTS FOR
REVERENDS QUE.
>> I DID WANT TO SAY -- GO AHEAD.
>> JOAN, I JUST WANT TO COMMENT, THIS
WAS EXCELLENT. THANK YOU VERY MUCH. YOUR
POINT ABOUT CULTURAL COMPETENCE AND NOT
ONLY KNOWING IT, BEING AWARE OF IT BUT I
THINK ALL OF US REALLY, THAT IS THE
BIGGEST TAKE HOME MESSAGE HERE. BECAUSE
THAT IS THE ONLY WAY WE CAN REALLY GET
ACROSS TO SUCH A DIVERSE COUNTRY.
ABSOLUTELY RIGHT, ANN. TO YOUR POINT AS
RELIGIOUS LEADERS KNOW A RELIGIOUS
LEADER MYSELF I REMEMBER AT A CERTAIN
TIME, IT IS LIKE WE ARE ALL INVITED TO
DO THE BENEDICTION AND THE INVOCATION.
AND I THINK AN IMPORTANT INGREDIENT, I
THINK WAS MISSING EVEN IN MY JOURNEY IS
BEING AT THE TABLE TO CONTRIBUTE, TO BE
A CONTRIBUTING VOICE. WE WERE ABLE TO
BREAK THROUGH THAT. WE ENDED UP BEING AT
TABLE MORE BUT I THINK THAT IS
IMPORTANT. EVEN IN THE BRAINSTORMING.
THINKING ABOUT FAITH LEADERS THAT HAVE
INTEREST IN THIS SPACE FROM NIH
PARTICULARLY, AND WHAT YOUR FOCUS IS FOR
THOSE LEADERS THAT ARE ON THE GROUND
THAT HELP INFLUENCE HOW YOU MOVE IN THAT
SPACE BEFORE YOU LEAD THE FOUR WALLS
BEFORE YOU LEAVE YOUR OFFICE, THINKING
ABOUT WHO DO YOU NEED TO BRING TO THE
TABLE TO HELP FORMULATE, TO HELP CRAFT
-- DRAFT, WHAT YOU DESIRE TO DO, VERSUS
SAYING HERE IS SOMETHING I WANT YOU TO
KISS IT AND BLESS IT. THAT IS A
DIFFERENT APPROACH THAN RESPECTING THEM
NOT ONLY AS FAITH LEADERS, NOT ONLY AS
TRUSTED MESSENGERS, BUT THE POTENTIAL
WEALTH OF KNOWLEDGE THEY CAN BRING IN
THIS SPACE THAT YOU ARE INTERESTED IN.
THE SUBJECT MATTER THAT YOU ARE
INTERESTED IN. I THINK THAT IS ANOTHER
IMPORTANT CONVERSATION, HOW DO WE GET
THEM TO THE TAG AHEADS OF TIME. MAKING
OUTREACH EFFORTS EVEN MORE EFFECTIVE AS
A RESULT OF THAT.
>> AS WELL AS BEING AWARE IN EACH
CULTURE, THERE IS A VERY DIVERSE GROUP.
>> YES.
>> WHEN PEOPLE COME FROM DIFFERENT
COUNTRY, IT IS EVEN -- YOU ARE GOING TO
SEE MORE DIVERSITY.
>> YEAH. ABSOLUTELY RIGHT.
>> SO LIKE ESPECIALLY WORKING WITH
PATIENTS WE HAD A FEW EXAMPLES OF PEOPLE
WHO CAME FROM COUNTRIES LIKE PERU. ON
OUR HOSPITAL FORMS THEY WOULD PUT DOWN
WHEN ASKED THEIR RELIGION THEY PUT DOWN
CATHOLIC. BUT WHEN THEY STARTED HAVING A
LOT OF SPIRITUAL ANGST, IT WAS
DISCOVERED THAT YES, THEY WERE CATHOLIC
BUT THEY ALSO HAD BELIEFS WHERE THEY HAD
SHAMANS AS FAITH LEADERS AND CULTURAL
SPIRITUAL LEADERS. A LOT OF THEIR
SPIRITUAL ANGST ACTUALLY CAME FROM THAT
WHOLE PART OF THEIR FAITH AND CULTURE.
SO IT IS REALLY BEING ACUTELY AWARE.
>> ACUTELY AWARE. TO YOUR POINT WE ARE
TALKING NOW ABOUT RELIGIOUS COMPETENCY
AND SENSITIVITY AS WELL. SO THANK YOU,
ANN, FOR SHARING THAT.
>> SO THE OFFICE IS MORE OF A TIE
BETWEEN ALL THE HHS LIKE NIH AN SAMHSA,
SO IS IT LESS FOCUS ON RESEARCH AND MORE
ON PUTTING TOGETHER THESE EDUCATIONAL
TOOLBOXES?
>> SO WE ARE FOCUSED ON ANYTHING AND
EVERYTHING. WHAT WE DO IS CONNECT YOU,
REALLY JUST THINK OF US AS YOUR LIAISON
THE THE FAITH AND COMMUNITY -- FAITH AND
COMMUNITY STAKEHOLDERS. WE ARE NOT JUST
WORKING WITH FBO E FAITH BASED ORGANIZES
WE HAVE STRONG RELATIONSHIPS WITH
COMMUNITY BASED ORGANIZATIONS SO WE
PROVIDE SUPPORT TO THEM, CONNECTED THEM
TO THE RESOURCES THAT EXIST WITHIN HHS
AND RESOURCES THAT EXIST OUTSIDE OF HHS.
TO ANSWER YOUR QUESTION, ALL OF THE
ABOVE.
>> OKAY.
>> THANK YOU. I SEE DEIRDRE HAS HER HAND
RAISE. LAST QUESTION.
>> I WANT TO START BY THANKING YOU, DR.
ENGLISH, FOR AN OUTSTANDING
PRESENTATION. I AM SO EXCITED ABOUT THE
PROSPECTS FOR BUILDING RELATIONSHIPS
WITH THE COMMUNITIES AND PRINCIPLE I
WANT TO UNDERSCORE MOST OF ALL IS THE
IMPORTANCE OF MAINTAINING THESE
RELATIONSHIPS, STARTING THEM AND STAYING
THERE. WE NEED TO BE A CONSTANT PRESENCE
IN OUR COMMUNITIES AND NOT JUST RUN TO
COMMUNITIES IN TIMES OF CRISIS.
AFTERALL, THAT IS WHY MOST OF US EXIST
IS FOR COMMUNITY SERVICE. SO I JUST
WANTS TO DO ALL THAT -- HELP US IN OUR
EFFORTS TO MAINTAIN THESE RELATIONSHIPS
OVER TIME. AND THANK YOU.
>> I LOVE THAT IDEA. I'M SO GLAD YOU
BROUGHT THAT UP BECAUSE, I CUT YOU OFF.
PLEASE CONTINUE.
>> I'M DONE.
>> I WAS JUST GOING TO SAY THE FAITH
COMMUNITY, WE ARE RELATIONAL, NOT
TRANSACTIONAL. WE ARE RELATIONAL. WE ARE
ABOUT TRANSFORMATION. THAT IS AT THE TOP
OF THE FAITH COMMUNITY'S THESE SO IF WE
START SENSING TRANSACTIONAL IT IS A
LITTLE LESS INVITING OR ENGAGING, IT IS
SORT OF LIKE SEMICLOSES THE DOOR, THOUGH
THERE ARE PLACES WHERE WE ARE STRICTLY
-- WE HAVE TO CREATE THAT TRANSACTION.
HOWEVER, THINK OF FAITH COMMUNITY AS
BEING RELATIONAL AND TRANSFORM -- AND
FOCUSED AS AN ENTITY THAT FOCUSES ON
TRANSFORMATION. SO WITH THOSE TWO THINGS
IN MIND, MAKE SURE THAT TRANSACTION IS
AT THE BOTTOM OF THE LIST.
>> THANK YOU.
WELL, AGAIN, WHAT A
FANTASTIC PRESENTATION AND THANK YOU SO
MUCH REVEREND QUE. I KNOW DEIDRE ABOUT I
AND OTHERS HAVE WORKED WITH YOU ON
THINGS AND YOUR STAFF, IT HAS BEEN SO
HELPFUL FOR US IN OUR EFFORTS. I JUST
CAN'T SPEAK HIGHLY ENOUGH OF THE WORK
THAT YOU AND YOUR TEAM IS DOING. WE JUST
HOPE TO CONTINUE COLLABORATIVE EFFORTS
WITH YOU. I KNOW I ENJOYED THIS
PRESENTATION, I HOPE OTHERS DID AS WELL
AND I HOPE PEOPLE LEARNED MORE ABOUT THE
IMPORTANT WORK THAT REVEREND QUE AND HER
STAFF ARE DOING AND HOW YOU CAN
COLLABORATE WITH THEM AND BRAINSTORM
WITH THEM AND GET IDEAS FROM THEM AND
SHARE YOUR IDEAS WITH THEM SO THAT WE
CAN ALL DO BETTER.
>> THANK YOU. CAN I ACKNOWLEDGE TOO THAT
ON THIS CALL ONE OF MY STAFF PERSONS AND
BEN ODELL THAT WORKED WITH ME CLOSELY
GETTING THIS PRESENTATION READY BUT BEN
ODELL WHO HAS BEEN WITH THE PARTNERSHIP
FOR MANY YEARS, HE ALSO JOINED US ON
THIS CALL AND WILL BE INSTRUMENTAL AS WE
THINK ABOUT WHAT WE WANT TO DO TOGETHER
MOVING FORWARD. YES, ALICIA, WE'LL HAVE
TO COME BACK AT ANOTHER TIME. I DO HAVE
A THREE O'CLOCK WITH THE WHITE HOUSE SO
I DO HAVE TO JUMP. THANK YOU SO MUCH, SO
MUCH.
>> THANK YOU. AND THANK YOU, BEN AND
THANK YOU EVERYONE. HAVE A GREAT REST OF
THE DAY. TAKE CARE. STAY SAFE OUT
THERE.
>> THANK YOU.