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Building Bridges in Substance Abuse Prevention: Faith Works Together in North Carolina

Building Bridges in Substance Abuse Prevention: Faith Works Together in North Carolina. Kara Endsley , CAPT Associate, CAPT Southeast Regional Team April 11, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina. Workshop Objectives. Identify the role of the faith community in substance abuse prevention

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Building Bridges in Substance Abuse Prevention: Faith Works Together in North Carolina

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  1. Building Bridges in Substance Abuse Prevention:Faith Works Together in North Carolina Kara Endsley, CAPT Associate, CAPT Southeast Regional Team April 11, 2011 Raleigh, North Carolina

  2. Workshop Objectives • Identify the role of the faith community in substance abuse prevention • Identify the role of substance abuse professionals in working with the faith community to prevent substance abuse • Identify opportunities for involving the faith community in substance abuse prevention • Identify barriers to faith community involvement in substance abuse prevention

  3. Substance Abuse & the Faith-Based Community • Substance abuse is a significant challenge within the faith community: • for leaders • for congregational members • Faith-based organizations have a long history of dealing with a wide range of substance abuse issues: • Treatment, aftercare support, prevention • Much of what community members learn about alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use is communicated through the faith community.

  4. RESEARCH SAYS… • 88% - 95% of American men and women believe in God or a universal spirit. • 88% - 92% identify with some form of religion. • BUT research indicates that the leadership of many congregations and religious organizations feel ill-equipped to address the issue of substance abuse prevention with their congregations.

  5. Faith Community’s Presence • 350,000+ congregations are attended by people on a regular basis (not just during times of sickness and crisis) • Churches, synagogues, and mosques often serve as community-based wellness centers. • Faith-based institutions, especially the Black Church, have a lot of influence in the community.

  6. Why Involve the Faith Community? • Across the U.S., faith communities and public health organizations have joined forces to address substance abuse. • Combining the strengths of faith-based organizations with the scientific knowledge and community-mobilization skills of coalitions is an effective strategy for decreasing or preventing substance abuse. • The prevention field has forged links with the faith community because it recognizes the importance of faith and spirituality as deterrents to substance abuse.

  7. Current Prevention Research • Emphasizes importance of multiple efforts • Targets various ages • Addresses individuals as well as the broader community • Sustains efforts over time

  8. Factors Influencing Substance Use Social influences include: • Public policy • Family • Friends • Availability • Religious beliefs and traditions • Social norms

  9. Factors Influencing Substance Use Personal factors including: • Genetic influences • Emotional health development • Personality traits • Biological and genetic characteristics • Reasoning ability • Socioeconomic status, e.g., poverty Preventing Mental, Emotional, and Behavioral Disorders Among Young People: Progress and Possibilities, IOM Report, 2009.

  10. Involvement of Faith Organizations in Substance Abuse Prevention • Faith groups have a strong reputation and serve as the “center of life” for many people. • Faith groups touch and mobilize people of all ages, economic levels, and ethnicities. • Faith groups provide a sense of community and responsibility.

  11. Involvement of Faith Organizations in Substance Abuse Prevention • Members look to and respect the opinions and guidance of their faith leaders. • Faith groups exist in nearly every community throughout the country. • Clergy and laity recognize substance abuse as an important issue among family members in their congregation.

  12. Involvement of Faith Organizations in Substance Abuse Prevention • Faith organizations provide support for congregational members. • Faith organizations provide opportunities to work with families who might otherwise not be involved in prevention. • Religion and spirituality are key protective factors in the prevention and treatment of substance abuse and in maintaining recovery.

  13. Substance Use & Abuse Problems Among People of Faith • Present among both leadership and laity • Present in all faiths, traditions, and denominations • Cuts across racial, cultural, geographical, gender, social, and economic backgrounds

  14. Studies in Substance Abuse • 94% of clergy surveyed consider substance abuse an important issue they face. • 38% find alcohol abuse involved in half or more of the family problems they confront. • Congregational Readiness (i.e., support among congregation for offering education program and raising awareness) • 60% in addiction • 60% in recovery • 70% in prevention • 10% not interested

  15. Religion, Spirituality, and Health • Shamans and other religious figures have delivered health care for as long as human societies have existed. • In only the past 200-300 years has physical disease been understood outside of religious or spiritual terms. • In 1990, fewer than five medical schools in the U.S. offered courses in religion, spirituality, and medicine. • In 2001, nearly 80 of 126 U.S. medical schools either required or offered these courses. CSAT, 2001

  16. Evidence in Prevention Research • Spirituality and religiosity are positively associated with physical and behavioral health. • Religion and spirituality can provide protection from substance use and abuse. • Low religious involvement is related to increased alcohol and drug abuse, and to increased tobacco use.

  17. Taking a Broad Community Approach Will require: • Meaningful dialogue and an understanding of the role of faith, spirituality, and the importance of faith-based programs • Adopting different paradigms for working with religious groups and institutions • Consideration of the medical research on faith, spirituality, religion, and health

  18. Negative Association BetweenReligion and Substance Abuse • Attendance at worship services • Importance of religion • Parents’ religiosity • Participation in church-based youth programs • Frequency of prayer or scripture reading • Belief in life after death

  19. Communication of current issues and trends Clergy training: Education on addiction Appropriate curriculum Agendas and values of some faith-based organizations Failure of health professionals to understand faith communities (and/or partner with FBO’s) Barriers to the Collaboration

  20. Barriers to the Collaboration • Limited resources • Competition and turf protection • Distrust of health agencies (poor collaborations) • Diversity within “faith community”

  21. Prevention Objectives • Support safe, healthy, and acceptable decision-making • Delay the onset of first and experimental use of alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs • Prevent the illegal use of alcohol and non-ceremonial use of tobacco and illicit drugs • Prevent low-risk patterns of use from becoming high risk • Reduce current high-risk patterns of use

  22. Prevention Goals • Establish safe and healthy behavior for members • Teach congregation members personal and social skills to resist pressures to use alcohol, tobacco, and other drugs • Support prevention efforts within the broader community

  23. Examples of Prevention Strategies • Provide information to congregation members • Teach congregation members to identify and counteract social influences that encourage alcohol, tobacco, and other drug use • Encourage and support alcohol-, tobacco- and drug-free activities for youth

  24. Support Goals • Create an environment where congregation members can share concerns • Communicate that there is hope and help • Identify members in need of assistance

  25. Support Goals (cont.) • Respond or intervene in a positive, helpful, and confidential way • Match member needs to appropriate congregational or community resources • Provide support to the member and member’s family

  26. Examples of Strategies • Host AA, Al-Anon and other 12-Step support groups • Offer creative programs that support recovery and nurture spiritual healing and growth • Plan a special day of prayer and educational activities • Acknowledge and celebrate recovery in a visible way, such as a “Recovery Day”

  27. Disconnect Between Teaching & Problem • Only 37% of clergy say they deliver a sermon on substance abuse more than once a year. • 18% say they give a sermon on substance abuse annually. • 22% never address a sermon on the topic • Only 13% had completed any coursework related to substance abuse.

  28. Building a Team Ministry: A Congregational Approach to Substance Abuse

  29. What is Substance Abuse Ministry? A team of trained lay members who have special expertise • Who work closely with clergy • Who provide education and prevention • Who utilize community resources • Who provide referral assistance • Who provide recovery support • Who are accountable for their ministry

  30. How Does this Ministry Help? • Equips youth and adults with skills • Combines research-based prevention with faith • Offers hope and referral assistance • Reduces stigma and shame

  31. Getting Started • Identify clergy support • Identify key layperson • Identify materials, tools, and sources of technical assistance

  32. Role of Clergy • Leader of congregation, teacher, preacher • Counselor • Bless team • Support • Encourage • Connect to structure

  33. Finding the Key Person • Leader, Facilitator • Vision & Energy • Mature, with effective skills • Relates well to clergy

  34. Developing a Congregational Team Step 1: Orientation Conference – The role of the faith community; levels of advocacy Step 2: Introduction Workshops – First steps to prevention and addiction ministries Step 3: Team Training – Developing a congregational team ministry

  35. Developing a Congregational Team (cont.) Step 4: Initiate Team Ministry Step 5: Provide ongoing training, facilitate community involvement, etc.

  36. Important Steps • Hold an exploratory meeting • Conduct a congregational survey and inventory • Connect to community resources

  37. Getting Started • Team meets regularly • Learns to work as a team • Publicize/communicate early successes • Communicate regularly with clergy

  38. Important Considerations • Include both recovering and non-recovering team members • Integrate ministry into life of congregation • Be sensitive to culture and faith traditions • Develop a plan of action for accountability

  39. THANK YOU! Kara Endsley kendsley@thekarltongroup.com

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