The FaithHealth Initiative on COVID Health Disparities

An initiative of ISH’s FaithHealth Network | Supported by the Houston Health Department

Initiative mission:
Addressing Health Disparities in Underserved Communities

COVID health disparities in underserved communities are connected to the higher levels of trauma and stress these communities experience.

Underserved communities, especially communities of color, have been disproportionately affected by COVID-19, exacerbating health disparities. The pandemic has caused higher levels of trauma, grief, anxiety and isolation, job loss, and financial hardship. These chronic stressors increase the risk of health conditions from hypertension and diabetes to immune deficiency, heart disease, and cancer. These health factors further increase the risk of serious illness from COVID-19.

To combat these disparities, this FaithHealth Initiative is bringing together faith communities to empower individuals with tools to reduce chronic stress, heal underlying traumas, and promote overall health and wellbeing.

Target Zip Codes:

Our initiative is funded by the Houston Health Department to reach neighborhoods in the following underserved zip codes:

77009, 77011, 77012, 77013, 77016, 77017, 77020, 77021, 77022, 77023, 77026, 77028, 77031, 77033, 77034, 77036, 77045, 77047, 77048, 77051, 77060, 77071, 77072, 77074, 77076, 77078, 77080, 77081, 77087, 77088, 77091, 77092, 77093, 77099

Our Community-Based Program

This initiative builds on the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative, a community-wide healing program implemented after Hurricane Harvey that has reached over 25,000 Houstonians to date. The program uses the world-renowned model of the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), which for the past 30 years has been implemented around the world, from New Orleans and Puerto Rico to Haiti, Israel, and Ukraine.

To learn more about the Greater Houston Healing Collaborative program, see the GHHC Brochure.

What We Offer (Free resources):

WHAT ARE MIND-BODY SKILLS GROUPS?

Mind-Body Skills Groups offer a safe space for social connection while teaching evidence-based skills that reduce stress and anxiety and support immunity, resiliency, and overall health and wellbeing.  These groups allow us to connect deeply with one another, become more aware of ourselves physically and emotionally, and learn to manage and improve our own health.  Mind-Body Skills include breathing, movement, meditation, guided imagery, autogenic training, and explorative drawing and writing to help us express ourselves fully, and offer tools to alleviate anxiety and awaken vitality in body, mind, and spirit.

The facilitators leading these groups have been trained by the Center for Mind-Body Medicine (CMBM), a world-renowned trauma relief organization that for almost thirty years has been implementing this resiliency building group model for communities across the globe.

Benefits of Mind-Body Skills:

Lower risk for:

• Heart and lung disease

• Cancer

• Diabetes

• Chronic pain and inflammation

• Drug and alcohol addiction

• Depression and anxiety

Improving:

• Communication and relationships

• Focus and clarity

• Heart and lung health

• Digestion

• Immunity

• Longevity
  

Testimonials:

“I've been to many trainings, but none as powerful and life changing as this Mind-Body Training.” - Pertrice Crump, Licensed Professional Counselor, Group Facilitator, Mount Pleasant Baptist Church

“Before the group, I would completely shut down. Now I have skills to help me move through it.” - Mr. T, veteran

“After taking the Mind-Body training, I was excited to help change the lives of others through the skills I learned. The training became a lifestyle for me. My mother passed away a few months ago and the skills helped me to ‘just breathe.’” - Laverne West, Women’s Resource Center

Engage:

Please click the button below and fill out the short interest form, and we will be in contact. You may also reach out directly to Cyrus Wirls, ISH Director of Programs, at cwirls@ish-tmc or (713)-797-0600 ext-4.