Launching Fall 2023

One way that HEI, LLC advances health equity is through collaborations with faith-based organizations (FBO). Our Faith & Health Certification Program builds the capacity of FBOs to offer comprehensive and sustainable health programming and ministries toward a vision of a healthier congregation. We do this through a three-step process: assess, advise, and achieve.

Assess

The first step toward becoming a Certified Healthy FBO is a quick assessment that helps you measure your FBO’s progress based on six benchmarks:

Leadership Support: How well do your leaders support congregation health and what resources are dedicated to promoting health and well-being?

Readiness: What is the level of commitment of your FBO to improve the health and well-being of congregation members?
Organizational Assessment: What types of activities does your FBO complete to understand congregation members’ needs and interests in terms of health and well-being? What is the capacity of your FBO to provide health and well-being programming that meets the needs of congregation members?
Health Promotion Experience: What health promoting activities and resources does your FBO offer to congregation members that support health and well-being?
External Collaboration: To what degree are leaders within your FBO aware of and engage with local community partners and organizations that support the health and well-being of congregation members?
Evaluation: What steps does your FBO take to measure the impact of health well-being programs and initiatives?

Once the Assessment is completed, a follow-up consultation is scheduled to review your FBOs current progress, Report Card, and certification level. During future advising sessions, we’ll work with you to set goals with a Faith and Health Action Plan toward improving the health and well-being of your congregation.

Advise

After completion of the Assessment and an initial consultation to review your FBO’s results and outline the next steps of your faith and health journey, technical assistance and 1-on-1 advising sessions are available to your organization to ensure the health and well-being of your congregation. Acknowledging that the culture of faith-based organizations varies from each other, 1-on-1 advising sessions are tailored and personalized to meet the needs of your congregation and FBO. We are committed to supporting the needs of your congregation.

The chart below illustrates the different available levels of support that we offer FBOs.

Basic Level

Assessment and certification
Goal identification, action planning, and evaluation
Access to online evidenced based tools and resources
Assistance with health ministry development
Four (4) 1-on-1 advising sessions
Quarterly technical assistance webinars

Plus

Assessment and certification
Goal identification, action planning, and evaluation
Access to online evidenced based tools and resources
Assistance with health ministry development
Eight (8) 1-on-1 advising sessions
Quarterly technical assistance webinars
Health communications development
Health education/activities program development

Premium

Assessment and certification
Goal identification, action planning, and evaluation
Access to online evidenced based tools and resources
Assistance with health ministry development
Unlimited 1-on-1 advising sessions
Quarterly technical assistance webinars
Health communications development
Health education/activities program development
In person or virtual health education sessions specific to needs of the congregation (travel costs not included)

Achieve

By completing our Faith and Health Assessment and engaging in our supportive technical assistance and 1-on-1 advising sessions, we will assist you in increasing the capacity of your FBO to encourage and empower your congregation to take ownership of their health and well-being, toward achieving a healthy lifestyle. Earning recognition as a Certified Healthy Faith Based Organization demonstrates your commitment to the health and well-being of your congregation.