Imagine being new to a city in another country where an unfamiliar language is spoken. Navigating them through a system builds their confidence to do it the next time. The program coordinators are also working with area churches to get information out about resources. The Chicano Family Center, the Institute of Religion and Immaculate Heart of Mary Church founded the Magnolia Park Interfaith Health Ministry in September of last year to coordinate such efforts. The groups plan to work together to offer services such as immunizations, flu shots and health fairs to the residents of the community.
Parish nurses play an important role in faith-based health care.
Bertha Ortiz, a parish nurse with the Institute of Religion who serves this particular community, describes her job as one of an advocate, a referral agent, a health educator, and a connection between faith and health. Once that connection is made, hopefully other things begin to grow from that. Ortiz says the need in this area of Houston is overwhelming. Collaboration among all facets of the community is something Dr. Sullivan stresses throughout her descriptions of the program's services. It's got to be a community effort or it's not going to be successful.