Building Partnerships With Rural Arkansas Faith Communities to Promote Veterans’ Mental Health: Lessons Learned

Abstract

Background The Mental Health–Clergy Partnership Program established partnerships between institutional (Department of Veterans’ Affairs [VA] chaplains, mental health providers) and community (local clergy, parishioners) groups to develop programs to assist rural veterans with mental health needs. Objectives Describe the development, challenges, and lessons learned from the Mental Health–Clergy Partnership Program in three Arkansas towns between 2009 and 2012. Methods Researchers identified three rural Arkansas sites, established local advisory boards, and obtained quantitative ratings of the extent to which partnerships were participatory. Results Partnerships seemed to become more participatory over time. Each site developed distinctive programs with variation in fidelity to original program goals. Challenges included developing trust and maintaining racial diversity in local program leadership. Conclusions Academics can partner with local faith communities to create unique programs that benefit the mental health of returning veterans. Research is needed to determine the effectiveness of community based programs, especially relative to typical “top-down” outreach approaches.

Community Engagement in Health-Related Research: A Case Study of a Community-Linked Research Infrastructure, Jefferson County, Arkansas, 2011–2013

“…By implementing intentional structural supports (ie, community–academic partnerships, community advisory board, community health worker model, health registry, resource directory, research collaborative), we were able to engage the broader community in research and successfully reach populations with disproportionate health burdens. UAMS investigators, including black, white, and other minority researchers, have engaged with community organizations, and black community residents now serve as community co-investigators on new studies focused on issues of importance to the community ( 16 , 17 ). The adaptation of the Community Connector Program ( 12 ), the integration of institutional providers’ assistance with referrals and connections, and the community engagement approach of the infrastructure created a context in which access was increased and minorities were engaged who often are not represented in research.…”

“…One example that included minority community partners and minority researchers introduced through the infrastructure focused on measuring trust. Other studies growing out of new partnerships involved the faith community’s work on mental health ( 16 , 17 ). Other research topics in grants submitted were substance abuse, social networks, sexual violence, pesticide exposure, and health literacy.…”

US Religious Congregations’ Programming to Support Veterans: A Mixed Methods Study

“…Clergy are often the first and only point of contact for mental health disorders (Wang et al 2003), particularly in rural areas (Blank et al 2002;Fox et al 1995). Capitalizing on this fact, the VA has attempted to train rural clergy as first responders to veteran mental health issues and promote partnerships between churches and mental health providers (Sullivan et al 2014;U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs 2012).…”

Faith-Based Organizations and Veteran Reintegration: Enriching the Web of Support

“…The VA is working to train rural clergy as first responders for veteran mental health issues and to promote partnerships between churches and mental health providers. 17 In addition, a number of studies from clinical psychology, psychiatry, and chaplaincy have addressed the important roles of VA-based chaplains in addressing veterans' spiritual and mental health needs. 18 But the nature of the support that congregations and other FBOs that operate outside healthcare institutions provide is not as well understood.…”