Exploring the partnership networks of churches and church-affiliated organisations in health promotion

Abstract

Health promotion professionals often work with community organisations and voluntary associations, including churches and church-affiliated organisations, to reduce health inequities within communities. How voluntary and church-affiliated organisations form intersectoral relationships and partnerships, and the challenges they face in doing so, has been well researched. However, there is a need to investigate further the extent to which local churches collaborate or form partnerships with other actors, such as government, peak bodies and welfare organisations. This paper reports a Victorian-based mapping exercise of partnerships and funding involving document analysis of the annual reports from 126 organisations and 35 interviews conducted with church-affiliated organisations and local churches. The discussion begins with the exploration of the nature of, and the reason why churches partner with other sectors. The paper also examines funding sources and partnership pathways that churches access to undertake the activities and programs they conduct. Interview themes highlight the value to churches of the sharing of expertise and resources, the provision of support to communities, a shared ethos of social justice and the empowerment of vulnerable populations. The findings about the extent to which local churches are involved in partnerships across society, and the extent of public and private funds they draw on to provide resources and assistance to local communities, indicate that churches are now a key player not just in welfare provision but also in health promotion activities. The findings contribute to the understanding of church activities in relation to health promotion and will assist organisations who may be potential partners to consider their collaborative efforts in the health promotion field.

Still serving hot soup? Two hundred years of a charitable food sector in Australia: a narrative review

“…1974–96 The school meals program through the Disadvantaged School Programs policy implemented 6 1990s Foodbanks are formalised, 7 for example, Foodbank of Western Australia in 1994, 8 Foodbank Australia in 1996 9 and Foodbank Tasmania in 2010 10 2000–10 Drought affects food production, cost of living in regional/remote areas and cost of food 11 …”

“…To date, no peer‐reviewed studies characterise the breadth of this sector in Australia. Some research has examined: “first world hunger” in Australia, 4 the emergency food relief providers, 5,6 churches and faith based services, 7 school meals, 8 nutrition of clients and food served 9–11 and the strategies and stakeholders 12…”

Health promotion in local churches in Victoria: an exploratory study

“…Local churches and church‐affiliated organisations have historically worked to address the social determinants of health and more direct health concerns – diet, physical activity and support for addition (Ashton , Smyth , Swain , Mendes , Ayton et al . , Crisp ). In the US, churches have been particularly active with African Americans; in Australia, there has been little exploration of the role of the local church in population health and health promotion.…”

“…, Ayton et al . ). However, how churches and church‐affiliated organisations (including both local and national level agencies) respond to social issues impacts on how the public and public health professionals view their work and their role in society.…”

“…), and to this extent align with the social justice values of much of civil society, these highly publicised differences have made it problematic for churches and secular health promotion professionals to develop partnerships (Ayton et al . ).…”