Program Goal:
The U.S. Health Program supports capacity building and implementation of health ministries that address congregational and community health needs within the context of the United States.
US program components
The US Health Program supports:
Congregational Health Projects
Harry R. Kendall Projects
Harry R. Kendall Leadership Development Scholarships
Hispanic Leadership Development Scholarships
Congregational Health
Grants are provided to support capacity building and training for health ministries, as well as supporting the start-up or expansion of congregational health ministries.
Harry R. Kendall Project Grants
Harry R. Kendall was the co-owner and founder of Washington National Life Insurance Company, in Evanston, IL. Harry R. Kendall Project Grants support programs that provide preventative, therapeutic, and rehabilitative services as well as permanent housing for vulnerable African-American or elderly and/or vulnerable African-American children. Funds are awarded upon recommendation of the Harry R. Kendall Committee and approval of the Board of Directors. Projects must be within the United States.
Harry R. Kendall Leadership Development Scholarships
The Harry R. Kendall Leadership Development Scholarship provides funding to support individuals of African-American descent. The scholarship award aids with tuition and academic expenses for students pursuing studies in health-related fields. Applicants must have a commitment to a career in health as well as solid extracurricular and community service activities.
Hispanic Leadership Development Scholarship
The Hispanic Leadership Development Scholarship provides funding to support individuals of Hispanic descent. The scholarship award aids with tuition and academic expenses for students pursuing studies in health-related fields. Applicants must have a commitment to a career in health as well as solid extracurricular and community service activities.
Continued US program components
The US Health Program supports:
- Nutrition Projects
- HIV Projects
- Deaf and Disability Ministries
- Substance Abuse Prevention and Recovery Projects
Nutrition Program
The Nutrition Program supports projects that remove barriers to healthy nutrition caused by:
- lack of access, availability, and affordability
- lack of education and other social factors through community-based programs
The Global Health Unit provides nutrition project grants to faith-based partners to plan and implement local, culturally appropriate programs that promote healthy eating among low-income and vulnerable communities in the United States.
HIV grants
Approximately 1.2 million people, aged 13 and older, in the United States are living with HIV infection. One in eight are unaware of their infections. HIV grants support faith-based partners to plan and implement local, culturally appropriate, and innovative HIV programs in at-risk populations in the United States. These programs are expected to help increase awareness of HIV risk and increase access to HIV prevention strategies including condoms, pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP), Post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP), and HIV testing in vulnerable communities.
Substance Abuse Prevention
Delaying the age when alcohol and drugs are first used is a key goal of prevention. Factors such as positive youth development, engaged parenting, and strengthened family bonds, can aid in delaying adolescents' experimentation with drugs and alcohol, thereby reducing detrimental effects on physical and mental health, academic achievement, and economic stability.
The Global Health Unit works with United Methodist partners to coordinate a global response to drug and alcohol abuse and dependency. We provide grants to partners seeking to offer informed, compassionate, and evidence-based responses to the needs of individuals and families at risk of or impacted by drug and alcohol abuse.
Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries
Grants supports the United Methodist Committee on Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries in their efforts to equip and advocate for effective communication and leadership among the diverse deaf community. Grants support deaf communities to engage in ministry with United Methodist churches, support technologies for communication as well as training deaf and deaf ministry leaders who can attract Christian growth among deaf communities.
Gifts to Deaf and Hard-of-Hearing Ministries Advance #982562 support this work.
DisAbility Ministry
The DisAbility Ministries Committee of The United Methodist Church leads the UMC in creating a culture where people with disabilities are fully included in all aspects of worship, leadership and ministry through advocacy, education, and empowerment. The Committee offers resources including a website with many articles and downloadable tools, a newsletter, and consultation. Ten jurisdictional members and liaisons from related agencies lead this effort.
Gifts to Disability Ministry Advance #3021054 support this work.