Every day, people across the country connect with others in their neighborhoods through faith-based organizations. Whether through services at a local congregation or leading volunteer efforts, faith-based organizations support their local communities provide opportunities for its members to build social ties.

Your faith-based organization probably already sponsors a number of programs that focus on the health of people in your community, but did you know that making sure the people in your neighborhood can stay healthy before, during, or after a disaster is critical to achieving national health security?

Disasters could strike at any time, and when they do, they could threaten the health of an entire community. By providing services that keep residents healthy, strong, and prepared, you’re doing your part to build the resilience of your community. It’s this resilience is that makes people – and ultimately the nation –better protected in the face of smaller, everyday incidents, and better able to withstand, manage, and recover from disasters. This, in turn, strengthens national health security.

Here are a few examples of activities that help strengthen your local community and our nation’s health security:

1. Create a health ride share program – Whether it’s a temporary injury or permanent disability, many people have trouble with getting to important health appointments or running errands. Establish a volunteer program within your congregation or organization where people can sign up during certain days or hours to offer free rides to other members to doctor appointments, clinic visits, pharmacies, or grocery stores and other common errands. Your community probably knows who needs help already. Do members of your congregation offer rides to help people get to religious services? Those people probably need help getting other services as well. Consider expanding the program so that people get a ride to services and help running errands. This also helps your members get to know one another better!
2. Establish a health resilience team or council – Ask your congregation for volunteers who can find the best ways to help the community, focusing on health and preparedness. These council members can serve as official liaisons for your place of worship by reaching out to local health and emergency organizations to ask how they can help, share information, and more. Your council should have relationships with the local city or county health department, the police and fire departments, local hospitals, and health clinics or other health agencies.
3. Make a health resource directory – Ask members of your congregation what resources they would be willing to lend out to others in need or donate to the community, especially in a disaster. It could be electric generators for those who need to keep in-home medical equipment functioning, extra medical supplies, or even tapping into the personal skills of those trained in CPR or with medical backgrounds. Put together the list of items or offerings along with contact information and details, provide it to all your members, and ask for volunteers who can update it regularly.
4. Plan for Power Outages – Many people in your community may rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment. In a power outage, they may not have a place to plug in their equipment. If your house of worship has a back-up generator, let the people in your congregation know that they can come over and plug in if the power goes out. If possible, let the broader community and your local health department and emergency management office know that your doors are open to people with these special needs, too. To find out how many people in your area rely on electricity-dependent medical equipment, check out the HHS emPOWER Map.
5. Throw a block party or a fun community event – Getting to know your neighbors, especially those who may need help in an emergency, helps build community health resilience. Work with fellow members of your congregation and community to provide an opportunity for all residents to get out, meet one another, and socialize.

Whatever activities you think are best for your congregation or community, keep in mind that they should build new relationships and connections with those around you. The most likely person to provide you with help in an emergency is a friend, neighbor, or bystander, rather than an emergency worker or first responder. Building new and strong social connections among neighbors is a key way faith communities can help support national health security!

Want to learn more about what faith-based organizations can do to be involved with national health security? Check out materials and resources from ASPR, including infographics, brochures, and activity guides that provide congregations with a range of ideas you can take to your communities.

Stay connected! Be sure to follow us on Facebook at Public Health Emergency and on Twitter @PHEgov.

You can also visit www.PHE.gov/NHSS for more information on national health security.