Thank you for your interest in the West Central Ohio Health Ministries Program. The goal of this program is to assist churches to establish or enhance their Health Ministries by providing guidance and resources through the Health Ministry Coordinator.

The program was initiated though Allen County Healthy People 2000, a group formed in 1985 that included representation from over forty community agencies. The purpose of this group was to improve the health of Allen County residents by the turn of the century.

Goals and objectives of this group were established based on a Community Health Assessment conducted in 1995. West Central Ohio Health Ministries is a collaboration of the Allen County Health Department, Lima Memorial Hospital and St. Rita's Medical Center, all key leaders in this process.

The West Central Ohio Health Ministries Program was initiated in September of 1996. To date, there are 17 Network Churches who have agreed to make an actual, spoken commitment to developing and supporting a Health Ministries Program within their faith community.

An Advisory Board, made up of representatives from the local ministerial associations, academy of medicine, hospitals and social service agencies, meets quarterly to give direction to the program and to the coordinator.

The Activities of the Health Ministries Program and the coordinator fall within several categories;
* Presentations about the West Central Ohio Health Ministries Program
* On-going support of faith communities and their Health Ministries Programs
* Preparation of monthly newsletter
* Offering educational opportunities for the Network Churches and the public
* Sponsoring community-wide events related to the health of the "body, mind and spirit"

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