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  Home → Planning → Working with Communities of Faith
 
 
 

WORKING WITH COMMUNITIES OF FAITH

The Hispanic/Latino community has deep religious and spiritual roots. In times of crisis and need, Hispanics/Latinos turn to religious/spiritual figures for leadership and guidance. Religious/Spiritual leaders are gatekeepers, opinion makers and very influential individuals.

BACKGROUND

  • The Hispanic/Latino community has deep religious and spiritual roots. In times of crisis and need, Hispanics/Latinos turn to religious/spiritual figures for leadership and guidance.
  • Religious/Spiritual leaders are gatekeepers, opinion makers and very influential individuals.
  • The voices of religious/spiritual leaders are needed to confront the stigma, prejudice and denial surrounding HIV/AIDS in their communities.
  • Religious/Spiritual institutions allow organizations to connect to a captive audience and well-connected spiritual and/or social network within the community.
  • We must work to encourage ministers, spiritual leaders and congregations to make the conversations around HIV/AIDS a more prominent part of the life of religious/spiritual communities.
  • By building relationships with religious/spiritual institutions you will have the opportunity to reach segments of your community that you may not have been able to reach previously.

CHECKLIST

  • A step by step conversation process is essential
  • Establish trust
  • Develop rapport
  • Respect religious/spiritual traditions, norms and points of view
  • Develop ties with key leaders within the community of Faith in which you are working
  • Begin the discussion on the current health situation of the congregation and surrounding community
  • Ask religious/spiritual leaders about the “do’s and don’ts”
  • Through your relationship with the religious/spiritual leaders, gain a better understanding as to whether they will be more open to receiving information about health promotion, including HIV/AIDS
  • Provide facts about health issues and slowly ease into conversations around HIV/AIDS
  • Get approval for the production and distribution of materials you plan to distribute
  • Work with religious/spiritual leaders in the introduction/design of programs focused on health and wellness including HIV/AIDS
  • Be flexible with schedules, and be prepared to work weekends and some nights as that is when their activities usually occur
  • Visit the communities of Faith as much as needed and participate in their activities
  • Train spiritual/religious leaders on health related issues, including HIV/AIDS
  • Dress appropriately
  • Maintain frequent formal & informal communication with religious leaders
 

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