As our ministry and country navigated the the soul of Catholic health care. We believe, more than ever, that the people many challenges of the pandemic, we continued looking for ways to support the sacred work of working throughout the ministry are the most caring for associates, patients and communities. treasured resource in Catholic health care. As In order to share best practices and get clear guid- such, CHA is committed to facilitating well-beance from you, a new task force came together, focused on the well-being of Attendance for the live version of ministry associates. The Well-Being Task Force is comprised of behavioreach webinar was tremendous, al health clinicians, human resources, and the feedback we received organizational development, mission integration and spiritual care leaddemonstrated the great need for ers from across the ministry. Their experience, expertise and passion information sharing and learning continue to provide great insight and across the ministry. creativity as the task force works to reexamine what it means to promote the inherent dignity of our caregivers and how to ing, resiliency and post-traumatic growth with create an environment that allows them to thrive our members. While this current crisis has underscored the serious challenges in our health and flourish. Aware that the opportunity to share, dis- care system, it has also provided an opportunity cuss and meaningfully connect with others is to transform the way we work, connect and build critical to sustaining well-being for the long relationships. CHA will continue to work across term, the task force put together a Conversation systems to re-examine how we promote the inGuide: Sustaining Connection for Well-Being, herent dignity of our colleagues and create a www.chausa.org/docs/default-source/default- community that allows all to thrive and flourish document-library/well-being-guide-2020.pdf. — body, mind and spirit. The discussion guide is a grab-and-go tool for anyone in our ministries to lead a conversation DENNIS GONZALES, PhD, is senior director, around well-being. In an hour, facilitators can cre- mission innovation and integration, and CARRIE ate community through connection. The guide MEYER McGRATH, MDiv, MS, is director, includes a template email invitation and open- mission services, the Catholic Health ing prayers along with resources and questions Association, St. Louis. to prompt discussion. It is a whole-person-care offering for everyone in Catholic health care. Mindful that so many leaders across the ministry are holding these dialogues and conversations for others without having a space for themselves, HA would like to thank members of the WellCHA held four listening sessions for leaders. Being Task Force who have generously given These sessions followed the framework and utitheir time and insights to developing materials, lized Zoom breakout rooms to foster meaningful programs and supports for caregivers during dialogue in smaller groups. The vulnerability, the pandemic, https://www.chausa.org/ commitment to ministry and sharing of personal well-being/well-being-task-force. well-being practices were humbling testaments to
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