Improving relations of the US public health profession and religious and spiritual (R/S) communities is urgent in view of the COVID-19 pandemic, other impending public health crises, and increased political polarization and antagonism to public health officials. Such tensions exacerbate consequences of preexistent gaps in R/S knowledge of public health professionals, undermining public health workforce job effectiveness, especially with diverse US faith communities.
This project aims to catalyze culture change across the public health field via formative research and convening representatives of R/S and diverse public health stakeholder groups to envision and strategically formulate R/S and health promotion initiatives with leverage for mainstreaming recognition of R/S factors as a key dimension of diversity and fundamental driver of the public’s health. This proposal carries out planning activities (Phase I) to be followed by implementation (Phase II). The current project’s primary output is one or more detailed proposals for Phase II implementation, submittable to the John Templeton Foundation or elsewhere.
The present project applies a comprehensive stakeholder approach to field transformation, focused on understanding and aiding four key categories of public health stakeholder: Schools of public health, the public health workforce, researchers, and the faith community. For each, we interview key informants on perceptions and needs for addressing R/S factors, and interview individuals doing exemplary public health work that appropriately addresses R/S. For each stakeholder category, a design team will formulate action options and priorities for supporting field transformation. In consultation with funders and others, prioritized strategies will be incorporated in the Phase II implementation proposals or parallel linked efforts. Additional anticipated outputs are research reports of field transformation visioning activities, key informant interviews, and stakeholder analyses. Outcomes include cross-stakeholder networks and ownership.
