Christian Temple

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Our congregation, Christian Temple, proposes to partner with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) in Metropolitan Baltimore to provide one-on-one encouragement and support to persons living in two local assisted living facilities, with the goal of creating an ongoing support group(s) designed to reduce isolation and engender hope.

“Christian Temple has active partnerships with the Glynn Taff Assisted Living Center and NAMI Metro Baltimore. Christian Temple is a NAMI “hub” for nonclinical mental health services in Southwest Baltimore City and County and provides an array of supports for individuals living with mental illness and their families. Located across the street from the church, Glynn Taff has been the recipient of the church’s hospitality and spiritual care for many years. Ridgeway Manor Rehabilitation Center is a sister facility to Glenn Taff and is included in this proposal. Christian Temple is proposing growing these two partnerships in a vital and much-needed way.

Christian Temple proposes to use NAMI metro as a non-clinical health provider to develop a program from their evidence-based Peer to Peer curriculum that will initially provide one-to-one encouragement and support to persons living in Glynn Taff and/or Ridgeway, with the longer-term goal of organically creating an ongoing peer support group.

NAMI Metro will use existing volunteers with expertise in geriatric mental health to lead, train, and support members from the Christian Temple congregation who are interested in mental health and aging, and who want to develop a rapport with the seniors at the two identified facilities. In addition, it will offer informational sessions to the congregation and larger community about mental health and again, and will work with Glynn Taff and Ridgeway to support the families and caregivers of its residents.

A Partnership of Caring will be supervised by Reverend Richard Powell, senior minister of Christian Temple, with program support provided by ministerial associate, Andy Eaker. They will work in close coordination with the management of their two partners.”

Mission Area: Older Adults

Innovation Grant: US $15,000