Churches as agents of community change: An introduction to the issue. Issue 1 (2nd January 2023)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Hays, Krystal; Costello, Jennifer
• Is Part Of: Journal of prevention & intervention in the community. Volume 51:Issue 1(2023)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 6
• Publication Date: 2023-01-02
• Subjects: Churches -- community change -- health promotion; Preventive health services -- Periodicals; Preventive health services -- United States -- Periodicals; Community health services -- Periodicals; Community health services -- United States -- Periodicals; 362.1
• DOI: 10.1080/10852352.2021.1924592
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1085-2352

Abstract

Abstract: Churches are enduring social institutions that play a critical role in the promotion of health and wellbeing. In this introduction, the function of churches as community change agents is highlighted. A brief history of the role of churches in shaping and transforming social systems is provided along with examples of recent church-based change efforts. Further, this issue presents six articles that explore church-based change efforts impacting relationship development, trauma response, wellbeing, pandemic response, and attitudes toward environmental justice. Each article identifies a specific social problem and examines how churches promote prevention and intervention efforts to address the problem. Overall, this issue suggests that churches continue to serve as a resource for community change and that helping professionals should seek to engage with churches when promoting health.