Who We Are
Why Faith-Based Health and Wellness Mobilization?
The National Faith-Based Mobilization Network (MoNet), a 501 (c) (3) non-profit, is an ecumenical collaboration of houses of worship, faith-based organizations, community partners, and interested citizens committed to creating health equity. The thrust of MoNet is the desire to answer the following three questions:
- What is the extent of health disparities in America (poverty, social injustice, culture)?
- Why are houses of worship central to reversing these disparities?
- How do we mobilize the faith community?
These questions prove even more striking when we consider the communities of color. In achieving health equity, we assert that within these communities of color are both the problems and the solutions. We see the pressing need to mobilize houses of worship to help achieve this goal. We offer two models focusing on the root causes of health disparities. While they bring voice to issues of adequate access to resources (poverty) and fair treatment over time (social justice), we see houses of worship leading the charge in helping change the behavior and lifestyle of their congregations and communities they serve (culture).
What Is Health Equity?
Health equity is achieving the highest level of health for all people. Health equity entails focused societal efforts to address avoidable inequalities by equalizing the conditions for health for all groups, especially for those who have experienced socioeconomic disadvantage or historical injustices
What Are Health Disparities?
“Different public and private agencies may have different definitions of a 'health disparity' for their own program-related purposes, but these definitions tend to have several things in common. In general, health disparities are defined as significant differences between one population and another. The Minority Health and Health Disparities Research and Education Act of 2000, which authorizes several HHS programs, describes these disparities as differences in "the overall rate of disease incidence, prevalence, morbidity, mortality or survival rates." There are several factors that contribute to health disparities. Many different populations are affected by disparities including racial and ethnic minorities, residents of rural areas, women, children, the elderly, and persons with disabilities” (U.S. Department of Health and Human Services' Office of Minority Health).
