Faith Community Partnership (FCP)
Did You Know That in Lancaster County…
1. There are 843 Faith Communities (The Assoc. of Religion Data Archives, 2020)
2. 42.7% of the population belongs to a faith community (The Assoc. of Religion Data Archives, 2020)
3. 4.3% of the population have reported having a mental health issue (Lancaster County Community Indicators, 2018-2020)
Why are Faith Communities important to Mental Health?
Faith Community Leaders are one of the first people who are contacted when someone is experiencing a mental health crisis.
They are trusted people in their respective faith communities and serve as a source of support, resources, and hope.
What is the Faith Community Partnership (FCP)?
1. Faith communities choose Faith Community Leaders who are willing to be Mental Health Champions to participate in the program.
2. Champions meet monthly from May 2025 to May 2026 to receive:
a) Resources and referrals for addressing mental health needs in their faith communities
b) Trainings to help develop their own mental health ministry
c) Support for existing mental health ministries
d) Fellowship with other faith communities
3. Faith communities subsidize this program by contributing $75 for the 1st Mental Health Champion for their congregation. Additional Mental Health Champions will be $50. Faith communities can also attend trainings “a la carte” for $35 per training, per person.
How Can I Join FCP or Attend Next Training?
If your faith community has already joined the Partnership and you’re the designated Champion(s), RSVP Here (put link) to let us know you’re coming to the next trainings. Because your faith community is already a partner, the cost is FREE for any and all trainings you will attend.
If you would like to join the Faith Communities Partnership Program, please use the button below to register. The program fee is $75, which includes all the trainings from now until May 2026 for one identified individual (mental health champion) in your the congregation. Additional persons can be added for an additional $50 per champion.
If your faith community has already joined the Partnership but you are not the designated Champion, join as an additional Champion for $50 to attend all or some of the trainings until May 2026.
If you are not interested in joining the FCP Program but would like to attend some of the training seminars, you may do so at $35 per seminar per person. Click below to sign up for “a la carte” trainings.
If you are interested in joining but have cost or other concerns, please reach out to Irma Do.
FCP Seminars
May: Introduction to the Faith Community Partnership Breakfast
1. Who We Are
2. Scope of Mental Health Issues
3. Resource Sharing
If you attended the breakfast, please take the time to complete our survey by clicking the button below.
June: Introduction to Mental Health Ministries (MHM)
Speaker: Donna Nebitinksy, Pastoral Associate at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton, Mechanicsburg
1. Why Start a Mental Health Ministry?
2. How to Start a Ministry (Components of a MHM)
3. If you already have a ministry, breakout session to discuss what is working and brainstorming ideas to address what isn’t
Hosted by Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church
July: Training – Question, Persuade, Refer (QPR) Certification
Hosted by St. James Catholic Church
August: Introduction to Spiritual Support Groups
1. Holy Listening (not therapy)
2. Power of Prayer
3. When Prayer Isn’t Enough – How to Know When to Refer
4. Addressing Religious Trauma
Hosted over Zoom
September: Training – Mental Health 1st Aid Certificate
We are looking for a Faith Community to host this training.
October: Youth and Mental Health
Hosted by Lititz Moravian Church
November: Training – Self-Care and Compassion Fatigue
Hosted by St. John’s Episcopal Church
December: Next Steps – The Plans He Has for Us
1. Review of program and next steps for 2026!
Host Location TBD
How to Get Connected?
If you or your faith community is interested in partnering with us, please reach out to our Program Coordinator for this project, Irma Do.
FCP in the News!
CLICK HERE to view our article in the Merchandiser to learn more about this program!
This program is made possible through a grant from the LCM Legacy Foundation.
Thank you LMC!
