Journey to Better Health
Journey to Better Health provides free services to help individuals identify, monitor and manage their health conditions with health screenings and classes and a support care program, the Member Care Support Network. Our goal is to empower members to manage their health and encourage their journey with a network of people who support them.
Select Your Interest Area
For Community MembersMember Care Support Network
The Member Care Support Network offers non-medical support services (e.g. transportation, light housekeeping and companionship) from a Community Companion volunteer, to enrolled individuals who are experiencing a health need such as a hospitalization.
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- Are 65 and older
- Live alone
- Have been recently hospitalized
- Are socially isolated or homebound
- Have multiple chronic conditions (e.g. lung disease, cancer or any other long-term health issues)
- Experience functional impairment
- Feel overwhelmed by recent stressful life events
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- Be 18 years or older
- Live or worship in Howard County
- Have temporary non-medical support needs
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For more information, call 410-740-7601 or email [email protected].
The Member Care Support Network program is a great resource for congregations that wish to expand the services of their care ministries.
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"I learned about Howard County's Member Care Support Network from its Community Care Team. Due to previous health complications, I came to Howard County for two surgeries. While at the hospital, I learned I qualified for free at-home health care assistance from CCT.The team noticed I needed additional help with day-to-day tasks I couldn’t perform because of my health. I’m fairly new to Howard County, with no family or close friends nearby. I found out an MCSN volunteer could help me for free.
When Tehani Mundy, MCSN coordinator, visited me to enroll me in the program and understand my needs, she noticed some jewelry I made while I was recovering from my surgeries. Tehani suggested I showcase my jewelry to sell it. She paired me with Dibora Kuma, a volunteer Community Companion knowledgeable about social media. Dibora took photos of my jewelry and showed me how to post them on Instagram. Now, I’m marketing my own jewelry.
Dibora also helped me organize paperwork for my appointments and medical bills, which can be very overwhelming, and with some basic home organizing. She moved belongings that I can’t lift so they are more convenient for me.
Dibora came into my life to help with simple tasks, but the impact she’s had is far greater. I think of her as a friend, an advocate and, thanks to her social media know-how, a business advisor.
When you’ve been independent for most of your life and are accustomed to doing things on your own, it can be hard to recognize when you need help and to ask for it. My condition halted the independent day-to-day life I was used to, and it has been a hard adjustment. Thanks to the MCSN program and its Community Companion volunteers, living with my condition has gotten better."
- Lorna Sampson
For Faith OrganizationsFaith Community Partnerships
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Abiding Savior Lutheran Church
Atholton Seventh Day Adventist Church
Bethany Church
Bethany United Methodist
Bridgeway Community Church
Calvary Lutheran Church
Celebration Church
Christ Episcopal Church
Christ Memorial Presbyterian Church
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Clarksville and Ellicott City)
Church of the Resurrection
Columbia Baptist Fellowship
Columbia Community Church
Ellicott City Assembly of God Church
Ellicott City Seventh-day Adventist Church
First Baptist Church of Guilford
First Evangelical Lutheran Church
Gary Memorial United Methodist Church
Glen Mar United Methodist Church
Hope Bible Church
Jewish Federation of Howard County
Kittamaqundi Community Church
Iglesias De Dios Pentecostal
Locust United Methodist Church
Muslim Family Center
New Hope Adventist Church
North American Division Seventh-day Adventist Church
Oneness Ministries
Saint James United Methodist Church
Savage United Methodist Church
St. John Baptist Church
St. John United Church
St. John the Evangelist Roman Catholic Church
Temple Isaiah
Unitarian Universalist Congregation of Columbia
United Methodist Church of Savage
Unity Baptist ChurchIf you do not see your faith organization listed, learn how your faith organization can start taking advantage of Journey to Better Health.
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"The leadership of St. John Baptist Church is excited about the partnership Journey to Better Health brings to our members. It has become a springboard for encouraging members to remember the body is a temple to be cared for as it is the only one we will ever have.
The blood pressure and pre-diabetes classes are very beneficial; we often hear comments about the excellent instruction participants receive.
The Member Care Support Network is the icing on the cake! It has become a part of our member care support system. One early morning I received a call from a St. Johns Community Companion telling me one of our members was in Howard County's Emergency Room. That call permitted me to provide a timely response in reaching out to the member, who was surprised and appreciative of being contacted while dealing with a medical emergency.
One of the most significant benefits of the Journey to Better Health partnership is that it enhances our ability to minister to members, the goal of every church."
Rev. Ostein B. Truitt
Assistant Pastor, St. John Baptist Church
For Potential VolunteersVolunteer Opportunities
There are many benefits to volunteering – fulfillment from help those in need, training that leads to new skills, discovering local resources and more. If you are 18 or older, you can volunteer with Journey to Better Health and give back to your community.
Select a volunteer position below for descriptions, requirements and application information:
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Community Companions are trained volunteers who provide care support of Member Care Support Network members who are dealing with a health condition.
As a Community Companion, you are paired with a MCSN member based on mutual availability and matching his/her needs with your chosen responsibilities. The supportive tasks you provide are based on your unique experience and comfort level. For example, driving members to doctor visits, calling to check up on them and their needs, social home visits or providing other types of support.
Ideal Community Companion qualities include:
- Following through with commitments
- Respect for privacy
- Possessing an interest in healthy living
- Comfortable with providing compassionate support
- Trusted and accountable character
Requirements & Applying to Volunteer
Before you begin volunteering, you must complete our Community Companion training, which is offered once a month. To get started, complete our online application or call 410-740-7601 or email [email protected].
Additional training and volunteer opportunities are available to Community Companions.
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Journey to Better Health offers free, on-site health screenings throughout the year to help individuals identify and monitor conditions like high blood pressure, pre-diabetes and obesity. Event Support Volunteers provide event set up and on-site registration support, event guidance and language interpretation for attendees at these community health screenings.
Ideal volunteer qualities include:
- Great people skills
- Good communication skills
- Respect for privacy
- Ability to take initiative
- Energetic and cheerful personality
Application and Training
Journey to Better Health staff prepares volunteers on how to manage a health screening station, including event procedures and guidance to attendees.
Complete our online application or call 410-740-7601 or email [email protected].
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Health Educators lead our Living Well workshops, a six-week workshop that focuses on supporting participants to become good self-managers of their health conditions.
Benefits to becoming a trained Living Well Health Educator:
- Enhance your abilities to care for yourself and for loved ones
- Gain experience and certification in delivering a proven effective program that helps people take charge of their health
Qualities:
- Experience with a chronic condition or caring for a loved one with a chronic condition
- Worked with an individual or group of people whose cultural backgrounds differ from yours
- Comfortable with public speaking
- Be at least 18 years of age
Responsibilities:
- Adhere to workshop standards
- Lead at least one workshop per year to maintain certification
Application and Training
Apply online to attend our free training where master trainers prepare you to lead a Living Well workshop. You must attend all training sessions to receive certification and begin leading the workshop. Training is offered on an annual basis.
For more information, call 410-740-7601 or email [email protected].
About Journey to Better Health
Learn how Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s Journey to Better Health program provides those who live or worship in Howard County with resources that help them manage their health and support them in dealing with a health issue.
Faith Community Partners
Learn how Johns Hopkins Howard County Medical Center’s Journey to Better Health program works with Howard County faith organizations to support health and complement care ministries to members who are ill, with health services and care support networks.
