Can we get an AMEN?
For the past seven years, that’s exactly what Austin residents have gotten through Advancing Mental and Emotional Nourishment (AMEN), a program launched by the School of Nursing and financially supported by Austin Public Health.
The program partners AMEN with two local faith-based organizations to provide mental health awareness in addition to vaccinations and blood tests, said Shalonda Horton, PhD, RN, who serves as program director.
“It’s been beautiful to see people being brave when they say they are struggling with mental health issues,” Horton said. “Just because someone struggles doesn’t mean their faith is weak.”
Horton – who leads the program with project manager Tiffany Ewere -- said many people face barriers to getting the mental health care they need, such as income or accessibility. AMEN seeks to bridge that gap. The program also gives School of Nursing students valuable hands-on experience in faith-based community settings working with patients and tending to their needs.
That’s especially true with the physical part of the program, which includes administering vaccines and taking blood samples.
“What I think stands out is the testing and the way we did blood draws,” said Elizabeth White, a School of Nursing student from Raleigh, NC. “We saw how beneficial it can be for society. It’s pretty cool to see it come full circle.”
White added that in addition to the practical nursing experience she gained, she also learned about segments of the community she may not have interacted with before.
“You learn about different populations, the things we have in common,” she said. “We learned how to serve them and advocate for them.”
“It was a better way to practice blood draws and give flu shots,” added Yuna Lee, a School of Nursing student from Katy. “We were able to bring healthcare services to people who were already going to church and alleviate their concerns about getting shots.”
Education is a major part of AMEN’s goals, Horton said. When the nurses draw blood, they’ll give the patients information about results like blood-sugar levels and teach them about illnesses such as diabetes. AMEN has created informational materials like bookmarks that have information about diabetes, high blood pressure, and other conditions faced by members of the community.
Kiounis Williams, a community health worker with AMEN since the beginning, said the faith-based component at the Mount Zion and Rehoboth Baptist churches where the program is held is a key factor in serving the community.
Programs like this can be a trusted resource for community members facing difficult circumstances, Williams said, “But people of faith like to use faith-based programs. We’re transitioning to physical health and fitness and showing them that movement is medicine. There’s a community impact because it is a resource in faith backed by UT. That gives it a lot of credibility.”
UT nursing students have been playing a vital role in advancing community health and wellness at the St John Faith Community Garden under the leadership of Angela Robertson-Bigham as a health professional with the AMEN Program and director of the garden.
Through this partnership, nursing students have the opportunity to engage directly with community members in a welcoming, supportive environment. They provide blood pressure screenings, educate individuals about understanding and managing their blood pressure, and offer guidance on other health-related questions and concerns. These interactions promote health awareness, encourage preventive care, and help community members become more informed and empowered to make decisions about their well-being.
In addition to the churches, AMEN provides programming in various locations all over the city, such as at Austin Public Libraries. As well as focusing on an individual’s health, Horton said, AMEN offers programs that are beneficial to the community, such as classes on CPR, AEDs and healthy eating.
During COVID-19, AMEN helped distribute vaccines to the public at a time when many people were still wary of them, Horton said.
“We were partners with the community,” she said. “People wanted to get their vaccine from the School of Nursing. Trust is huge.”
The AMEN team is grateful for the additional year of renewed funding, to continue serving alongside the community.
To learn more about the AMEN program at The University of Texas at Austin School of Nursing, visit the AMEN website.