At the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies
Faith
Directory
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Support for Individuals W/
Diabilities
1207 18th Ave. S. Nashville, TN 37212
At the Vanderbilt Institute for Public Policy Studies
Faith Community Initiative
Support for Individuals with Disabilities and their Families
The Child
and Family Policy Center is in the process of identifying potential partners
who would be interested in supporting the development and implementation of
a family-centered community building initiative to improve faith community
support for individuals
with disabilities and their families. This initiative not only proposes to increase the capacity
of the faith community to respond to the complex challenges of overcoming
barriers that isolate individuals with disabilities and their families, but
it also seeks to develop within the community a set of skills and approaches
that can be applied to other efforts to strengthen families and communities.
Providing
supports and services in combination with faith communities is certainly not
a new concept. Many of the challenges
our society faces are addressed in partnership with faith communities and
social programs. As is true in
many communities around the country, Nashville is blessed with examples of
faith organizations supporting and promoting social programs that combat homelessness,
addiction, illiteracy and school failure, domestic violence, and access to
health care. It is therefore
all the more striking when we realize that some of the most vulnerable in
our population, those challenged with disabilities, are often excluded from
the support of a faith community.
This project focuses on helping break down the barriers to full participation in the religious and spiritual life of the community that persons with disabilities and their families face. In addition, addressing this important issue has the potential to be a vehicle for broader change in our community. Disability is a part of the human condition that knows no racial, economic, geographical or cultural boundaries. Identifying the strategies, processes, and mechanisms within the faith community to appropriately support individuals and families challenged by disability can open the door to other collaborative community building partnerships.
Revised 01/06/03
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