“Liberation, Social Justice and Anti-Racism: How Three Health-Focused Faith-Based Organizations Communicate Their Commitment to Anti-Racism” Open Access

Abstract

Increased media attention to health and racial disparities and to the impact of racism in the United States has highlighted an area of necessary development in public health.  Faith-based organizations (FBOs), including Catholic FBOs, play an important part in the public health space given their reach and impact and have an opportunity to be a leader in anti-racist health-based solutions.  This paper critically analyzes the religious, organizational, strategic and service dimensions of  three health-based FBOs, including Catholic Health Association (St. Louis, MO), Mercy Care (Atlanta, GA) and The Center for Faith and Community Health Transformation (Chicago, IL).  These case studies will also emphasize elements of social justice and anti-racism rooted in Christian theological tradition.  While all three FBOs display aspects of anti-racism and social justice in their organizational approaches, programming and missions, the way and the degree vary.  Catholic Health Association is the most explicit and operates at more of an institutional level, whereas Mercy Care and The Center are less explicit and more focused on individual actions.  These organizations have the platform and theological backing to amplify societal change and convincingly commitment to anti-racist initiatives, and must continue to be leaders in this space.  

Table of Contents

Chapter 1: Introduction…………………………………………………………………………….1

Chapter 2: Background….…………………………………………………………………….......2

Chapter 3: Methodology…………………………………………………………………………...19

Chapter 4: Results and Analysis………………………………………………………………….21

Chapter 5: Discussion……………………………………………………………………………...38

Chapter 6: Conclusion……………………………………………………………………………..50

References……………………………………………………………………………………….......54

About this Master's Thesis

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School	Rollins School of Public Health
Department	Hubert Department of Global Health
Degree	M.P.H.
Submission	Master's Thesis
Language	English
Research Field	Health Sciences, Public Health Religion, General
Keyword	Faith-based Organization Organizational Analysis Social Justice Liberation Theology Anti-racism Public Health
Committee Chair / Thesis Advisor	Blevins, John, Emory University

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