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LUTHERAN
FAITH COMMUNITY NURSE ASSOCIATION

(LFCNA)


Welcome to Region 8!

Region 8 Includes: 

Northwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Southwestern Pennsylvania Synod, Allegheny Synod, Lower Susquehanna Synod, Upper Susquehanna Synod, Delaware-Maryland Synod, Metropolitan Washington D.C. Synod, and West Virginia-Western Maryland Synod

Region 8 Calendar

         Ruth G. Manchester, Silver Spring, MD



Marilee Tollefson, Rockville, MD



Margie Kay, Timonium, MD

Welcome to the LFCNA Region 8 web page.
Allow us to introduce ourselves.


If you have news to share from your Synod or Network, let us know so we can post.

Ruth Manchester originally hails from Minnesota, and after taking her nurses training at Methodist-Kahler School of Nursing in Rochester, MN and obtaining a BSN at the University of Minnesota, she then moved to the Washington, DC area. She has been a paid Parish Nurse at Saint Luke Lutheran Church in Silver Spring, MD for the past 23 years. In this capacity, she is in charge of Caring Ministries, Social Ministry, and the one-to-one caring that a Parish Nurse does. She has an MA in art history from the University of Maryland, so combines her love of art with Parish Nursing. She is wife to Paul, mom to Sarah and Dan and “Grandma” to Raina, Alden, Evan, and Aaron. She serves on the LFCNA Membership and Outreach Committees.

Marilee Tollefson is from South Dakota, has a BSN from St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN, during which time she joined the Army Student Nurse Program, and was on active duty for 23 years. During that time she earned her MSN from the University of Colorado, and upon retirement from the Army Nurse Corps, worked at Children’s Hospital National Medical Center in Washington, DC. She is currently paid staff faith community nurse at Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD for the past 25 years, coordinating care teams, serving as staff liaison to Social Ministry, and supporting many volunteers on the Health and Wellness Teams.  Marilee is married to Luther, has two daughters, Sara and Mari Liv and is “Mimi” to Lauren, Eric, and Emery. She serves on the Membership, Outreach, and Grants Committees for the organization. 

Margie Kay received her AA Nursing Degree in 1975 from Montgomery College. Upon graduation she participated in a Nursing Internship at the University of Alabama Medical Center In Birmingham Alabama. In 1994 she became a Board Certified Lactation Consultant (IBCLC) and in 1996, completed the Certification Course to become a Faith Community Nurse. Most of Margie's Nursing career has been focused on Maternal/Child and Community Education which was hospital based here in the Baltimore area.

She has served as a volunteer Faith Community Nurse at three congregations, and currently serves as the chair of the Health Ministry Team and Congregation Care Committee for St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Lutherville, Maryland. For several years she was an instructor for Faith Community Nurse course at Franklin Square Medical Center. Margie has been an member of LFCNA for several years and is a member of the Education Committee. Besides active ministry at her home church, she also volunteers weekly at her neighborhood elementary school providing clerical support for the 3rd and 5th grade faculty.

All three Parish/Faith Community Nurses were members of the Holy Cross Hospital network of Faith Community Nurses, which is in transition.

A Message from Secretary Roques

As we welcome spring, I hope you're enjoying the warmer temperatures, extended sunlight, and new blossoms as much as I am. While winter is a season of introspection and reflection, spring is a time of new growth, fresh starts, and excitement about the possibilities ahead.

We at the Department of Aging are excited about the future as we cultivate new growth through Longevity Ready Maryland, or LRM, our multisector plan for aging that will improve Maryland’s aging infrastructure to accommodate a growing population of older adults and help Maryland communities thrive in the years to come.

When Governor Wes Moore signed the LRM Executive Order earlier this year, he planted the seed for how our state will meet the twenty-first century needs of our rapidly changing demographic. I encourage you to read more below about LRM and our support for a similar national initiative being proposed under the Older Americans Act.

Before closing out, I want to extend my heartfelt condolences on behalf of the department to the families and friends of the six individuals lost during the cataclysmic collapse of the Francis Scott Key Bridge in Baltimore. I also want to recognize the brave emergency response teams and express our gratitude for their dedication and ongoing response to the Key Bridge incident.

As we begin the long and complicated recovery, I am reminded of the strength and resilience of Marylanders and our ability to come together in times of crisis. The department has reached out to our Area Agencies on Aging who provide direct services across the state to ensure older adults and caregivers are able to receive the support and services they need during this difficult time. We will keep the lines of communication open and continue to monitor the situation for the foreseeable future.


Bereavement Support

For those who are grieving the death of a loved one, the Holy Cross Bereavement Program offers a nine-week grief support program  and drop-in grief group  are available through Holy Cross Health in Silver Spring, MD.  Spanish language groups are also offered.  For more information, contact the Bereavement Center at 301-754-7742 or bereavementcenter@holycrosshealth.org


Hope Connections for Cancer

You're not alone.
At Hope Connections for Cancer Support, you will find a community of support for all people affected by cancer.  
https://hopeconnectionsforcancer.org

Maryland NursesDear Licensee/Certificate Holder. During the 2021 legislative session, the Maryland General Assembly passed a new law that goes into effect on April 1, 2022, requiring all renewing licensees and certificate holders to complete an implicit bias training program approved by the Cultural and Linguistic Health Care Professional Competency Program. All licensees and certificate holders scheduled to renew their license or certification in 2022 must complete one course of the program before applying for renewal. This is a one-time requirement. The law may be accessed here: https://health.maryland.gov/mhhd/Pages/Implicit-Bias-Resources.aspx

Click here for the list of approved program courses

Best Regards,

Karen Evans, MSN RN-BC, SD-CLTC

Executive Director

Maryland Board of Nursing

Maryland Board of Nursing


NAMI Montgomery County, Maryland


Link to support group information:  https://namimc.org/support-and-education/support-groups/ 



Workshops and Educational Programs 

The Conversation Project

Now is the time.

The COVID-19 pandemic has clearly demonstrated how quickly one’s health can unexpectantly become a crisis. While unexpected circumstances are not always avoidable, addressing critical healthcare planning and decision-making in the middle of a health crisis is avoidable. This is so important that every April 16 is the designated Annual National Healthcare Decisions Day(NHDD). It is devoted to the importance of planning and telling loved ones and healthcare providers your wishes regarding healthcare decisions.

To help you and others consider options and begin conversations, visit the The Conversation Project. Download the free conversation guides here

Getting Started Guide for Faith Communities has recently been updated! This guide is filled with examples of how various faith communities are encouraging their faith members to have conversations about care wishes and what matters most.

Also, for pertinent cultural and religious traditions refer to this list of 14 Faith-Based Books on Living and Dying Well.

Highlighting Community Partners

Lock and TALK Virginia provides services and materials designed to promote safe and responsible care of guns, medication, and other lethal means.  www.lockandtalk.org

Mental Health First Aid USA is a skills-based training course that teaches participants about mental health and substance-use issues.   www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org

Resources

Cornerstone Montgomery ACT and Crisis Houses:  https://www.cornerstonemontgomery.org/
Cornerstone Montgomery is an independent, nonsectarian, nonprofit 501(c)3 organization with the capacity to serve more than 2,500 adults and transition aged youth.  We specialize in the provision of comprehensive, community- and evidence-based mental health and co-occurring mental health and substance use disorder treatments and interventions.

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CaringMatters (founded as Hospice Caring in 1989) serves children, adults and families facing serious illness and grieving the death of a loved one. CaringMatters also increases community awareness and advocacy about end-of-life concerns, advance care planning and grief. CaringMatters serves the culturally and economically diverse residents of Montgomery County, Maryland.

All services are delivered free-of-charge; none are covered by Medicare or other public or private insurances. A mix of individual and business donors, foundations and government supports CaringMatters.

Services include Hospice support, grief support groups, community education and more.  Click here for more information.   

  

Living Well Self-management Workshop

Join this FREE virtual six-week workshop to help you improve your overall health and well-being.  Discover new ways to break the symptom cycle and make action plans for a healthier, happier you.

You will learn:

  • How to manage long-term health issues
  • Exercises to improve balance, strength and endurance
  • How to eat for better health
  • How to reduce the risk of falls
  • How to deal with difficult emotions
  • How to work more effectively with health care providers

Anyone living with a chronic health condition is welcome to attend this free virtual workshop delivered via Teams. The curriculum is evidence-based and was developed by Stanford University with support from Kaiser Permanente of Northern California. The classes are 2.5 hours, once a week for SIX WEEKS and participants are encouraged to attend ALL SIX SESSIONS.

Day/Dates

Time

Virtual

Register by

Tuesdays, 7/9/24 – 8/13/24

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Teams

7/7/24

Wednesdays, 8/21/24 – 9/25/24

10:00 am – 12:30 pm

Teams

8/19/24

To register for class click on the following link https://www.holycrosshealth.org/health-and-wellness/classes-and-support-groups.  If you prefer, please call (301) 754-8800.  Virtual classes are delivered online via Microsoft Teams.


Diabetes Self-management Workshop

Join this FREE virtual six-week workshop to improve your ability to manage your health and maintain an active and happy life while living with Type 2 Diabetes or Pre-Diabetes. 

You will learn:

  • Ways to manage diabetes symptoms including fatigue, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress, depression, anger, fear and frustration
  • Exercises for maintaining and improving strength and endurance
  • Healthy eating and appropriate use of medication
  • How to improve your sleep
  • Working more effectively with health care providers

Anyone living with diabetes or pre-diabetes is welcome to attend this free online workshop delivered via Teams. Caregivers and family members are also welcome to participate.  The classes are 2.5 hours, once a week for SIX WEEKS and participants are encouraged to attend ALL SIX SESSIONS. 

Day/Dates

Time

Virtual

Register by

7/24/24 – 8/28/24

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Teams

7/22/24

To register for class click on the following link: https://www.holycrosshealth.org/health-and-wellness/classes-and-support-groups.  If you prefer, please call (301) 754-8800.  Virtual classes are delivered online via Microsoft Teams.


  Chronic Pain Self-management Workshop

Join this FREE virtual six-week workshop to get the tools you need to meet health-related goals and learn new ways to manage chronic pain.  Participants who have fibromyalgia, post stroke pain, neuropathic pain, or other causes are welcome to attend the workshop as well as caregivers and family members.

You will learn:

§  Ways to manage the chronic pain symptom cycle
§  The role of the mind and body in chronic pain management
§  How to make an action plan to reduce your pain
§  How to pace your activities
§  How to keep a pain diary for yourself and your healthcare provider
§  How to make better nutrition and exercise choices
§  How to improve communication with your health care team

Participants receive a copy of “Living A Healthy Life with Chronic Pain," 2nd edition which follows the curriculum and provides additional ways to address specific issues. This evidence-based workshop is delivered online via Teams and participants may join with a computer and webcam, or by phone.

Day/Dates

Time

Virtual

Register by

7/2/24 – 8/6/24

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Teams

6/30/24

To register for class click on the following link https://www.holycrosshealth.org/health-and-wellness/classes-and-support-groups.  If you prefer, please call (301) 754-8800.  Virtual classes are delivered online via Microsoft Teams.


Cancer: Thriving and Surviving Workshop

Join this FREE virtual six-week workshop that will give you the tools and real-life skills to build confidence around managing health, staying active, and enjoying life while living with a cancer diagnosis. The phrase “living with cancer” is a lot easier said than done for those faced with life changes due to managing cancer. This evidence-based workshop is here to help participants share their successes and build a common source of support. 

You will learn:

§  Ways to manage symptoms, such as pain, frustration, isolation and poor sleep
§  How to get help when you need it
§  How cancer changes your body
§  How cancer can affect relationships
§  How to make better nutrition and exercise choices
§  How to work with your health care team
§  Effective problem solving
§  Ways to make decisions about treatments and complementary therapies

Participants receive a copy of “Living A Healthy Life With Chronic Conditions,” 5th edition which follows the curriculum and provides additional ways to address specific issues. The workshop is delivered online via Teams and participants may join with a computer and webcam, or by phone.

Day/Dates

Time

Virtual

Register by

Thursdays: 8/22/24 – 9/26/24

1:30 pm – 4:00 pm

Teams

8/20/24

To register for class click on the following link https://www.holycrosshealth.org/health-and-wellness/classes-and-support-groups.  If you prefer, please call (301) 754-8800.  Virtual classes are delivered online via Microsoft Teams.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Margie Kay, Region 8 Board Member hosted this LFCNA display at the Delaware-Maryland Synod Assembly June 7 and 8, 2024.   


Marilee Tollefson, Region 8 Board Member hosted an LFCNA display at a woman's retreat in her congregation,
Lutheran Church of St. Andrew in Silver Spring, MD on June 1, 2024


Last updated: 06/29/24

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