Developing Community Health and Cohesion through Diversity: an evidence synthesis for faith based agencies

Introduction: In accordance with the leadership provided by World Health Organisation annual reports national policies for public health improvements have looked to increasingly to utilize community assets and away from a predominantly clinical orientation. Fundamental to this policy shift is the notion of more integrated communities willing to outreach their resources.
Aim: This chapter examines the relationship of increasing socio-demographic and organizational diversity to community health development. The particular focus is the contribution of faith-oriented agencies to the processes of community cohesion required to underpin public health improvements.
Context: The background is of rapid growth in the number of economic migrants and political refugees, their mobility, and the impact on formal healthcare services seeking to constrain demand. Globally, there is recognized to be a need to extend informal and non-statutory interventions, which promote public health.
Methodology: A narrative evidence synthesis was undertaken drawing on research literature and policy documents. Themes emerging were then applied as criteria to elicit key messages from a series of local case studies and service evaluations. The synthesis was undertaken in response to the following two research questions:
‘(How) can spiritual actors and agencies promote relational integration in both new communities and those with rapidly increasing cultural and demographic diversity?’ and
‘Which models of wellbeing practice are most appropriate for faith based contributions to community health development in settings with such (increasing cultural and demographic) diversity?’
Findings: The evidence synthesis confirms the potential benefits of and for spiritual agencies especially in respect of creating communities with identities built on more open communication systems and socially interactive networks. Some risks of division are highlighted. A narrative topic summary is offered.
Conclusion: The topic summary is used to scope a future research agenda in which the profiling of different relationship networks and their development processes is indicated as a priority.