Organizational History and Purpose
New Orleans Faith Health Alliance (NOFHA) was created to fill the need for comprehensive health care among the working uninsured in the Greater New Orleans (GNO) region. Our short-term objective is to operate a primary care health center that serves as a medical home, provides continuity of care, and integrates an array of physical, emotional, and spiritual health services. Our long-term objective is to improve the health status of uninsured workers through the provision of affordable health care and by empowering our members to assume greater responsibility in self-managing their health and wellness.
The New Orleans region has historically ranked among the highest in the nation in the rate of uninsured adults with correspondingly poor health outcomes and high mortality rates among low income and minority populations. Facing even bleaker prospects in the post-Katrina health care environment, Catholic Charities of New Orleans secured grant funding from Baptist Community Ministries to explore the feasibility of replicating a highly successful health delivery model based in Memphis, Tennessee: The Church Health Center. A Community Advisory Panel providing perspectives and expertise from health care, business, community-based services, behavioral health, and religion was convened in early 2007 to explore the feasibility of replication and the adaptation of the Memphis model to meet the specific needs of New Orleans. This effort culminated in the creation of New Orleans Faith Health Alliance (NOFHA), a private, non-profit, tax-exempt corporation in May of 2008. The newly installed Board of Directors undertook a fund solicitation campaign and, in February 2009, NOFHA separated organizationally from Catholic Charities and secured leased space for the health center at the First Grace United Methodist Church located in the Mid-City area of the City on a major public transportation route. Renovation of the space and the hiring of staff commenced in March with plans to begin providing services in the summer of 2009.
NOFHA is spiritually driven but inter-denominational in its orientation. While no one faith tradition dominates, members are supported in drawing upon their personal faith and spiritual orientation as a means of coping with health conditions, establishing an active involvement in the management of their health, and developing an inner sense of hope and wellness.
NOFHA’s commitment to serving only the working uninsured renders the program ineligible for Medicaid or Medicare funding. Member fees (co-pays for office visits) are expected to generate approximately 10% - 15% of the annual operating budget with the balance secured as non-reimbursable charity care through philanthropic donations, grants, and in-kind or material contributions.
NOFHA’s approach is unique in four key areas: an exclusive focus on the working uninsured, the integration of emotional and spiritual health services with physical health care, the marriage of an enrollment/membership design with a physician directed practice model, and a multi-cultural orientation with staffing patterns designed to empower all members, regardless of racial, ethnic, or cultural background in achieving greater success in the self-management of their health and wellness.
