International Outreach

Inspired by Gospel teachings to "love thy neighbor as thyself," the Catholic health ministry has served people of all ages, races and backgrounds for centuries in missions, clinics and hospitals worldwide. CHA's international outreach supports members, partnering organizations and the church in a global mission of healing through research, education, consultation and collaboration.

Our goal is to foster the development of best practices and expansion of international initiatives that create effective, sustainable programs which reduce human suffering and improve health outcomes.

• Serve as a forum for CHA members and partnering organizations to share information, knowledge and best practices.
• Provide resources and education about needs and opportunities in global health.
• Offer opportunities for CHA members to work collaboratively and engage in dialogue.
• Serve as a clearinghouse for resources and information.
• Research ways to optimize medical supply and recovery activities to best serve the needs of recipients, enhance stewardship of resources and promote environmental responsibility.
• Establish relationships with partner organizations.
• Create a database of member ministries and activities.
• Advocate for the ministry's international outreach with government, industry, foundations and other external groups.
• Collaborate with the church, Catholic Relief Services and other groups to advance the church's mission of healing.
• Alleviate suffering and strengthen health systems in developing countries.

To learn more about this initiative, available resources or what your organization can do to help, contact Bruce Compton.

Bruce Compton Senior Director, International Outreach (314) 253-3476 bcompton@chausa.org Biography

International Outreach News

• Sisters Release Video about Ministry in South Africa
• Carolyn Woo is Introduced as the New President of Catholic Relief Services
• Scratching the Surface: Healthy Surplus Equipment Donation (Health Care Design, Oct. 17, 2011)
• USCCB, CRS again urge Catholics to lobby on behalf of international poverty aid
• Health and HIV Global Strategy (.pdf)

Articles from Catholic Health World

• Providence determined to grow ranks of its international volunteers, October 15, 2011
• CHA convenes ministry's first global health care summit, July 1, 2011
• Ministry champions campaign to rebuild Catholic health care in Haiti, April 15, 2011

Articles from Health Progress

• January-February 2012 — Thinking Globally: Help for Haitians Starts with Learning
  
• November-December 2011 — Thinking Globally: Update on CHA's Global Outreach, Bruce Compton
• September-October 2011 — Sponsor Formation: Ireland Adopts U.S. Model, Sr. Mary Haddad, RSM, M.S.W., M.B.A.
• July-August 2011 — Harnessing U.S. Health Care in Service to Haiti, Bruce Compton
• July-August 2010 — Medical Ethics Zimbabwe-Style, Fr. Thomas Nairn, OFM, Ph.D.
• July-August 2010 — A Parish Nurse Works with Refugees from Burundi 'God Brought Africa to Me', Mary Beth Basch, B.S.N., RN
• May-June 2010 — Docs On a Mission: Residents Take Family Medicine to Foreign Lands, Patricia Corrigan
• March-April 2010 — Mission Group Pours Medical Supplies into Haiti, Mark Crawford

Upcoming Events

• Networking Conference Calls
  • 05/02/12
  • 08/01/12
  • 11/07/12

• 03/07/12 — International Outreach Webinar
  Miss the Dec. 7 webinar? CHA members can view the recording of the event in the Learning Center. Nonmembers can purchase a recording of the event in the online store.
  
• 06/05/12 — 2012 Global Summit
  

International Outreach Online Community

Join CHA's International Outreach Groupsite to gain the latest information and connect with others in this ministry.

CHA Medical Surplus Donation Study

This report presents findings from a research study CHA initiated in 2010 to study how member organizations could alleviate human suffering in the developing world through a responsible medical surplus donation program. The study also examined medical supply and recovery organizations(MSROs) that collect and distribute surplus and developed preliminary guidelines for working effectively with these organizations.

> CHA Medical Surplus Donation Study (.pdf)

Resources

Check out all of CHA's resources related to International Outreach, including those from past CHA-sponsored events, as well as tools from and links to resources offered by partner and other organizations.