The Catholic health ministry serves our communities by healing the sick, serving the poor and vulnerable and leading by example. Inspired by our faith and values, the Catholic health ministry has formed a partnership with sponsors, systems, facilities and with experts in environmental responsibility to reduce the environmental burden of the health care we provide.

We are committed:

• As health professionals, to "first, do no harm."
• As Catholic ministries, to care for the sick and vulnerable, the unborn and all of creation.
• As neighbors, to act in the best interest of our communities.

Environment in the News

• CHA Joins Catholic Leaders in Expressing Disappointment with Paris Agreement Withdrawal (June 1, 2017)
• U.S. Bishops Chairman Regrets The President’s Withdrawal From The Paris Agreement (June 1, 2017)
• Leading U.S. Health Care Systems Remain Committed to Paris Agreement Goals (05/24/17)
• The Faith Community & Climate Change - A Q&A with Dan Misleh (April 27, 2017)
• The Hill – Blog – Climate Change Raises Stakes for Affordable Health Care (Jan. 27, 2017)
• Mercy Celebrates Pope's Proposal to Add 'Care for Our Common Home' to Works of Mercy (Sept. 1, 2016)
• Vatican marks ‘Laudato Si” anniversary with new website (June 21, 2016)
• Sisters band together on billboard campaign to bring pope's environmental message to Iowa caucus (July 29, 2015) 
• CHA with others signs on to Principles for Appropriate Livestock and Poultry Antibiotic Use (July 15, 2015)
• Joint Letter on the Chemical Safety Act (March 17, 2015)

Earth Day Resources

On April 22, the world celebrates Earth Day. To help those who serve in Catholic health ministry make meaning of the connection between the environment, our health and our ministry's commitment to faithfully heal the earth, CHA offers resources for your use.

2017 Earth Day Resources:

• CHA Earth Day 2017 Video Reflection
• Prayer
• Earth Day Reflection Card This 8.5" x 4" card features a quote from Pope Francis on the front side and offers an A to Z listing of things every person can do to help care for creation on the backside. (The card is no cost and includes complimentary shipping).
• Catholic Social Teaching and Climate Change
• Catholic Climate Covenant 2017 Earth Day program

2016 Earth Day Resources:

• Video: That All May Flourish – A Meditation for Earth Day. This video (3:08) includes vivid photos and a moving meditative text that will walk viewers through a reflection on our call to be good stewards of God’s creation.
• Prayer. This hardcopy prayer is a companion piece to the video, That All May Flourish.
• Video: A Reflection on Earth Day. This video (1:34) includes captivating moving imagery of nature interspersed with three timely quotes of Pope Francis from his U.S. and recent Mexico visits.
• Earth Day Reflection Card. Quoting Pope Francis, this card provides an inspiring image as well as a prayer on the backside. It is available for order from CHA. (The card is no cost and includes complimentary shipping).

Healing Communities and the Environment: Opportunities for Community Benefit Programs

This document, published as a discussion draft in Spring 2012, encourages and informs health care organization leaders about ways to engage their organization and communities served around improving community health through environmental improvements. While environmental factors include the physical, social and economic environment in which we live, work and raise families, this document focuses on the physical environment, including the quality of our air, water, food and facility and public energy and chemical polices.

Download a copy
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May-June 2016 Issue of Health Progress

Caring for Creation: Health Care and the Environment

Upcoming Events

	08/30/17	Networking Call (2 p.m. ET, 1 p.m. CT, noon MT, 11 a.m. PT)
	09/12/17	Integrating Environment and Climate Risk in Community Benefit Strategies

Previous webinar recordings
View our calendar of events

What's New in Environmental Stewardship

• Leading U.S. Health Care Systems Remain Committed to Paris Agreement Goals (05/24/17)
• Catholic Climate Covenant Statement — Protecting Our Common Home, Promoting the Common Good: Trump’s Executive Order Fails at Both (03/28/17)
• Climate Change and Health in the U.S. — Catholic Health Initiatives
• Health Care Without Harm releases new short film, "Do No Harm"
• U.S. Global Change Research Program's (USGCRP) Climate and Health Assessment, The Impacts of Climate Change on Human Health in the United States
• Sisters band together on billboard campaign to bring pope's environmental message to Iowa caucus
• CHA with others signs on to Principles for Appropriate Livestock and Poultry Antibiotic Use
• President Obama, others link climate change to public health (April 8, 2015)
• Climate Change: An Issue of Concern to the Church, Pope Francis and Catholic Health Care (recorded 02/18/15)
  View the PowerPoint slides

Recommended

• Feast of St. Francis Resources
• Climate Change and Health: Is There A Role For The Health Care Sector?
• Environmental Responsibility Resources
• Networking Conference Calls
• Connecting Health Care With Public & Environmental Health
• Environment Resources in the CHA Store

CHA Supports New Efforts to Curb CO2 Emissions

Read the statement by Sr. Carol Keehan, President and Chief Executive Officer, on the release of EPA rules on CO2 emissions

APHA Webinar

Environmental Health and Community Health Benefits: Moving Upstream to Prevent Harm (May 27, 2014)

During a May webinar offered by the American Public Health Association, CHA's Julie Trocchio, senior director for community benefit and continuing care, dispelled myths, highlighted opportunities and shared some initial lessons learned in the first round of Community Health Needs Assessments completed by Catholic Health Association hospitals. Part of the Affordable Care Act, these assessments provide new opportunities for the public health community and clinical care community to collaborate for improved environmental health outcomes.

2016 Feast of St. Francis Resources

• Feast of St. Francis Video

• Feast of St. Francis Prayer Service — PDF | Word

• Climate Change and Health – Webinar for the Feast of St. Francis (Sept. 30, 2016)

• Catholic Climate Coalition materials