The West Virginia University School of Nursing will receive more than $12,000 in funding from the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation to support Faith Community Nursing efforts in southern West Virginia.
This generous contribution will support two faith community nurses — Tera Dillow in Mercer County and Melissa Coleman in McDowell County — as they work to address the needs of youth in their local communities.
Faith community nurses are registered nurses who integrate spiritual care with clinical practice, working within congregations and communities to promote holistic health and wellness. With this funding, Dillow and Coleman will continue to build trusted relationships and provide grassroots, nurse-led access to care in some of West Virginia’s most underserved areas.
“This support from the Sisters of St. Joseph is a powerful affirmation of the work our nurses are doing in the field,” said Dr. Angel Smothers, Associate Dean for Community Engagement and Director of the Faith Community Nursing Program. “Tera and Melissa are deeply embedded in their communities, and this funding allows them to continue meeting youth where they are — in churches, schools, and neighborhoods — to provide care, education, and hope.”
“The Sisters of St. Joseph have a proud history of healing in West Virginia through our commitment to nursing and healthcare since 1863,” said Beth Collins, Executive Director for the Sisters of St Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation. “We celebrate WVU’s Faith Community Nursing program for carrying that same mission forward by reaching youth with care that touches body, mind, and spirit. This program is shaping a healthier, more hopeful future for our communities.”
The Sisters of St. Joseph join a growing list of foundations across the Mountain State that are investing in the Faith Community Nursing Network, a statewide initiative led by the WVU School of Nursing, to expand access to care through community-based nursing.
These partnerships are helping to build a sustainable model of care that is locally led, spiritually grounded, and deeply responsive to the needs of West Virginians.
At the heart of this initiative is the Foundations of Faith Community Nursing course, a specialized training program that equips nurses with the tools to serve in faith-based and community settings. The course emphasizes spiritual care, health promotion, and community engagement, preparing nurses to be both clinical caregivers and compassionate advocates.
To learn more, visit the WVU School of Nursing’s Faith Community Nursing website or contact Dr. Smothers at asmothers@hsc.wvu.edu.
Donations like the ones from the Sisters of St. Joseph Health and Wellness Foundation are awarded via the WVU Foundation, the nonprofit organization that receives and administers private donations on behalf of the University.
If you are interested in making a donation to this or any other program at the WVU School of Nursing, please contact Dr. Kimberly Colebank, Development Director, at kcolebank@wvuf.org or 304-554-0237.