BRING YOUR GROUP TO SERVE AT PREDISAN!

In 2009, 189 volunteers served at Predisan. Because of political unrest and a travel alert by the U.S. Department of State, eight groups totallling about 100 volunteers had to cancel their trips in 2009. Now in 2010, the travel alert has been completely lifted, and the group trips are in full swing again.

Most of Predisan's volunteers come in groups — medical brigades, evangelistic and puppet teams, construction teams, service teams, engineering teams and student groups. The work of these volunteers is a vital part of Predisan's work, and the groups who travel to Catacamas bring much to give, yet get much in return.

HOW to GET STARTED:

1) READ the material below about group opportunities

2) E-MAIL Kyle Huhtanen, director of international relations, about your interest in serving at Predisan or bringing a group: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

WANT TO SEE WHAT'S PLANNED NOW?
CLICK HERE for our CALENDAR of Trips and Activities in 2010

MATERIALS FOR YOUR TRIP TO PREDISAN:

Please download and print the materials below for your group as needed.

If questions, please email Jose Mondragon, groups coordinator: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

MEDICAL BRIGADES:
MATERIALS in PDF or EXCEL format:

• INFORMATION FORM FOR PREDISAN AND U.S. EMBASSY IN HONDURAS (Excel doc)

Group leader completes, e-mails to Predisan
DUE DATE: One month before trip

• MEDICAL BRIGADE HANDBOOK
Everyone needs copy - Includes important contact information for families

• MEDICAL/LIABILITY RELEASE
Everyone must complete, have notarized, give to group leader
(NOTE: Minors have different form, below)
DUE DATE: One month before trip

• GUIDELINES FOR VISITING PHYSICIANS
All physicians must complete and give to group leader
DUE DATE: At least one month before trip

• MEDICAL CREDENTIALS: Please see MEDICAL BRIGADE HANDBOOK for required credentials and due dates

SERVICE GROUPS:
MATERIALS in PDF or EXCEL format:

• INFORMATION FORM FOR PREDISAN AND U.S. EMBASSY IN HONDURAS (Excel doc)

Group leader completes, emails to Predisan 
DUE DATE: One month before trip

• SERVICE TEAM HANDBOOK
Everyone needs copy - Includes important contact information for families

• MEDICAL/LIABILITY RELEASE
Everyone must complete, have notarized, give to group leader
(NOTE: Minors have different form, below)
DUE DATE: One month before trip

FOR MINORS IN ALL GROUPS:

RELEASE IN PDF format: (Parents MUST complete)

 • MINORS: Medical Release and Liability Release

HOW TO FIND YOUR PLACE OR YOUR GROUP'S PLACE AT PREDISAN

Predisan is a Christian organization participating in the mission of taking the message of salvation and hope to all people. Our work is focused on helping the people we serve achieve holistic health – for the mind, body and spirit – in their lives. With more than 75 Honduran followers of Christ on our staff, Predisan is equipped with a trained team for reaching out daily to those in need. Yet, as in all organizations, resources are limited and there are many needs that cannot be addressed.

Predisan invites groups and volunteers to use their talents and gifts to bring help and hope to Honduras. All people in all places are on the journey to holistic health, and Predisan can serve as a channel to strengthen the lives of visitors and of those visited by sharing friendship, words and deeds.

Predisan serves in three multi-faceted programs: The Good Samaritan Clinic, CEREPA addiction treatment center, and the Healthy Communities Program.

All our efforts are encompassed in our Spiritual Development Program to bring the name and hope of Jesus to all those we serve. All our programs are explained on this Web site, so please investigate our site to learn more about our work. Please take time to understand the outreach of each of these programs and according to your passions, talents and experiences, select an area of involvement for you or your group.

SPECIFIC WAYS YOU OR YOUR GROUP CAN HELP:


FIRST: THE GOOD SAMARITAN CLINIC

Surgical Brigades: Many of Predisan's patients are in urgent need of abdominal or gynecological surgeries. Gallstones and hernias are frequently diagnosed. Many women require gynecological repair after frequent pregnancies. Many of our patients are awaiting the opportunity to have surgery. We have many more patients needing surgery than surgical brigades to serve them.

Predisan welcomes groups to perform surgeries and work alongside Predisan’s staff – chaplains, doctors and nurses – in attending patients and their families. Surgical brigades offer an opportunity to reach out to families and stand with them in a moment when they feel a high level of vulnerability.

Catacamas Neighborhood Health Liasions: The Good Samaritan Clinic works outside the walls of its facility in the neighborhoods of Catacamas, a city of 40,000 people. Its outlying neighborhoods have many who need primary health care. Our staff works with local community members — training them to monitor and refer members of their neighborhoods. These volunteers need ongoing training and orientation to perform this task effectively. Predisan invites volunteers who have experience in this area and the desire to work with our outlying barrios and a network of local volunteers.

Staff Medical Training in Women’s Health: Women’s health care is one of the most widely-known services of the Good Samaritan Clinic, and it includes ultrasound capabilities and periodic visits by gynecologists from Tegucigalpa. Our staff members in women’s health need additional training and experience to better serve patients. Predisan invites visitors who work in women’s health to participate in training our personnel and assisting patients in this area.

Staff Medical Training in Medical Specialties: Many medical specialties are not available at the Good Samaritan Clinic or in Catacamas. Our staff members in primary care welcome and can benefit from consultation with visiting specialists in areas including dermatology, optometry, cardiology, internal medicine, neurology, and nephrology.

Staff Medical Training in Metabolic Syndrome: Predisan has a young preventive health program, PAP, the Program of Preventive Activities. This initiative works on the care and prevention of metabolic syndrome, a group of disorders including diabetes and high cholesterol. The program has had some positive early results, and the clinic continues to train personnel and cultivate an awareness of the need for preventive activities. Predisan invites visitors with experience in this area to train personnel to work with self-help groups and in prevention activities involving metabolic syndrome. Would this be something a doctor or doctors would do as part of a short-term trip?

Staff Training in Conflict Management, Psychiatry, Counseling, Recreation Therapy: Help is needed with training, counseling, and work relating to the therapeutic process, such as with:
• Conflict Management: How to handle this need among our patients and how to teach conflict management practices to patients and their families.
• Psychiatric Needs: How to identify and refer patients in need of psychiatric attention.
• Self Esteem and Motivation: How to help our patients and staff grow in this regard.
• Recreational Therapy: How to develop recreational activities that enhance the therapeutic processes in patients suffering from addiction.

Predisan invites volunteers with experience in these areas to work in training CEREPA personnel.

Group construction projects at CEREPA: The facilities at CEREPA are almost 20 years old. Through the help of many donors, Predisan has been able to make some much-needed repairs, however, more help is needed. CEREPA is preparing for a growing demand for care. The following are possible projects for 2010:

• Installing a suspended ceiling in dormitories and offices
• Building a nursing station
• Remodeling facilities to accommodate additional patients in the observation and overnight nurse areas.
• Building picnic shelters on the grounds to accommodate visiting families and to better use the grounds of the facility.

Predisan invites groups or individuals with construction experience to work independently or to join local construction workers on these projects. Details of the cost of these projects are available. Some budget funds are available for some projects. Please contact us for more information.

Partner with a Mountain Community: Predisan needs the help of groups to partner with rural communities in meeting basic needs and helping prevent sickness and disease. Three kinds of projects focus on solving basic needs:

• Building latrines, which provides sanitation and contributes to a clean water supply
• Working on water project construction to provide local water systems for drinkable water, the foundation of public health
• Working on graywater management to provide proper storage, drainage, and diversion of graywater from washing and bathing

Community partnerships provide an opportunity to collaborate with local residents, and build a partnership of work, love and shared experience. Some local materials and labor are provided by community members. Predisan facilitates these projects by helping with organization, education and promotion. Visiting groups are asked to provide some financial resources, and these arrangements are made on a project by project basis.

Medical Training in Women’s Health for Mountain Staff: Additional training of Predisan’s rural and mountain nursing staff is needed to help them detect prenatal and postnatal concerns and complications. This ongoing training also includes the instruction of midwives and health volunteers in the 51 mountain communities.

Training of Staff and Community Members in Early Childhood: Predisan’s efforts in early childhood intervention need the work of volunteers to train personnel and community members in early childhood development techniques and methods.

Training of Community Members in Conflict Resolution: The mountain communities are in great need of help in dealing with conflicts between families and between family members within the home. The presentation of methods that cultivate dialogue and clear communication of emotions is much needed.

Training in Waste Management and Development of School and Home Gardens: A great need exists for training in appropriate technologies for the treatment of water and waste, in the use of compost in gardens, and in the cultivation of year-round vegetable gardens for schools and homes. Teaching of appropriate methods and about models for the pilot projects is much needed.

Predisan invites groups and volunteers with experience in any of these areas to contact us about serving in the mountains.

In an effort to shine light to dark corners, many methods and strategies are incorporated by groups to share and nurture spiritual growth. The use of puppet shows, dramas, praise teams and spiritual growth seminars all contribute to the impact of Predisan's work. Spiritual outreach activities are often integrated into a group's work in the mountain communities and with Predisan's patients.