Faith Community Resources
Where love and social services meet
Because people of faith recognize the intrinsic value of each person, you play an integral role in improving the lives of the congregants and communities you serve.
As you offer prayers, comfort and social connection for your members, you also become aware of physical and mental health needs in your congregation. In essence, you are first responders.
That makes you a natural ally in CICOA’s service to older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers. Many in this population are isolated and forgotten. Many struggle with chronic conditions, food insecurity, transportation, home accessibility and other basic needs. Many don’t know that help is available.
CICOA is looking for partners to help us address health disparities resulting from the social determinants of health—the conditions in which people are born, grow, work, live and age.
Together—with your love and CICOA’s wraparound social services—we can reduce these disparities and improve access to care for our most vulnerable neighbors.
How CICOA Can Help You Assist Others
As the state’s largest Area Agency on Aging, CICOA’s mission is to empower older adults, those of any age with a disability and family caregivers to achieve the greatest possible independence, dignity and quality of life. CICOA does this by connecting people seeking help for themselves or a loved one with community resources and services to help them remain comfortably and safely at home and out of institutional care. Through a network of agencies, service groups and volunteers, CICOA provides:
And much more!
CICOA Services for Faith Communities
Educational Workshops
CICOA offers speakers on a variety of topics including community resources for older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers; long term care options; fall prevention; end-of-life issues; Medicare/Medicaid questions and more.
Become a Dementia Friend
CICOA offers a one-hour educational session to help staff, congregants and the community better understand how dementia affects individuals and their families. The session also opens a dialog about small steps you can take to reduce stigma and help people impacted by dementia to feel more welcomed and included in your faith community.
CICOA Solutions Guide
A guide to Central Indiana community-based resources to help seniors and people with disabilities live with independence and out of institutional care.
In-Home Care Referrals
CICOA's Aging & Disability Resource Center connects your members to services and community resources. Call (317) 803-6131 or submit a referral online.
Caregiver Supports
CareAware is CICOA’s family caregiver support program that provides one-to-one support for caregivers. The goal of this outreach is to improve stress management and decision making and to reduce caregiver burnout.
When you need the Senior Scoop on issues affecting older adults, listen to Radio Next – All Community All the Time! CICOA's Faith Partnership Coordinator is a guest on the show with host Harold "HB" Bell on the second Saturday of every month at 9:00 a.m.
Please contact CICOA's Faith Partnership Coordinator to see how we may assist you and connect the older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers in your faith community to the services and resources to help them live safely at home.
Call (317) 803-6283
How You Can Support CICOA
There are many ways for you to be involved in CICOA’s mission. Your gifts of time, sponsorship or tax-deductible donations all make a significant impact in addressing the physical, mental, social and environmental needs of older adults, people with disabilities and family caregivers. We are grateful for all who make this work possible!
Volunteer
Want to do some fun team building work while making a difference? CICOA partners with congregations to provide individual or group volunteer projects, including telephone reassurance, friendly visiting, yard clean up or home repair projects.
Donate
Congregations can support the ongoing work through special event sponsorships, designated client assistance collections, and even the mission budget.
- Special events include the Faith Summit, the Safe at Home Day of Service, 18 Holes of Hope golf outing and other opportunities throughout the year.
- Dedicate a collection to provide vital client assistance, including meals, transportation, home safety modifications and personal emergency response systems.
Educate
CICOA seeks faith community liaisons that will help us identify and connect vulnerable community members with needed services and provide educational opportunities within the congregation.
Postbook
In 2022, CICOA launched Postbook, an intergenerational postcard exchange and keepsake journal designed to reduce social isolation by connecting older adults with children through the lost art of letter writing. The kit includes two journals filled with postcards, writing prompts and pockets to store exchanged postcards. This would make a great activity to connect students with older adults in your congregation!
For more information about any of these opportunities, contact CICOA's Faith Partnership Coordinator.
(317) 803-6283
faith@cicoa.org
Join Us! CICOA's Annual Faith Summit
The Faith Summit is an annual event sponsored by CICOA that brings together faith community leaders and volunteers, providers and community stakeholders for a half-day session. The Summit provides an open discussion format about issues facing older adults. During each session, participants can listen to panelists, ask questions, and have small group discussions around actions they can take to better address these needs.
Central Indiana Community Resources
For Faith-based Communities Serving Older Adults, People with Disabilities and Family Caregivers
As CICOA learns of community events and educational opportunities that may be of interest to faith-based organizations, we will update the list below.
Research
Visit the Research page for open research studies and surveys that may be applicable to older members or caregivers in your faith community. Some studies provide compensation.
Community Events
CICOA Faith Summit
Thursday, Nov. 9 at 9 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Biltwell Event Center
Join us for a half-day session about issues facing older adults. More info »
Education
Radio Next featuring CICOA
2nd Saturday every month at 9:00 a.m.
Stream online
Alzheimer's Association of Greater Indiana
Dementia Friends Indiana
Indiana Alzheimer's Disease Research Center
Food Assistance
Indiana Food Assistance Availability Map
CICOA Meals for Seniors - home-delivered meals can begin within 48 hours of calling
Indy Hunger Community Compass Finder
Indy Hunger Federal Nutrition Programs Toolkit
Mental Health
Get to Know CICOA
Learn more about some of CICOA's services for your faith community.
Featured video: Dementia Friends Indiana
We're Here for You
Contact CICOA
Faith Partnership Coordinator
(317) 803-6283
Request a Presentation
For Staff or Congregations