2020 Annual Report

Vision

MHS is the go-to leader for integrating faith and work in health and human services.

Mission

Anchored in Anabaptist values, MHS inspires and strengthens health and human service ministries to fulfill their missions.

Letter from our CEO

This has been a year of severe disruption and adversity on a scale not seen for many decades. The way MHS members rose to the incredible challenge to support those in their care will remain etched in our hearts and minds for years to come.  As the pandemic unfolded in early 2020, MHS worked hard to provide assistance and support to our members.  Sometimes, it was as simple as offering spiritual reprieve and emotional uplift, other times it was in providing resources and tools to support member ministries.   We watched our members dig deep into their internal resources to meet the daily challenges of the pandemic, and admired the mutual aid and sharing that regularly occurred across the country.  Living through a time such as this makes us even more grateful for the network of faith grounded health and human service organizations.

The MHS team recognized the implications of the emerging crisis early on, moving swiftly to protect the health and safety of all our members, colleagues and sponsors by cancelling Mennonite Health Assembly which was to have been held in Greenville, South Carolina.  We eagerly anticipate the 2022 Health Assembly to be held there.  Plans were put in place for a virtual Assembly to be held in 2021.

The health crisis caused by COVID-19 also triggered an economic crisis that will continue to impact MHS members for years to come.  Government programs and subsidies provided needed financial relief but the loss of lives and great risk that were experienced confronting this virus will have lasting impact. Employee recruitment and retention, an issue prior to the pandemic is an even greater challenge today.

The social stresses imposed by the multiple crises we experienced this past year were amplified by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery, and others.  These killings unleashed public demonstrations for justice and civil unrest at a scale not seen since the civil rights movement. MHS, along with Mennonite Church USA, and other Mennonite Church agencies, responded by offering a statement of support in which MHS commits to working persistently toward a more just society by working with our members to undo the structures  of systemic racism.

Throughout this past year, MHS has taken the time to develop deeper and broader programming.  We’ve increased the number of educational webinar offerings and provided more opportunities for members to network with each other.  New this past year is a video podcast titled on Leading, focusing on the leadership experiences and stories from MHS members.  Board and CEO assessment tools were utilized at a higher rate this past year, and there was an increase in utilization of the Employee Engagement survey tool as well.   It is MHS’s goal to provide strategic business tools that advance our members’ health and human services mission.

The MHS Board of Directors added a fourth strategic initiative on diversity, equity and inclusion.  The Board also approved new mission and vision statements:

Vision

MHS is the go-to leader for integrating faith and work in health and human services.

Mission

Anchored in Anabaptist values, MHS inspires and strengthens health and human service ministries to fulfill their missions.

A virtual MHS member Annual Meeting was held on December 16, giving time for updating and member priority feedback.  The top priority levels members indicated for MHS focus were:  staff recruitment and retention; board governance; and strategic planning.

There are many challenges that MHS members continue to face; operational and strategic implications for health and human services organizations going forward.  With a strong Anabaptist faith foundation, and the unique collaborations and solutions members enjoy within this network, MHS pledges to continue our work at strengthening the MHS community and member ministries.

On behalf of the MHS Board of Directors, and the entire MHS team, we thank you for your engagement with us. We pledge to work creatively and strategically every day to maintain your trust and to deserve your membership commitment.

Karen  Lehman, President/CEO

MHS Members saved a total of $114,847 in 2020.

32 member organizations participated.

Average savings per participating MHS member was $3,589.