by Anna Grace Galkin, Student Public Relations Writer
The first conference of the Association of Christians in Health and Human Services (ACHHS) was held October 14-16 at Indiana Wesleyan University. Co-founded in 2019 by Dr. Michael Sherr,
chair of Cedarville University's social work department, this nonprofit organization
seeks to provide biblical support for and equip those involved in human services careers, whether on the front lines, behind desks, or in the classroom.
"The inaugural ACHHS conference is the first time a group of nurses, social workers, pharmacists, psychologists, and allied health professionals gathered to support one another to provide excellent care without compromising our biblical beliefs," Sherr said, who served as a keynote speaker.
“The keynote addresses and the workshops were all geared toward advancing client and patient services emphasizing biblical integration and the highest ethical professional standards,” Sherr said.
Many Cedarville students majoring in human services attended the conference. “I really enjoyed learning from people who are living out what I have just heard about in the classroom and gleaning from their wisdom and experience in the field," said Hannah Quandt, a senior social work student from Oak Park, Illinois.
According to the ACHHS website, 48 registered attendees came from at least 15 states.
Already planning for next year’s conference, the ACHHS leadership, including five Cedarville professors, looks forward to watching how this needed support group will develop more leaders with strong convictions and excellent work ethic for many years to come.
Membership in the ACHHS includes yearlong access to regular webinars, prayer and online support groups, directories of like-minded professionals, and a subscription to the Journal of Biblical Integration Practice in Health and Human Services.
Located in southwest Ohio, Cedarville University is an accredited, Christ-centered, Baptist institution with an enrollment of 4,715 undergraduate, graduate, and online students in more than 150 areas of study. Founded in 1887, Cedarville is one of the largest private universities in Ohio, recognized nationally for its authentic Christian community, rigorous academic programs, including the Bachelor of Science in social work program, strong graduation and retention rates, accredited professional and health science offerings, and high student engagement ranking. For more information about the University, visit cedarville.edu.