The Village Nac: A Faith-Based Model of Holistic Mental Health Care in Rural Communities

Background and Purpose:

Access to culturally attuned, holistic mental health care remains limited in rural regions of the United States. In East Texas, persistent challenges such as housing insecurity, emotional dysregulation, and lack of accessible services highlight the need for community-driven, integrative approaches. Faith-based initiatives are uniquely positioned to address these gaps by offering care grounded in relational trust, spiritual support, and cultural resonance.

This study examines The Village Nac, a faith-informed, community mental health initiative developed to serve individuals in Texas. Rooted in principles of emotional wellness, relational safety, and spiritual integration, The Village Nac operates as a replicable model of community-based, client-centered mental health intervention. The purpose of this study is to assess the implementation, outcomes, and replicability of this approach, with a particular focus on how faith-based partnerships and creative empowerment strategies can address complex needs in underserved contexts.

Methods:

A qualitative intervention research design was utilized, employing a case study methodology to document and analyze The Village Nac model. Data sources included:

Organizational records (e.g., service documentation, internal evaluations),

Direct observation of programming,

Semi-structured interviews with key stakeholders, including staff (n = 6), clients (n = 10), and community partners (n = 4), and

Community feedback obtained through informal focus groups.

Thematic analysis was employed to examine emergent patterns related to client engagement, emotional regulation, spiritual support, and sustainable community development. Coding was iterative and inductive, guided by grounded theory principles and facilitated through NVivo software.

Findings:

Analysis revealed four central themes:

Relational Safety and Trust: Participants emphasized the importance of consistent, supportive relationships grounded in shared values. Relational safety served as a foundation for trust-building, particularly among clients with histories of trauma or marginalization.

Faith and Wellness Integration: The model seamlessly blends faith practices (e.g., prayer, scripture, pastoral support) with clinical and wellness services, creating a space for healing that honors both spiritual and psychological dimensions of well-being.

Creative Empowerment: The Village Nac offers purpose-driven opportunities through employment, creative arts, and peer mentorship. Participants reported increased self-efficacy, agency, and reduced feelings of isolation through these roles.

Holistic Emotional Regulation: The program prioritizes individualized care planning, trauma-informed strategies, and somatic regulation techniques (e.g., mindfulness, movement, grounding exercises). Clients described meaningful improvement in emotional self-regulation and long-term stability.

Conclusion and Implications:

The Village Nac demonstrates that faith-based, community-embedded care can foster meaningful mental health outcomes in rural settings. By integrating spiritual practice, creative opportunity, and trauma-informed care, the model promotes relational healing and resilience.

This presentation will offer actionable insights for social work practitioners, researchers, and educators. Implications include strategies for developing community partnerships, incorporating spirituality into mental health frameworks, enhancing client engagement, preventing provider burnout, and designing sustainable, data-informed interventions. The Village Nac offers a promising blueprint for replication in other underserved communities seeking holistic, culturally grounded approaches to care.