Specialized Training Workshops for pastors, chaplains and volunteers
The training workshops, which are described below, are designed to help those involved in working with others. They would be particularly advantageous to those who, as professionals or volunteers, are working with people whose life experiences have placed them on the margins of our society.
It is our hope as you consider this summary of the training courses that you will consider making these a part of your own personal development or the development of volunteers you are working with presently.
1. Restorative Justice: This workshop will centre on the basics to an understanding of the philosophy and theology of Restorative Justice. It will discuss and explore the various aspects of the restorative justice paradigm. It will look at practical approaches of bringing healing into the brokenness which often surrounds us in community, at home and in the workplace.
2. Working in a Multi-faith Environment: We live in a pluralistic society. The world has become very small and today, like no other time in history we have a need to learn to live in harmony with others from different cultures, faith, and life experiences. More and more we need to respond to this multi faceted society as populations continue to grow and reflect more and more the multi-faith and no faith dimensions of life. This workshop will examine the positive ways we are able to move into the world of Multi-faith. We will examine such questions as: How do we maintain our own sense of faith in such an environment? How do we work together even with our different backgrounds and beliefs? Is there common ground upon which we can meet?
3. Developing and recruiting Volunteers: Volunteers are vital to an effective program within many organizations. A five-year study of the impact of volunteers found that " Volunteers play a prominent role in the delivery of programming and worship events. Their participation is greatly valued by all. " However, we have all experienced poor volunteers as well, who, although meaning well, have created more problems than they are worth. So the question arises, how to get good volunteers who contribute to the well being of the program? Who make good volunteers? Where do we find good Volunteers? How do we screen for good volunteers? What process do we have in place to train volunteers? What do we do to recognize our volunteers for their positive contribution? How do we evaluate our volunteers? These and other questions will be discussed in this course.
Other specialized training which is developed or under development is:
1. Pastoral Care of Staff: Often the Prison Chaplain is the only clergy staff members have contact with. Although the majority of the Chaplain's work is dealing with the offenders, the Chaplains' role is as a spiritual and practical presence to all within the prison. Therefore there will be opportunities when the chaplain will be called upon to minister to staff members and their families. This module will examine the common and the special ministries which chaplains can be called upon to perform. It will look at the special stressors of working in the prison system and suggest methods of helping individuals to deal with them.
Lecture and discussion with suggested readings will be the format of this module. Time half a day.
2. Prison Milieu: This Module will examine the prison environment and the need for security. It will look at such things as manipulation by offenders, need for clear communication between staff, dealing with crisis situations and the chaplains role, and the authority structures within the prison. People of experience in areas such as security and administration will be invited to participate. Lecture, discussion, role-play and videos if available from the prison system of a particular country will make up the material of this module.
3. Prison Programs: Program deliverers within the prisons will be invited to present an overview of the programs which they offer. Such programs as those dealing with addictions, sex offences, anger, violence, etc. will be highlighted. Chaplains' then will be challenged to develop a plan where the chapel and spiritual programs can supplement and support the programs of the prison. This should evaluate any programs of the chapel which are presently taking place and how they contribute to the overall objective of helping the offender change old habits and ways of living and move to transformation. How do these programs aid the prison programs being offered by others? What else can be done?
4. Pastoral Counselling For Offenders: This is an introduction to counselling techniques of different theories. The basic emphasis is to help the individuals to be in touch with their inner being and to face the experiences in their lives which have contributed to the way they have made choices in their life. It is pastorally based, drawing on some of the tools available to us from the realm of counselling. This is not designed to make chaplains into psychologists. As part of this module each afternoon for the week will be spent in a group experience where the student, under the leadership of the instructor, will have an opportunity to share their inner selves.
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Spiritual Wholeness Consulting Inc. shall consult with individuals, churches, organizations, businesses and government departments to assist them in the development of holistic spiritual goals for themselves or their clients through the provision of training programs, workshops and individual guidance.
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5. Pastoral Care of the Sex Offender: In the past few decades many jurisdictions have seen a rise in the number of offenders who are incarcerated for sexual crimes. There are many reasons for this and in this module we will explore the causes and results of sexual abuse and crimes of a sexual nature. We will also examine the role of religion in the life of the offender and how to help the offender develop a healthy perspective of faith which enables him/her to deal with the factors which led to the offence.
6. Pastoral Care of the Mentally Ill Offender: In Canada, as well as other western nations the treatment of the mentally ill changed in the 1960's and 70's. More mentally ill patients were treated as out patients. However, structures and safety nets where not properly established to meet the need of these individuals in many communities. The result of this was a growing population of street people and those who could not cope effectively with life on their own. Many ended up exhausting the social programs which were available and ended up before the courts. This has become a growing problem in many prisons and in Canada as an example the number of offenders incarcerated with mental health problems has increased in some cases by 100 percent. This has presented government and prison officials with new challenges of how to deal effectively with these individuals. Chaplaincy with its natural connections in the community has a significant role to play by assisting these men and women to integrate into society upon their release from prison. A program that is helpful is known as the Circle of Support program. This program was first introduced as a means of helping the most hated and most needy prisoner; i.e. the warrant expired high needs, high-risk sex offender. But this program is proving to work very effectively with other high needs and high-risk offenders. In this module we will learn about this program and also how we can work effectively with mentally ill offenders in our prisons.
7. Pastoral Care of Long Term Offenders: Offenders sentenced to long sentences of incarceration are faced with significant challenges upon entering and leaving the prison. Long Term offenders (7 years or longer of incarceration) when entering the system must learn how to survive in an environment that often is extremely negative and volatile. They are forced to adopt a persona which protects them and unfortunately sometimes they lose themselves in that process. The chaplain can be a key person in helping the long-term offender to understand when a mask is needed to survive and when that mask needs to be removed. How to learn coping skills to do their time constructively and remain in touch with their inner selves. As these same offenders come near to their release dates many will experience many conflicting emotions such as joy and fear, anticipation and withdrawal, and even in extreme cases suicidal thoughts. Again the chaplain using community contacts can be of practical help to offenders as they return to the community and try to start over. This module will examine these challenges through dialogue, reading and true stories.
8. Offender Families' Issues: Study after study has reinforced the truth of the value of the family in helping the offender move to a crime free life. These families face many obstacles as they journey with the member who is incarcerated. They often struggle and have a more difficult time then the person doing time. How can chaplaincy respond to this in a caring practical manner? Community Chaplains become a vital link with the families and this module will examine the development of community-based chaplainries closely connected with the prisons Not only to provide support for the family but also to provide a continuum of care for the offender as they move from prison to the community. We will also look at some programs developed in Canada which are working well in helping the offender, while incarcerated, realize that his/her crime has affected his loved ones deeply and help the offender to take his/her responsibility in the harm that has been done.
9. Victim Issues: Victims have been the neglected people in the criminal justice systems. This is gradually changing and their voice is beginning to be heard. The old idea that this was someone else's responsibility no longer is acceptable to victims of crime. The Correctional and Penal Systems also have a role to play in helping the victims find some healing and peace of mind. This module will look at victim issues, hopefully with victims sharing their stories. We will also explore ways in which we as chaplains and prison staff can help while respecting issues of privacy and human rights of the offender and the victim. Programs such as Victim - Offender Reconciliation will be introduced.
10. Restorative Justice: A Christian Perspective and Spiritual Roots Conflict is always present in our world and usually invades our personal life, our church life and our community life. How are we to handle conflict in a manner that heals the hurt and overcomes the pain? Does the concept of Restorative Justice have anything to say to us as a people under God? What are the roots of R.J. from a Biblical perspective? These and other questions will be examined in this workshop as we use role-play and creative brainstorming to find new ways to deal with the conflict in our lives.
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