Tagged With "Clergy"

An exceptional all-day “Trauma-Informed Training for Clergy” event was held in Philadelphia in May 2017, organized by JSR Educational Enrichment Strategies, Inc. Founder and President Doris Smith-Ribner, Retired PA State Appeals Court Judge. Judge Smith-Ribner recognized the need for this training particularly for those on the front lines of dealing with the impacts of trauma and its prevalence within Philadelphia—the Clergy. Here is her report from that meeting. Highly-regarded trauma...

My article “Faith and mental health: Creating a culture of encounter and friendship” has been published in the May issue of Review & Expositor: An International Baptist Journal. Article introduces the Mental Health and Faith Community Partnership which the Interfaith Disability Advocacy Coalition helped launch with the American Psychiatric Association and focuses on how congregations and faith leaders can work with psychiatrists and the mental health community to reduce stigma and...

Don't know how many of you may have watched the new Resilience film on Sunday, April 10 but I did and it brought to my mind several ideas on how to further the work and awareness on the ACES issue. In a previous blog post here, Linda Jacobs appropriately addressed the importance of having trauma-informed churches . Reverend Streets has written a piece about the importance of engaging in trauma-informed ministry . So, I got to thinking that since so many, perhaps all, of the ACEs are trauma...

Dale, As part of my doctorate of ministry work I have been engaged in this discussion with the fine folks at Multnomah University in Portland, Oregon. My specific ministry project that will be the basis of my thesis is to collaboratively write a trauma-informed VBS curriculum. I am also hoping to collaborate with ChildWise, an organization built around ACEs education in Helena, MT about how we could have a faith-based breakout session during a Fall Conference they are planning on Resilience.

Thanks for the mention of the post on trauma -informed churches that I wrote. I can't wrap my mind around why ministers and seminaries are not engaging in this conversation and training their people. I too believe that early trauma is trauma to the spirit and the heart. Churches could do so much to soothe the trauma the little ones are experiencing. I see this all the time in my DC4K, DivorceCare for Kids, group. Just last night in my group 2 little girls really opened up. They laid it all...

Amen! hope you are part of the Trauma Informed Congregations Community of Practice. If not, email me at Kimberly.konkel@hhs.gov and I will add you. We are working now on regional trainings, but would love to engage with all of you. I'm super bummed, I messed up my registration and missed seeing the film! I'm hoping to get another chance soon.

That said, Wesley Theological Seminary partners with my office (Center for Faith-based and Neighborhood Partnerships) and is exploring just this thing. I really think we need to have a meeting where we can all explore what this training would look like. I'd be happy to host in DC!

Most people will have prior existing traumas. Sometimes, these are triggered by authority figures (e.g., ministers), regardless of the authority figure’s intention. Sometimes, these traumas are triggered when interpersonal or organizational boundaries are confusing. In addition, sometimes the trauma that individuals carry are directly related to religious or spiritual abuse. Not surprisingly, authority figures and structures that highlight authority will frequently be questioned, attacked,...

Thanks for the comment Jaime and your commitment to make a difference. Let's see what kind of momentum we can develop on this issue! ~ Dale

Hi Kimberly, no, I am not a member. Is this a different Group here on the ACES Connection or a separate community elsewhere?

Dale, it is a group managed by the US Dept of Health and Human Services. We meet monthly via a webinar/conference call. Please send me an email. I'd love to add you, and everyone in this group, to our Community of Practice.

Kimberly, I'd be interested also. I'll email you. My work has been with children's ministers and I speak at several national children's minister's conferences. They get concerned when a child's behavior is out of control. They get concerned when there are bruises. They get concerned when a child is leaning toward suicide and makes it known. I've been working with churches for over 10 years and I feel like I'm saying the same thing over and over but no one is really listening. I've given out...

Hi Kimberly, I'd like to be a part of the Community of Practice group as well, and would appreciate being added. I work as a chaplain in a large regional hospital, and am also involved in bringing ACE presentations to local churches and faith-based organizations. I have presented on ACEs and theology/pastoral care at one local seminary/school of theology, and would like to do more. I believe this education is critical. Thanks! Amie Schumacher

Kudos for adding the Five additional ACE Stressors to the 8/10 US CDC/Kaiser- Permanente Screening tool.... ! ! ! Are they among the current list on the World Health Organization's ACE International Questionaire ? ? ?