Understanding Addiction

Understanding Addiction and Supporting Recovery

Newly developed resources have been designed specifically with you in mind. A "toolkit" entitled "Spiritual Caregiving to Help Addicted Persons and Families: Pastoral Counselor’s Curriculum for the Education of Faith Leaders" has just been printed by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. This curriculum provides four study modules to use for training faith leaders. AAPC members can request a complimentary copy by emailing brenda@aapc.org and note "Toolkit" in the subject line. It will assist you in furthering your efforts to provide important training to faith community leaders regarding the impact of alcoholism and drug addiction on individuals, children and families. This also offers you the opportunity to collaborate with other service providers in your community.

In November of 2004, The American Association of Pastoral Counselors (http://www.aapc.org) and the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (http://www.nacoa.org) held the initial Core Competency Training of Trainers event in attended by 88 AAPC members. Much has transpired. Training by attendees and community partners, in cooperation with The Clergy Education and Training Project® staff at the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), has been offered in multiple communities. These include Columbia, MD (Loyola College); Washington, DC (Howard University Divinity School); Jackson MS, (Mississippi Baptist Health System); Detroit, MI, (Paul Melrose); Memphis, TN, (Jim Coffman); and Philadelphia, PA, (Department of Behavioral Health Services-Faith Based Initiative). In Lima, OH, Tom Holmes, Executive Director of Covenant Ministries Services, consolidated both the resources of the county behavioral health system and the faith community.

Additional resources for The Clergy Education and Training Project can be found at http://www.nacoa.net/clergy.htm. Please call the AAPC office if you require assistance or have any questions.

View Counselors and Clergy: Partners in Healing article.

View Adverse Childhood Experiences article.

View Community Outreach article.