2018 Fall Symposium - Spiritual Assessment: From Theory to Practice

Description:

Overview:
On October, 18, 2018 The Fall Symposium was hosted at the Association of Professional Chaplains (APC) headquarters in Hoffman Estates, IL

The Background to Spiritual Assessment: History, Terms, and Examples - Mark LaRocca-Pitts PhD MDiv BCC

Doing a spiritual assessment is central to the work of the professional board-certified chaplain. Determining which spiritual assessment tool to use, however, can be challenging. After briefly reviewing the history of spiritual assessment, we will examine the key words and definitions related to spiritual assessment to develop a working definition of spirituality. Using this definition, we will examine and evaluate various tools and models used for spiritual histories/assessments in our literature to determine strengths, weaknesses, and appropriate settings. This session will then conclude with a more detailed examination and application of the Four F?s Tool for Spiritual Assessment.

Assessment: A Multi-use Tool - Sara Hester MDiv MSW MBA BCC

Please note that this was a last-minute addition, a description is unavailable

Assessment: From a Chat to the Chart - Brent Peery DMin BCC

Many professional chaplains practice unconscious assessment in their work. Being intentional and aware of our assessments enhances our contributions to care recipient wellness. This presentation will outline a conversational chaplaincy assessment model useful for all levels of chaplaincy expertise. We will also discuss and examine examples of how chaplains can effectively communicate their assessments through their documentation.

Developing Evidence-Based Spiritual Assessment - George Fitchett PhD DMin BCC

The presentation will describe three major limitations in current approaches to spiritual assessment. The first is that most published models for spiritual assessment were designed to be used in multiple clinical contexts; a "one size fits all" approach. The second limitation is that most models for spiritual assessment are based on narrative. Many chaplains prefer a "conversational approach" to spiritual assessment and have been uncomfortable with models that ?attempt to measure or quantify spirituality, religiosity, or spiritual injury? (Lewis, 2002). The third limitation is the lack of a standard, evidence-based approach to spiritual assessment in any clinical context. Most chaplains use their own model for spiritual assessment or one developed in their local spiritual care department, what we call "local models" for spiritual assessment. The presentation will describe the development of a quantified assessment of spiritual needs for use in palliative care that attempts to address these limitations.

Presenters:
Mark LaRocca-Pitts PhD MDiv BCC served as a professional chaplain for nearly 20 years in community outreach, acute care, and hospice settings and currently serves as Pastor in Charge at a United Methodist Church outside of Atlanta, GA. He has been BCCI® board certified since 2006 and is ordained by the United Methodist Church. He has served in various leadership roles with APC®, including state representative of Georgia, chair of the History Committee, chair of the Communications Committee, on the Quality in Chaplaincy Care Committee, and on the task forces for Standards of Practice in Acute Care, in Long-Term Care, and the Integrated Standards of Practice. He currently serves on the Board of Directors for APC. Mark received his BA and MA in Religious Studies from Indiana University, his MDiv from Harvard Divinity School, and his PhD from Harvard University. He is past president of the Georgia Society for Healthcare Chaplains and founder/host of Death Café Atlanta.

Sara Hester MDiv MSW MBA BCC has served as a staff chaplain at UAB Medical Center in Birmingham, AL since 2008 covering the areas of emergency, trauma and burns and previously served as both a hospital and hospice chaplain in the DFW metroplex for 10 years. Chaplain Hester has been board certified since 2011 and is endorsed by Texas Baptists. She has served two terms as the Alabama state representative for APC. Prior to becoming a chaplain, Hester was a social worker in Alabama, Georgia, and Texas primarily in healthcare settings. Hester holds a BA in social work from Auburn University, an MSW from Florida State University, an MDIV from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, and an MBA from the University of Alabama at Birmingham.

Brent Peery DMin BCC is the Vice President for Chaplaincy & Spiritual Care for the Memorial Hermann Health System in Houston Texas and has been endorsed as a Chaplain by the Cooperative Baptist Fellowship. Chaplain Peery’s education includes a bachelor’s degree in Religion from Baylor University, double Master’s degrees from Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary; in Religious Education as well as Marriage and Family Counseling, and a Doctorate in Spiritual Formation from Azusa Pacific University. Reverend Peery is also an accomplished author and lecturer on a wide variety of topics. His work has been published in several well-respected Journals and websites and he contributed a chapter entitled “Outcome Oriented Chaplaincy: Intentional caring” in the 2011 book “Professional Spiritual and Pastoral Care – A Practical Clergy and Chaplain’s Handbook”. Dr. Peery is Board Certified by BCCI and an active member of APC; he serves on the Quality Committee and is the Co-Chair of the Integrated Standards of Practice for Professional Chaplains committee.

George Fitchett PhD DMin BCC is a professor and the director of research in the Department of Religion, Health and Human Values, Rush University Medical Center, Chicago, IL. He has been a board certified chaplain (BCCI) and CPE educator for over 30 years. His book, Assessing Spiritual Needs (Academic Renewal Press, 2002), is a widely used text in clinical and academic training programs. Fitchett is the co-director, with Wendy Cadge (Brandeis University) of the Transforming Chaplaincy project. His research has been funded by the National Institutes of Health, and published in chaplaincy, medical and psychological journals. In 2006, he received the Anton Boisen Professional Service Award from APC.

How It Works:
When you purchase this recording, you will receive a link to access the recordings. There will also be a link to access in the My Downloads and Links section of your APC profile.