NCJ Number
205626
Date Published
2004
Length
36 pages
Annotation
This report from the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, 2003 Expert Consensus Panel Meeting details the content of the meeting, to develop a set of core competencies for the faith community on the basic knowledge and skills needed to help addicted individuals and their families.
Abstract
In February 2003, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association (SAMHSA) supported and convened an expert panel meeting, in Washington, DC, on seminary education to develop a set of core competencies, basic knowledge, and skills clergy need to help addicted individuals and their families. This report details the content of that meeting and the resulting core competencies recommended as a result of the collective work of the meeting participants. The panelists agreed that core competencies should provide a general framework with application to diverse pastoral situations. Panelists also agreed that, if clergy were to integrate work on alcohol and drug dependence into their pastoral roles, they need basic facts/knowledge about these illnesses and their impact on the individual and family members. Clergy should be able to articulate a theological anthropology of addiction. A list of 12 "Core Competencies for Clergy and Other Pastoral Ministers in Addressing Alcohol and Drug Dependence and the Impact on Family Members" was developed and recommended and is presented in this report. The competencies are presented as a specific guide to the core knowledge, attitudes, and skills essential to the ability of clergy and pastoral ministers to meet the needs of persons with alcohol or drug dependence and their family members. Appendices A-D