| The Pastoral Care Department at St. John's Riverside Hospital will offer an extended course in Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) to be held from January 20 through May 31 at the hospital, 967 North Broadway in Yonkers.
Designed for clergy, lay persons, social workers, teachers, and health care professionals, the goal of the program is to provide participants with the skills of spiritual care, the ability to know and use theological and spiritual reflection in the practice of ministry and to get to know and experience one's self as a spiritual and pastoral person.
The program includes weekly classes at St. John's Riverside Hospital and additional hours each week of clinical time providing spiritual care. These hours will be negotiated with training supervisor and department director.
Accredited as a "Satellite for Clinical Pastoral Education" by the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education, Inc. (ACPE), under the auspices of the HealthCare Chaplaincy, Inc., St. John's Riverside Hospital is the only CPE program in the area that allow students to learn in both general hospital units and alcohol/drug rehab units.
Since 2008, the Clinical Pastoral Education program at St. John's Riverside Hospital has offered courses for local clergy, lay ministers and students of theology of many denominations and religious backgrounds. The programs, recognized by the U.S. Department of Education, offer an experiential learning environment that combines theoretic and practical knowledge in the classroom and at the bedside.
"The launching of St. John's Riverside Hospital's Clinical Pastoral Education program in 2008 further established the leadership role of the hospital's Pastoral Care Department in providing excellent training in spiritual care and counseling for religious leaders in the wider community, and the health care professionals in the area," said Chaplain Osvaldo L. Tañón, coordinator of Clinical Pastoral Education at St. John's Riverside Hospital.
"Training in the hospital's Clinical Pastoral Education program focuses on the relationship between the chaplain, patients and their families at the bedside. Identifying spiritual needs, prayer, reading of scripture, compassionate care and active listening are just some of the skills the chaplains learn," Tañón said.
"By participating in the program at St. John's Riverside Hospital, future religious leaders will be more competent in offering professional and compassionate spiritual and bereavement care to the people in their religious communities and beyond."
More than 12 students from local congregations, as well as Connecticut and New York City, have already participated in the newly established Clinical Pastoral Education program at St. John's.
For more information or to apply, call Chaplain Tañón at 914-798-8883. |
