Created in Conjunction with the Association of Professional Chaplains
Two leading professional organizations, the California State University Shiley Institute for Palliative Care (Institute) and Association of Professional Chaplains (APC), are pleased to announce the availability of a collaboratively developed course to prepare professional chaplains with the knowledge and skills needed to support patients and families dealing with the challenges of serious and chronic illness. Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy, an eight-week, fully online course was designed to deliver to busy chaplains and spiritual counselors the critical information needed to work in palliative care, individually and as part of a team, supporting families and individuals facing chronic and serious illness.
The Institute is now taking enrollments for the course, which begins July 26, 2017. Fully online, Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy was created and reviewed by nationally recognized palliative care professional chaplains. “Professional chaplains play an extremely important role in palliative care.” said Helen McNeal, Executive Director of the Institute. “The Institute has a proud history of providing chaplaincy education, and we are pleased to partner with APC and our curriculum experts to design this new and deeply enriched Chaplaincy Essentials course. The release of this course affirms our commitment to provide the latest and most comprehensive educational offerings for chaplains whose practice includes care for those with serious or chronic illness.”
Association of Professional Chaplains’ Chief Executive Officer Patricia F. Appelhans JD added, “We are pleased to have supported the creation of this course to advance the professional competency and ethical practice, one of our organization’s key values, for our over 5,000 members. Chaplains, as part of the interdisciplinary palliative care team, represent the perspective of dignity and worth of all persons, truly an essential element of palliative care.”
Palliative care provides those with a serious or chronic illness – from the time of diagnosis throughout the course of treatment – care that addresses not only physical needs but also their psychosocial, emotional and spiritual needs and optimizes quality of life by anticipating, preventing and managing suffering. It is delivered by an interdisciplinary team of physicians, nurses, social workers, chaplains, pharmacists and other practitioners. More than 90 million Americans are living with serious illness today, notes the Dartmouth Atlas of Health Care. This number is expected to significantly increase as more than 10,000 U.S. baby boomers turn 65 every day.
Interested chaplains are invited to view more information on “Essentials of Palliative Care Chaplaincy” at https://csupalliativecare.org/programs/chaplaincy/
About the CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care
The CSU Shiley Institute for Palliative Care is dedicated to increasing access to and awareness of palliative care by educating current and future professionals as well as community members. It offers palliative care-focused professional development and continuing education courses that are enhancing the skills of current and future healthcare professionals across the country and around the world. Housed within the largest university system in the United States, the Institute is dedicated to ensuring the trained palliative care workforce needed to meet the growing number of chronically or seriously ill people in all care settings, today and tomorrow.
About the Association for Professional Chaplains
With commitment to interfaith ministry and the professional practice of chaplaincy care, the Association of Professional Chaplains serves chaplains in all types of health and human service settings. Its more than 5,000 member chaplains and affiliates are involved in chaplaincy care of all persons, respecting their diverse cultures, identities, abilities and beliefs. APC’s affiliate organization Board of Chaplaincy Certification Inc. (BCCI) offers a certification program that is designed to elevate professional standards, enhance individual performance and designate professional chaplains who demonstrate the knowledge essential to the practice of chaplaincy care.
As a national, not-for-profit 501(c)(3) professional association, APC advocates for quality chaplaincy care of all persons in health care facilities, correctional institutions, long-term care units, rehabilitation centers, hospice, the military, and other specialized settings.
