Hartford Seminary to Host Disaster Training Course

Hartford Seminary will host a Disaster Spiritual Care training in June. This two-day training, conducted by National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN), will take place on the Hartford Seminary campus on Tuesday and Wednesday, June 12 & 13, 9 AM to 5 PM. Religious leaders, spiritual care providers, mental health professionals, and emergency managers are urged to enroll.

?This two-day training prepares faith leaders or spiritual care providers to volunteer as disaster chaplains in mass care settings or to serve as disaster chaplains within their house of worship, religious community or professional institution,? explains NDIN President Peter Gudaitis. "Emergency managers and mental health professionals may take this training to develop their knowledge of disaster spiritual care best practices". The training was originally developed for Episcopal Relief & Development and New York Disaster Interfaith Services. It is now taught by NDIN as well as being offered by a number of seminaries and state disaster spiritual care organizations.

The training covers such topics as the emotional and spiritual phases of the disaster 'life cycle', spiritual first aid, disaster human services and site operations, phases of psychological reaction to disaster, effective caregiver self-care practices, mental health assessment & referral , and the Incident Command System.

The NDIN curriculum is compliant with NIMS (National Incident Management Systems) and incorporates FEMA Incident Command System (FEMA IS 100) training. It also complies with the National VOAD (Voluntary Organizations Active in Disaster) Points of Consensus for Disaster Spiritual Care.

Participants who complete NDIN training can volunteer with the National Disaster Interfaiths Network (NDIN) or its partners. NDIN can assist volunteers in finding disaster spiritual care volunteer opportunities in local communities across the United States. They will also receive two Hartford Seminary Continuing Education Credits CEUs).

"Developing disaster spiritual care competence is an important element of Hartford Seminary?s new Graduate Certificate Program in Chaplaincy in Multifaith Contexts,? notes Dr. Lucinda Mosher, Faculty Associate for Interfaith Studies. "The June 12-13 workshop will make NDIN's excellent training available in Connecticut for the first time".

The cost of this training is $195.00, which includes continental breakfast, lunch, and materials. Enrollment is limited to 35 participants. To enroll, visit the NDIN website: http://n-din.org/ndin_trainings/Scheduled_Training_20.php; or, contact Lucinda Mosher: lmosher@hartfordinternational.edu.

NDIN is a 501(c)(3) non-profit working to build disaster resilient communities through the exchange of best practices information, cooperative support and training. NDIN courses, consultants and trainers help develop best practices resources and sustainable capacity for local advocacy, disaster chaplaincy, mitigation education, preparedness training, relief, and recovery coordination.