Thank you for your interest in attending the Spiritual Care Response Team Training at the NACC National Conference in Indianapolis, Indiana on Friday and Saturday April 4 and 5, 2008. The training begins at 8:00am on Friday and 7:00am on Saturday. Participants are required to attend the full two days. Given the limited class size and necessity for a formal application process we cannot guarantee that every request to attend will be able to be honored. Therefore, it is imperative that you submit your application prior to January 14, 2008 according to the following guidelines.

APPLICATION PROCESS:

1. Review the items below; specifically the Requirements for Participation in the Spiritual Care Response Team
2. If you meet all requirements and are willing to serve on this National Critical Response Team then:
3. Contact Susanne Chawszczewski, Director of Education and Professional Practice for an application at schaw@nacc.org.
4. Space is limited and we cannot guarantee that every request to attend will be able to be honored; please do not delay your application process.
5. If for any reason you choose not to attend please let us know ASAP so we can ensure that all interested in this training are able to attend.

Thank You,
Tim Serban
NACC Special Representative
Red Cross Disaster Network

SRT 2008 Requirements

American Red Cross Spiritual Care Response Team

Description: The SRT team is comprised of up to seven individuals who provide management, leadership, and guidance to local clergy/chaplains as they provide spiritual care in critical disaster response involving aviation and other transportation events, mass casualties, Weapons of Mass Destruction/Terrorism, and by government request.

Note: If qualified and accepted for SRT and Critical Response Team (CRT) training, you must agree to be available to serve two consecutive weeks during the next 12 months, if activated, as well as being on-call one month during the following 12 months.

Requirements:

1. Ordained, licensed, or commissioned by a religious authority to function in a specialized ministry of spiritual care.
2. Theological education or training consistent with your faith tradition.
3. A minimum of three years experience in spiritual care after theological education or training.
4. Clinical Pastoral Education. Board Certification preferred. One unit required with personal interview.
5. Certified or endorsed member in good standing of at least one ARC Cognate Group Partner: ACPE, APC, ICPC, NACC, NAJC, AAPC, CPSP, FFC, PDA.

The following competencies must all be demonstrated:

• Demonstrated leadership skills
• Management skills – please cite specific example in application
• Ability to represent the American Red Cross in a professional manner
• Crisis intervention experience and ability to think on your feet
• Ability to accept and execute multiple tasks, especially under duress
• Understanding of and ability to perform and manage grief and bereavement work
• Ability to work as a team member within a command structure
• Flexibility
• Spiritual maturity and sensitivity to work in multi-faith and multicultural settings
• Ability to maintain appropriate personal and professional boundaries
• Strong verbal and written communication skills
• Computer literacy
• Ability to be assertive, as required
• Working knowledge of computers
• Available to depart for any destination within four hours of activation (Passport)
• Available for a minimum 14-day assignment when deployed
• On-call one month per year
• High personal and professional code of ethics – no personal or professional benefit or economic gain from working with disaster clients or responders
• Good physical, emotional, and spiritual health
• Ability to function under hardship conditions
• The specialized training needed for serving on the CRT
• Patience
• ARC Background Check