Chaplain Corps - FAQ
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What is Mission Alabama Chaplain Corps?
Mission Alabama Chaplain Corps is an organization that provides chaplains to companies, municipal governments, schools, and 1st responders. Through Mission Birmingham Chaplain Corps, companies offer chaplain assistance and services to serve immediate needs to employees. What do Chaplains do each day? Chaplains have what has been called a "ministry of presence." They are specifically trained to work in a secular environment, and they are on-site or on-call 24 hours a day to counsel employees on any matter, personal or professional. How will the program be introduced to employees? Before a chaplain starts work with a client, an orientation meeting is held to explain the ground rules, including chaplain confidentiality. This meeting is similar in tone and function to other benefits orientation meetings, with a time for questions and answers. At the end of the orientation employees receive a business card with the chaplain’s toll-free telephone number. How do I deal with employees who may not want a chaplain? At the orientation the employees learn that they, not the chaplain, make all decisions about interaction. In practice, all employees eventually come to enjoy a good relationship with the chaplain simply because the chaplain is there for no other reason than to care. What types of cases are chaplains typically involved in? Chaplains are certified to enter jail facilities, emergency rooms, and accident scenes. Chaplains will assist employees in hospital care, family and marriage care, substance abuse, stress management, and interpersonal conflicts. Does the chaplain provide long-term counseling services? While many chaplains hold degrees and licenses in counseling, Chaplains will not provide counseling services. We provide care for those who are in need of professional counseling by helping to connect them with a suitable counselor, either from the company’s insurance network or from our own referral network. When is the chaplain available? The chaplain is available via a voicemail paging system twenty-four hours a day, seven days a week. How will the chaplain interact with my management team? Your managers will find the chaplain to be an effective management tool. Dealing with employees’ personal life issues can consume a skilled manager’s time, and he may not feel he is adequately trained to provide advice in most cases. The chaplain is a valuable, well-trained resource that your managers can call in to help employees deal with delicate personal situations that employees bring to work from home. Does Mission Alabama Chaplain Corps require chaplains to be affiliated with any specific church or denomination? No. Can a business chaplain effectively care for employees from varied religious backgrounds? Yes. Chaplains are skilled workplace caregivers who are trained in providing care in a multicultural environment. How is the program funded? A flat fee based on the number of employees means that invoicing is predictable. There are no additional fees based on number of crisis interventions or hours of service. What are the benefits of outsourcing chaplaincy rather than hiring my own chaplain? There are several benefits to outsourcing chaplain care. First, outsourcing is more cost effective than hiring a full-time staff person. Second, our training and support network gives your company not one, but multiple trained, experienced chaplains. What are the kinds of problems or situations a chaplain might help an employee with? Employees may come to a chaplain with concerns or struggles relating to marriage, parenting, finances, legal complications, depression, substance abuse, or other job and life stresses. In addition chaplains are available to visit with employees who are hospitalized, incarcerated, or unable to be at work for other reasons. |
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