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Saturday, 6 July 2024

Chaplaincy Services to the Incarcerated

The incarcerated people are usually held in jails, prisons or correctional centers world over for security purposes. Chaplaincy services to the incarcerated simply means the services of chaplains in the closed walls; for jails, prisons and correctional centers are closed systems and a separate world.

How Do Chaplains Get to the Prison or Correctional Centers to Offer Chaplaincy Services?

Chaplaincy ministry or service requires a sure calling, as prison ministry and chaplaincy is a vocation and occupation. Correctional center or prison chaplains are usually hired chaplains who are also called staff chaplains, working in the correctional centers and prison system alongside with prison or correctional service officers as they are now called.

Although there are so many volunteer pastors that go to minister to inmates from time to time, they are not prison or correctional chaplains as they cannot be trusted with the life and security of the inmates as well as the staff of the correctional centers.

What Specialized Training Do Prison or Correctional Chaplains require?

Apart from the general chaplaincy training and education courses offered by chaplaincy colleges or seminaries with chaplaincy concentrations with ordination, because of the closed nature of the prison system, there are specialized course hired prison chaplains are made to undergo making the prison or correctional chaplaincy a field of study.

These courses are not made available to pastors and thus the knowledge is beyond volunteer pastors who claim to have prison ministry as opposed to prison or correctional chaplaincy services.

NB: I need to say it loud and clear that because of the level of security in the prison system or area, nobody is trusted until you are able to prove yourself over the years.

What Other Professional Trainings or Education Do Prison Chaplains Need or Require?

Prison or correctional chaplains require CPE or CCPE studies for at least for them to earn 1 or 2 units in addition to the specialized in-house prison or correctional trainings.

NB: I have a good news for you all that because of the usefulness of the CPE or CCPE programme the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) contemplating on establishing a CPE like study programme specially for prison chaplains to enhance the development of prison chaplaincy as well as that of prison or correctional chaplains, what a courageous move?

Kinds of Services Chaplains Offer in Prison or Correctional Centers: Prison or correctional chaplains offer various services to inmates, their families, the staff of the correctional facilities and the management:

Services to Staff:

1. Prison officers, warders etc. spend every day of their lives within the closed doors of prison or correctional facilities; they sometimes become overwhelmed, develop compassion fatigue and become frustrated because of injustices they see daily in the performance of their legitimate duties and sometimes some may think of committing suicide requiring the support of trained qualified prison chaplains to assist them in dealing with the situation.

2. Sometimes the experience of inmates that attempted committing suicide which may cause the officers to be traumatized requiring the services of trained prison or correctional chaplain to minister and care for them in other to cope and perform optimally.

3. Prison or correctional chaplains offer religious ritual to prison staff and relations during various celebration such as, promotions, retirement, marriage ceremony, burials and funeral or memorial services who request for such.

4. Sometimes prison staff do seek or want meaning in life because of difficulties or challenges they encounter in life such as separation, divorce, heart breaking relationships, family issues etc. which require services of professional chaplains.

Services to Inmates: Chaplaincy services offered by prison or correctional chaplains to inmates also called the incarcerated vary as you will find as detailed below:

a. Pastoral and Spiritual care services. Many times, inmates may be seeking for forgiveness for wrong doings, healing and reconciliation with source of life, qualified trained chaplains are best suited to direct them to connect with the Divine.

b. Some inmates may become completely depressed wanting to commit suicide; professional prison chaplains are best suited to assist them overcome such temptations.

c. Sometimes inmates may require ritualistic service of their religions; interfaith prison chaplains are best suited to offer these religious services.

d. Terminally Ill Inmates and Services: Sometimes inmates develop terminal disease and illness requiring hospitalization and care. Such inmates are usually taken to hospitals with warders attached to them in specialized rooms of the hospitals where they are taken to because of the security of the inmates and the general public. Prison chaplains are expected to collaborate with hospital chaplains to offer needed chaplaincy services to terminally ill inmates.

e. Services During Pandemic: For instance, during covid 19 surge, prison chaplains should be able to collaborate with their counterparts (hospital chaplains) to offer needed services to the inmates who may be taken to ICU centers or isolation centers.

NB: The prison warder or officers who have accompany inmates to hospitals must also be cared for and protected alongside with prison chaplains. I am happy to let you know that what is presented to you here is global best practices.

Comparison With African Prison Chaplaincy: If we compare the practices in Nigeria where there is no hired chaplains in any prison or correctional centers but only pastors and untrained chaplains from various chaplaincy organization who claim to have prison ministry will reverse the absurdity associated with it.

Professional chaplains who are interested in prison chaplaincy, must arise to seek recruitment into Nigeria Correctional Service as cadets, specifying chaplaincy options.

Chaplaincy leadership should know what to do to make sure people are adequately provided for such positions, especially graduate youths. There is a saying that nobody can give what he/she does not have; unqualified chaplaincy educators will never be able to grow and produce qualified chaplains who can offer chaplaincy care and services to the incarcerated.

Chaplaincy educators are very scarce in continent of Africa. C.G. ranking is no qualification for chaplaincy educators nor a substitute for such. Untrained chaplains will never be able to present themselves to established institutions for employments.

Even though there are available certified chaplaincy educators in Africa, they must give themselves to further training and programmes to enable them prepare well equipped professional chaplains for every sector of the economy as well as produce more chaplaincy educators to take charge of teaching and educating chaplains.

Chaplaincy Care and Services to the Incarcerated: Rightly speaking, the incarcerated is not limited to the inmates in prison or correctional centers and facilities across the world, as that include the prison officers and staff chaplains who are expected to work in such facilities, which are closed world because of the type security required.

These crop of professional chaplains who are serving in correctional centers and all people serving there when they are overwhelmed and face some challenges which make them vulnerable as well needing chaplaincy care, attention and services from prison chaplains.

1. The fact that chaplains themselves are human beings who can also be traumatized, stressed and experiencing burnout. Because of this, chaplains serving in prison or correctional facilities, must maintain self-care even though they are called to care for others, they must care for themselves as well.

2. Resting, relaxing, sleeping and eating healthy meals or food. I recommend that at least one day weekly. Chaplains are allowed to take a rest from works.

3. Chaplains are expected to maintain connection with the Divine for spiritual connection and renewal.

4. Chaplains will also be able to renew connections with God and their personal religious beliefs and meditation.

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Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

15^th Oct, AD2022

Chaplaincy on Mission

As a professor of missiology, I wish to say emphatically that chaplains are on mission; what type of mission?

A specialized kind of mission for that matter, not on suicidal mission but rather suicidal protection mission. Chaplains are on crisis management and prevention mission, conflict and dispute resolution mission, emergency management mission.

Chaplains are on rescue mission to rescue the perishing, salvage the dying from death; uphold the living, identifying with them in their situations and finally give the parting souls a befitting burial. What a specialized kind of mission!

Chaplains are on specialized mission to the entire world with the planet earth and everything therein as their mission field. Chaplains constituency spans over the whole world.

Who do Chaplains Reachout to on Mission? Chaplains have the professional mandate to reachout to all people and people groups on mission without any form of discrimination including the following set of people:-

1. People of all colours.

2. People of all ages.

3. People of all races.

4. People of all nations.

5. People of all tribes.

6. People of all professions, vocations, occupations, trade and walks of life.

7. People all religion and even those of no specific religion.

8. People of all genders and sexual orientation.

9. People of all social and political status.

10. People who are healthy, sick, dying or dead.

11. People who are traumatized, distressed, depressed, humiliated, frustrated, hopeless etc.

12. People in all sector of the economy.

Chaplaincy is for all people without exemption. Chaplains must therefore endeavour to take chaplaincy on mission to all people of the world without exemption.

What Message do Chaplains take to these various People Groups on Mission? Chaplains who are trained and certified are thoroughly equipped with messages to take to the people they are called to serve and mission to which include:-

a. Message of love from the Creator God to all people especially those who have lost touch with the source of life and the assurance of His presence in their situations.

b. Message of hope to the hopeless, rekindling their hopes for the assurance of bright light at the end of the tunnel.

c. Message of care, attention and response to people who have been bettered in life or are passing through life difficulties requiring tender care and attention of professional handlers.

d. Message of comfort and succour to those who are experiencing pain and suffering.

e. Message of resilience and opportunities for healing and recovery from emergencies, crisis and disastrous situations.

In conclusion, this missiological perspectives is a reality and stands to be of great benefit to all.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

5^th Oct, AD2022

Crimes Against Humanity

Humanity is so dear and important to both the Divine and the natural world, which makes humanity to be accorded due respect and recognition so much so that evil or wickedness melted to humanity by any individuals, group of persons or nations is termed a crime against humanity.

Even in war situations where national armies are at war with each other, they have to employ professionalism and accord humanity and civilians respect if they will not be accused of war crime and genocide.

Bombing and killing of innocent civilians during war situations instead of combating with the soldiers or the military of aggressor is considered criminal and disrespect for humanity. Below is a list of crimes against humanity either in war or peace situations:-

1. Genocide and the killing of civilians in war situations which all nations of the world frowns at and condemn, attracting some form of punishment and for which international court of criminal justice has been established.

2. Felony: Is also considered as a crime, but in its case, a crime committed against one’s nation; also punishable in court of competent jurisdiction.

3. Discrimination: Because of gender differences, is a crime against humanity which is frowned at by people all over the world.

4. Sexual discrimination or discrimination based upon sexual orientations, is also considered a crime against humanity and it is frowned at by people all over the world.

5. Racial discrimination is considered a crime against humanity and it is also frowned at by all people and nations of the world.

6. Human slavery is considered a crime against humanity since the practice was put to an end and slave trade today is frowned at by all nations and governments of the world.

7. Human trafficking is also considered as a crime against humanity and it is frowned at by all nations and governments of the world, for this reason is the establishment of National Prohibition of trafficking in persons (NAPTIP) in nations of the world and collaboration of all are sought for the eradication of this crime.

8. Disrespect for the rights of individual personality is considered a crime against humanity and a bridge of human rights. This is also punishable under the laws of nations.

9. Discriminations based upon religious differences and beliefs of people or group of people is considered a crime against humanity and it is frowned at by all people and people groups across the world.

10. Drug peddling, growing and trafficking is considered a crime against humanity, punishable under the laws of nations and frowned at by all people.

11. Fraud or fraudulent practices especially yahoo or internet fraud is considered a crime against humanity, and it is frowned at by all people or people group; punishable in the law of nations.

12. Bad governance especially government of exclusion, is considered a crime against humanity as it erodes peace and peaceful co-existence granted people by the Creator God.

13. Denial of opportunities such as opportunity to be educated, or work is a crime against humanity.

14. Sexual pervasion is considered a crime against humanity and frowned at by most people of the world.

Professional Crimes against Humanity: Professional practitioners who by their callings, handle people’s problems, life issues can also commit crime against people they are called to serve unless they embrace professionalism at all times to enable them escape from litigation or punishments. Some of such professional crimes are listed below:-

a. Betrayal of trust.

b. Disrespect for the cultures, religion, belief and tradition of clients.

c. Discrimination of all forms.

d. Proselytizing in professional practice.

e. Inability to maintain professional behavior.

f. Partnering with clients to do business etc.

g. Getting beyond professional relationship.

h. Unethical behaviours.

i. Keeping relationship with client beyond professional relationship even after the end of service or in conclusion.

j. Developing affectionate feeling for client or supervisee.

k. Unholy romance with client or supervisee for personal gains or for money or business.

l. Gross indiscipline at work.

m. Fraud or fraudulent practices.

n. Deception, faking and false claims.

o. Malpractice of any kind.

p. Getting involved in clinical practices beyond one’s qualification, education and competence.

In conclusion, it is the expectation of the writer of this article for chaplains to know and come to an understanding of the fact that there are crimes against humanity even professionally and for them to be guided.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

10^th Oct, AD2022

Chaplaincy

In chaplaincy, we as the professional practitioners need to care and pay needed attention to people of all groups, tribes, nationalities, races, colours, genders, cultures and people of all religions and even people of no religion; while God, the Divine, the Ultimate, the Source of life or whatever the Creator is called heals the hurting, mends the broken hearts as well as the troubled minds; stabilizing the people who are psychologically destabilize and spiritually derailed in life with the intention of comforting people to make life better for them and fulfilling.

“We provide wholistic care services but God heals the hurting and do the mending of broken hearts through His chaplains.”

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

12^th April, AD2023

Thursday, 4 July 2024

Hope and Approach by Chaplains

Hope literally means:

a. The source of success.

b. Confidence desired.

c. An anticipation.

Apart from these definitions of hope given above and others I have not being mentioned; there is another side to hope in chaplaincy practice, chaplaincy care and service delivery.

“Can hope be given to another person who probably has lost hope, because of long time or terminal illness?”

In chaplaincy perspectives, hope is not an article, a commodity or a product that can be given to another. Professional chaplaincy practitioners especially those that offer palliative care services to terminally ill patients or care recipients have come to a discovery that hope cannot be given or transferred to another person. Why?

1. Chaplains may hope together with care recipients or patients for better situation or tomorrow.

2. Chaplains, especially palliative care chaplains can identify with their patients/care recipients to rekindle hopes in them for betterment, healing and recovery.

3. Chaplains can pray and hope together with their care recipients for miracles and hope for such; as it is only God that has the power to make miracle things happen and healing is achieved.

4. Patients or care recipients may sometimes say to chaplains, that they have a higher hope for healing and wellness than medical science and medication, in such situation, chaplains should encourage them to religiously follow their medical advice and take their medications as they patiently wait for higher hope for the healing and recovery.

While physicians may be angry to hear patients say that they have a higher hope than medical science; a bi-vocational chaplain who is a palliative care physician as well as palliative care chaplain will automatically lend support to such patients to achieve the desired goal.

Caution: As professional chaplaincy practitioners, we must learn not to reduce everything to prayers:

a. There is a sure place for prayers for miracles.

b. There is a place for medications.

c. There must be a place for various therapies.

d. There is a place for surgery.

e. There is a place for palliative care services.

f. There must be a place for chaplaincy care services.

g. There must be a place for follow ups by chaplains.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

17^th Oct, AD2022

Home Care Service

Preamble: Home care services is beginning to gain more prominence amongst various interdisciplinary professional practitioners across the world, especially professionals who offer care services to people in various communities and chaplaincy profession and its professional practitioners are no exemptions.

Why is Home Care Services Gaining Ground and Advocated? There are various reasons why home care services is advocated and considered profitable such reasons may include:-

1. Increased opportunity for service users to access and receive professional care services at the comfort of their homes or residence.

2. Providing the needed opportunity for care recipients who have mobility problems and restrictions because of illness, old age or impairment to access needed professional care services in the comfort of their homes without needing to move from their homes to care centers.

3. Well to do people who can conveniently pay for home care services, can employ professional care practitioners for needed services in their homes for the loved ones.

4. Where professional practitioners are very scarce and readily unavailable, care recipients who are well-to-do can readily obtain needed care services in the comfort of their homes.

5. Home care services also provide an enabling environment for care recipients to receive confidential services without them being unduly exposed to the general public. This however will depend on the type of care services needed.

What Professional Care Practitioners must Do in Offering Such Care Services?

1. They must learn to demonstrate total compliance with professional standard of practice even though services are to be offered in homes and residences of the cared for.

2. They must learn to demonstrate total compliance to the codes of ethics of chaplaincy profession in the discharge of their duties even though done away from practice centers or bases.

3. They have to learn to abide with the codes of conducts for practicing chaplains and the point of service provision remains their legitimate duty posts.

4. They are expected to demonstrate and show forth good professional behavior for acceptance and respect and needed trust.

5. They must endeavor to build good relationship with care recipients and their families for public recognition and acceptance.

This is important for chaplaincy profession seeking relevance and public acceptance.

Home care service is a window of opportunity that practicing professional chaplains can employ to engage in professional chaplaincy practice and service delivery, making themselves available to offer chaplaincy care services to humanity publicly as well as privately.

Other interdisciplinary professionals have employed home care services to reach out to numerous clients of theirs such as:-

a. In the education sector, we have home tutors or home teachers preparing students for national and international examinations.

b. Nurses and midwives are also known to have employed home care services to reach out to their patients in their various homes.

c. Some physicians, especially those who are still seeking to find their footings are known to be favourably disposed to home care services for them to earn needed recognition and trust.

Cost Effectiveness of Home Care Services: Home care service is cost effective as it eliminates to some extent, office or practice center investment; especially for young emerging care services providers who are yet to have established practice center and bases.

Existing practice centers seeking expansion can also employ the home care service method in offering needed care.

Wide Spectrum Home Care Services:

Preamble: There are occasions when professional care services are needed by professional practitioners, especially professional chaplains who have received authorization to practice as ‘General Chaplaincy Practitioners’ and not specialist practitioners.

Purpose: Purpose of this article is to sensitize professional chaplains to think of considering venturing into providing needed chaplaincy care and services to people in their homes for reasons best known to the practitioners, most especially those who are still battling with what to do in providing beneficial services to the public.

What were Home Care Service Entails?

1. Provision of general chaplaincy care services to care recipients in their homes which does not require attention of specialist practitioners.

2. Providing needed chaplaincy care services within the competence of chaplaincy profession.

3. Making care provision readily available to the public in their homes.

4. This kind of service is cost effective and less traumatic as care recipients remain in the comfort of their homes.

5. In case of complications; chaplains have the right to make referral to appropriate professional or colleague.

Why Home Care Service is Suitable for the Aged, Old People and People with Disabilities and Impairments without Mobility?

With home care service these set of individuals can enjoy needed care services in the comfort of their homes and residence.

Conclusion: Home care services is a form of private professional chaplaincy practice that can be employed by qualified chaplains. if other interdisciplinary professionals have found this services profitable, why will professional chaplains feel differently.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

14^th Jan, AD2022

Updating and Upgrading Oneself Professionally

We live in, sojourn and operate in an ever changing world, conditions and situations which makes it redundancy and stagnation valueless and undesirable. Therefore, updating oneself has become imperative; upgrading oneself also has become inescapable and unavoidable in life.

What is Updating Oneself?

1. Updating oneself means modernization: moving from obscurity into the light of the modern and present day.

2. An update in the technology available to one to carry out his/her professional mandates.

3. Updating information one’s disposal which can improve one’s understanding

What is Upgrading Oneself?

1. Improving oneself and practices from what is old and outdated in his/her professional practice and activities.

2. Promoting one’s professional services to suit the modern day demands and supply.

3. To improve oneself in order to offer more beneficial and profitable service to the service users in line with technological development.

Don’t be redundant, take advantage of the present situation and opportunity to update and upgrade yourself in chaplain profession, practice and service delivery. The sky will be your starting point.

Chap. David Mike-Jacobs CPC, CPST, BCC.

Professor of Anthropology, Certified Chaplaincy Educator & Trainer.

Blog: thechaplain1.blogspot.com

7^th Dec, AD2022