Refugee Immigration Ministry
“Building Community With Uprooted People to Serve the Common Good.”
Refugee Immigration Ministry
Developing Our Spiritual Care Giver’s Program
RIM began in 1986 as a
ministry to detainees.
Spiritual Care Givers are trained to…
Visit detained immigrants Offer the gift of listening Offer Spiritual Care appropriate for
detained persons Bring hope out of isolation Help a person tap inner resources
Refugee Immigration MinistryStarting Our Training Program
A Multi-discipline committee
Conversation and buy-in from ICE
Buy-in from faith-group leadership
Meetings with facilities early in planning
Including ICE and COEs in training
Steps To Building SCG Program
Building Your Training Team
Recruiting Trainees
Planning A Training Schedule
Inviting speakers for various topics
Supporting Volunteers
Administrative Procedures
Building a Training Team
What is needed? Small Group Leaders (Identify 4-6
months in advance so people have time to schedule 8 training sessions.)
Speakers (Identify 3-4 months in advance, provide directions, a copy of the training manual and schedule)• Outside speakers broaden the community
investment• Help build networks with other providers
Training Components Subjects
Loneliness Separation Shame and Guilt Grief Depression Trauma Suicide Family Systems Violence: Sexual
Assault, Domestic Violence, Racism
Operational Issues Legal INS Prison Culture Prison Regulations
Faith Issues Faith Rituals Spirituality of Healing Interfaith Ministry
Training Components cont.
Active Listening Skills Heart of the
training Can be
transforming for trainees
Need practice in role play
Builds the team Is interactive
Self-Care Essential for good
service delivery Encouraged strongly
In-Service Retreat Saturday session to
focus on issues Small groups required
Tips for Finding Speakers What organization can help you identify
interested people with expertise? Who on the Planning Team or last year’s
trainees can help with this? For example: Can you get a Pastoral
Counseling Center to co-sponsor? Are there hospital chaplains in your area?
Military? Prison? Retired? Trauma Therapists
Recruiting Trainees Complete application Participate in an interview Take 30 hours of training Participate in an ongoing small group Participate in ongoing visitation Participate in in-service training Maintains confidentiality, respects facility
rules and keeps good boundaries
Selection and Participation Issues Spiritual Care Givers may not have
prior felony convictions. SCGs will agree to adhere to all
prison and ICE rules and regulations when in the facilities.
SCGs will not participate in advocacy efforts in the same community where they are SCGs.
Selection and Participation Issues: Will work with all faiths All SCGs will sign a non-proselytizing
agreement and a confidentiality agreement.
All SCGs will the highest level of confidentiality and professional conduct.
Interviews Need to be done by trainers,
face-to-face to screen dysfunctional applicants
Helps welcome trainee to the group
Helps plan for the small groups References must be checked
Management of TrainingSmall Groups Try to make groups diverse Help people deal with their own material, share
with others and build the team
Evaluation of Trainees is on-going At interview During training During colleague groups
Feedback is essential Must be given to promote learning
Task List Interviewing Prospective Trainees Additional Articles for reading requested Set up and handle lending library Set up Small Groups Schedule devotions Plan for snacks, including light supper opening
night. Music on arrival Role Play Cards for final weeks of training Equipment to tape sessions Hosting speakers Teaching listening skills: Requires 7 pairings to
explain, demonstrate and guide practice. Identify small group leaders
Support of Volunteers1. The importance of team formation Role Play Small group sharing
2. Follow up In-service training Support groups (Participation required for
continued visitation)
3. Sharing Faith Resources Opening Meditation Sharing of Rituals
Support of Volunteers cont.
4. Debriefing and Processing of sessions
5. Journals
6. Staff feedback to volunteers
Support of Volunteers cont.
7. Prison Visits Respect for Prison Rules is Required Background Check is often Required
8. Installation and Recognition Tracking Hours Group Participation
9. An annual retreat
Public Relations Regional Offices of Denominations Council of Churches Press Release to religions press Academic Institutions General Press release TV- Announcements Congregations Ethnic Organizations
Fund Raising
Building your support base Who are your constituents? What are the interests of
constituents which can be met by this program?
Values Underlying Project Development
Recognizing that solace in religion is beneficial to all, the spiritual care project seeks to:
Provide appropriate spiritual care for all detainees as desired
Exhibit respect for all faith traditions Provide clinically and professionally trained and
accountable spiritual care givers Develop an authentically collaborative and
respectful relationship with the ICE Provide spiritual care for the whole institution
(detainees and staff) Develop a sense of community
Values cont. Validate present programs and, if suitable,
complement them by the addition of the spiritual care givers program
Eliminate individual isolation (within the institution) of staff.
Link detainees and staff to faith communities
Facilitate community integration Practice authentic spiritual discipline as
foundation and motivation of the project Encourage inclusivity and diversity among
the participants.
Volunteer Recognition Each person who completes training
is given a certificate of completion. Second level of certification given
when: Completion of 12 months of visitation Interview with training director
Acknowledgements Refugee Immigration Ministry gratefully
acknowledges the input and support given by:
Church World Service Episcopal Migration Ministries Lutheran Immigration Refugee Service Presbyterian Disaster Assistance United Methodist Committee on Relief Jesuit Refugee Service
Resources Available from RIM RIM can arrange for onsite consultation
as program is built You may order copies of training manual RIM may assist with planning, training and
recognition on site RIM will welcome anyone who wants to
take the training in Boston Phone consultation is available
Refugee Immigration Ministry
119 Exchange StreetMalden, MA 02148
Phone: 781-322-1011Fax: 781-322-1013E-Mail: [email protected]: www.r-i-m.net
We Can Make a Difference!
The human spirit can endure almost anything except the sense that the world has forgotten him or her and has no concern for what is happening.
Bruno Bettleheim
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