The diocese in partnership with the Department of Behavioral Health and Intellectual disAbility Services (DBHIDS) has initiated a pastoral care line (called the warm line) that will be inter-denominational. This will run parallel to their crises line to support the spiritual wellness of Philadelphia communities.
DBHIDS is inviting all clergy to consider volunteering to offer pastoral presence. This is a new opportunity for clergy from various faith communities to become embedded in NAMI's (National Alliance on Mental Illness') existing warmline.
For many people who call, behavioral health challenges do not rise to the level of crisis. In these situations, a warm conversation can offer effective support. Volunteers will create a caring space for community members who would benefit from this type of support.
Embedding clergy into this line is part of DBHIDS’ vision to see Philadelphians achieve health and well-being through multiple pathways. Our mission is to inform all communities inclusive of faith and spiritual communities about behavioral health services and wellness opportunities while reducing the stigma around behavioral health.
Those interested will receive a free three-hour training (virtually or in-person) from NAMI to provide spiritual support to callers on its warmline.
This training will provide you with the tools to assist callers seeking spiritual support, assess if a caller is at risk of harm, and refer to crisis services, as appropriate. Individuals who complete the training must commit to a minimum of four hours weekly and meet quarterly to go over new information and updates.
If you are interested in this opportunity please contact tsmyth@diopa.org
