Understanding Addiction & Supporting Recovery 

Strategies and tools for clergy and pastoral leaders

A unique opportunity for clergy and other congregational leaders to receive the latest information, resources and strategies on how to educate and give hope to individuals and families suffering from the impact of addiction.This is one of only two trainings to be held in this country and we are very pleased to have secured one for our area.

The seminar is presented by The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) and The Clergy Education and Training Project® of the National Association for Children of Alcoholics (NACoA), with its partners SpiritWorks Foundation and the Addictions and Recovery Commission of the Diocese of Southern Virginia.

 Objectives:

• Raise awareness of how addiction to alcohol and other drugs impacts individuals and their families, with special attention to children of addiction;  
• Discuss the role of clergy and congregations in offering information, hope and recovery support for individuals and family members affected by addiction;  
• Review core competencies for clergy and other pastoral ministers, their applicability to the current opioid epidemic, and learn of practical congregation-based strategies for education and implementation of SBIRT's applicability to interventions at the congregational level.  
• Connect with local prevention, treatment, and recovery support organizations to address substance use disorders and the faith community's role in prevention, screening and brief intervention to arrest the problem and recovery support.
  

Facilitated by Art Mellor, MSW, Retired Director of Special Programs on Substance Abuse and Related Violence of the United Methodist Church, and Sis Wenger, President and CEO of National Association for Children of Alcoholics, with support provided by SAMHSA.

Cost: $15 for lunch