UA Initiative Groups Help Service Providers Grow, Learn

Dec 6, 2016 | UA News

Urban Alliance facilitates monthly groups that give service providers who participate in UA initiatives Charis or Beyond the Basics the opportunity to build skills, share resources, earn CEUs and develop networks of support. The groups also give space discussions about challenging situations and help service providers increase their self-awareness of their program’s service delivery.

Individuals from 6 different organizations in the Urban Alliance network, who provide case management services through basic needs or health ministries, participate in monthly Beyond The Basics reflective supervision meetings, and on average, 9 counselors participate in monthly Charis peer consultation group meetings.

In addition, once or twice a year, opportunities to earn continuing education credits are offered to counselors through the Charis peer consultation group.

The Charis peer consultation group is open to Christian counselors and care providers who participate in Charis, or are interested in participating. And, representatives from organizations that are receiving support from Urban Alliance to provide case management services as part of their basic needs programs or ministries are invited to attend the Beyond the Basics reflective supervision group.

For more information about participating in Beyond the Basics, Charis, or a peer consultation or reflective supervision group, contact Jessica Sanderson, Urban Alliance’s senior Director of Research & Strategy, at jessica.sanderson@urbanalliance.com or 860.986.7461.

The staff at Urban Alliance are familiar with Pastor Frank because he is a regular attendee to many of the trainings Urban Alliance provides on subjects like domestic violence, addressing childhood trauma, and better counseling techniques. “That’s been so valuable to me to be able to bring that back, not only in my counseling but also in my teaching and preaching ministries, “ shared Termine.

Pastor Frank was also one of the original members of the Micah group, a group of pastors that meets at Urban Alliance to discuss and strategize about challenging issues that face the church today. One of those earlier discussions on justice, incarceration, and returning citizens was particularly memorable. “We all lamented the fact that these men and women were coming out of prison into our churches and just kind of being thrown there,” said Termine, “We could do better than this.” That discussion planted the seeds that eventually led to the creation of Second Chance Churches – an opportunity for churches to provide support and mentoring to returning citizens that continues today.

When we asked Pastor Frank what he would say to another church that was unaware of Urban Alliance, he said, “If you are looking to get out in the community and make a difference in the community, Urban Alliance is a super way to do it. We’re a small church … we can’t do everything. Urban Alliance is a pathway to get our people involved in ministries that are already doing it, doing it well, and just need extra volunteers.”

Pastor Frank Termine’s story embodies many things we are trying to accomplish at Urban Alliance: supporting organizations in the communities they serve with training, resources, and opportunities to make a difference. Pastors and non-profit leaders face a wide range of challenges and, therefore, need a wide range of help and resources. Your support can help turn stories of struggle into stories like you find at Calvary Church.

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