1. Clinical Pastoral Education
Prayer:
Sisters Hospital
CPE Program
2157 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214

2. Sisters of Charity Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) Program
CPE is interfaith professional training for ministry.
It brings theological students, ministers and laypersons of all faiths into supervised encounters with persons in need.
Out of an intense involvement with persons in need, and the feedback
from peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of
themselves as persons, and of the needs of those to whom they
minister.
Within the interdisciplinary team process of helping persons, students
develop skills in inter-personal and inter-professional relationships.

3. Program Description Actual practice of ministry to persons
Detailed reporting and evaluation of that practice
Pastoral supervision
A process approach to learning
A theoretical perspective on all elements of the program
An individual contract for learning.
We are the only accredited CPE center in WNY
Changing our program as the face of healthcare and CH changes – moving into places where people are
Collaborating with other departments – connecting CPE and Spiritual Care
Helping to educate community resources that are already adding value to CH – Eucharistic Ministers, community clergy
Suicide prevention
Addiction & the Opioid Crisis
Advance Directives
Cultural Competency and Cultural Humility
Institutional Racism
Disparities in Healthcare – Justice Involved Persons, Behavioral Health, Refugees/Immigrants, People of Color

4. The Individual Learning Contract
A Student’s Learning Contract is personalized and is developed around the following issues:
Personal Growth
Professional Growth
Theological/Spiritual Growth
CPE Residents and Interns lower costs

5. Required Hours
1 Unit = 400 hours
At least hours
in group process
At least hours
in ministry
4 Units = 1600 hours required for national certification as a chaplain

6. Didactics
Throughout the unit, students are engaged in learning didactics.
A Didactic is a presentation on a specific spiritual care topic where the presenter invites the CPE student to integrate relevant experience
with the content.
All didactics have a theoretical basis.
This helps to provide the “why” of the process as well as the intended outcome.
Workforce includes, chaplains, CPE residents, interns, area clergy, Eucharistic ministers, Stephen Ministers and faith Community nurses

7. Verbatim Reports/ Pastoral Consultations
Report of a conversation
with a patient/client
Analysis from psychological, theological sociological, and pastoral perspectives
Opportunity to give and receive feedback.
2021
CEC begins Phase I training
CEC can conduct trainings other than CPE , and plan workshops within and external to CH
Explore expanding CPE:
Worshops/Symposiums
One with Upstate NY CPE Centers
One for WNY spiritual care providers/chaplains hosted by CH
By this time we are doing 2 workshops

8. IPR (Interpersonal Relationship Group)
Opportunity to
gain awareness of thoughts, feelings and emotions.
Lab for looking
at interpersonal and intrapersonal
dynamics.
2022
CEC can run a CPE unit independently under supervision at SOCH
Increases the number of CPE units we can offer and the number of CPE students who can enroll

9. Supervisory Conference
CEC can run a CPE unit independently under supervision at SOCH or MHB
2nd residency increases Medicare Reimbursement at CH
Regular one-on-one with supervisor

10. Ministry Placement Sites
Hospitals
Sisters of Charity Hospital/Main Street Campus
Sisters of Charity Hospital/St. Joseph Campus
Continuing Care facilities
St. Catherine Laboure
Villa LIFE
OLV PACE
Addiction Treatment Centers
Pathways Program
Primary Care Centers
St. Vincent Health Center
Our Lady of Victory Family Health Center
Mercy Comprehensive Care Clinic

11. Fall/Spring Extended Unit
Schedule of Units
Summer Unit
May 26 – August 6, 2020
(11 40 hrs/wk)
Fall/Spring Extended Unit
September 15, – March 25, 2021
(26 17 hrs/wk)

12. Sisters Hospital CPE Accreditation
Sisters of Charity Hospital Clinical Pastoral Education Program is accredited by the ACPE, Inc. and affiliated with the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA)
Contact Information
ACPE, Inc.
ACPE: The Standard for Spiritual Care & Education
55 Ivan Allen Jr. Blvd., Suite 835
Atlanta, Georgia 30308
Phone: (404)
Fax: (404)
Website:
USCCB/CCA
3211 South Lake Drive, Suite 317
St. Francis, WI
(414) (office)
(414) (fax)
ACPE is recognized by the U.S. Department of Education. This allows centers to provide educational credits to Seminary and College Students.
Staff chaplains grow in pastoral excellence by serving as mentors for CPE students.
Spiritual Care team is involved in ongoing formation: monthly Journal Club, didactic sessions, opportunities via NACC, APC and ACPE.
Collaboration with Graduate Medical Education leadership to foster collaboration between Spiritual Care and the medical providers.
Plan and participate in IMPACT Rounds for hospital staff.

13. Certification
Students can be nationally certified as a chaplain after completing 4 units of CPE. In order to obtain certification a student must also have a Masters of Theology or Masters of Divinity degree. The national certifying centers are The Association of Professional Chaplains [APC], The National Association of Catholic Chaplains [NACC] Neshema Association of Jewish Chaplains (NAJC) and Association of Muslim Chaplains (AMC).
In some cases, students who complete less than 4 units of CPE and have completed some theological coursework with a significant amount of ministry experience, are able to obtain work in the area of chaplaincy. However, this is at the discretion of the employer.
CPE students offer prayer with staff, patients and families as a part of their educational process.
The majority of CH staff chaplains (approximately 85-90%) have completed their training through our CPE program. Those hired already have familiarization with Catholic Health ministries, policies, processes and systems through their CPE training. This results in an expedited orientation and application of skills. Those not hired carry experiences from Catholic Health into our community.
Increase the visibility and availability (300 clinical hrs/unit, this year 16 students (ytd) contributed 5500 hours (ytd) to patient care) of spiritual care providers in all of the Catholic Health ministries across the continuum.
Host memorial services and interdenominational worship services at our two campuses to include St. Catherine Laboure (SCL) and Pathways.

14. CPE Facts
The Sisters Hospital CPE Program has been offering CPE programs since 1993!
More than 250 students have participated in CPE within the Catholic Health System.
Nearly all of the certified hospital chaplains in WNY have participated in the CPE Program at Sisters of Charity Hospital.
The CPE Program at Sisters Hospital is the only accredited ACPE Program in WNY. The nearest CPE Program is located in Rochester, NY.
CPE peer groups are frequently diverse, with regard to ethnic/cultural heritage (Egyptian, Nigerian, Ghanian, Polish, e.g.), age, sexual orientation and gender expression
CPE as interfaith professional education explores attitudes, values, beliefs and assumptions in a microcosm of spiritual diversity (Roman Catholic, Protestant, Unitarian Universalist, Orthodox Jew, Humanist, e.g.)
Professional Advisory Committee includes members from different faith traditions and spiritual care contexts
Offer financial assistance to students unable to afford CPE tuition

15. Application Requirements
A completed application (this includes autobiography & resume)
A $50 application fee
A 4 year college degree (may be waived in lieu of ministry experience)
Ability to reflect on ministry and learn from experiences
An admission interview
Ability to reflect theologically, often demonstrated by graduate theological study, though not required
Ability to participate in an Adult Learning Model
Community Based CPE program (served justice involved individuals, those living with AIDS, the homeless, etc.)
Congregation Based CPE Satellite helped to form clergy leaders
Trained spiritual care providers for local healthcare institutions (Hospice Buffalo, Roswell Park, e.g.)
Utilized community hospitals (Olean General Hospital, Batavia General Hospital, e.g.) as clinical sites

16. Contact Information
Clinical Pastoral Education Department
2157 Main Street
Buffalo, NY 14214
(office) (fax)
Mrs. Nancy Koteras – Administrative Assistant
Fr. Christopher Okoli-Director of CPE
The Rev. Mary Ann Brody – ACPE Certified Educator