Clinical Pastoral Education

Overview and Purpose

Chaplains support and encourage people of all faith affiliations. A hospital chaplain uses the insights and principles of psychology, religion, spirituality, social science, and theology in working with individuals, couples, families and groups to achieve wholeness and health. Clinical Pastoral Education (CPE) is an interfaith, professional education for ministry. It brings theological students and ministers of all faiths (pastors, priests, rabbis, and others) into supervised encounters with those who are experiencing an emotional crisis. Students of the Resurrection Health Care CPE program visit patients, residents, and families in designated clinical areas under the supervision of a certified CPE Supervisor.

Resurrection Health Care's CPE program provides theological education in an interactive group environment and clinical settings, including rotations at eight RHC hospitals, senior services facilities, hospice care and behavioral health facilities to provide adult learning at various clinical placement sites. RHC offers a unique mentorship component no other CPE program in the United States does, which helps students deepen their spiritual practice and understanding of the needs of those they serve through regular one-on-one mentoring by an experienced RHC chaplain.

The involvement with persons in need, coupled with feedback from their peers and teachers, students develop new awareness of themselves. Students gain a new understanding of ministry and develop skills in interpersonal and professional relationships.

Resurrection Health Care's CPE program fully prepares students to apply for certification. The program is accredited by the United States Conference of Catholic Bishops/Commission on Certification and Accreditation (USCCB/CCA) and the Association for Clinical Pastoral Education (ACPE).

Clinical Pastoral Education
Resurrection Health Care
1127 N. Oakley Avenue
Chicago, IL 60622
Tel. 312-770-3326
Fax. 312-770-3352
cpe@reshealthcare.org

Application Requirements

• A completed CPE application (either one of the following):
  • PDF Format
    
    
  • Word document
  
  
• Sufficient background in theology, ministry, spirituality, or other related fields
  
  
• A candidate must have a bachelor's degree to apply for the two units of the Basic Level I CPE program and a Master's degree in a related field to apply for the CPE Residency program or Advance Level II units.

There is no application fee. Tuition for each unit is $550. Applicants are interviewed prior to acceptance and undergo a criminal background check, TB test, and labwork.

Types of Programs

• The residency program is a nine-month program consisting of 36 weeks, offered in three units of 11 weeks, with a one week classroom break in between the units. Approximately four residents are chosen for the program each year. In addition to a Master's degree, at least one unit of CPE is required to apply. The program requires residents to attend classroom sessions twice a week, work in a clinical setting twice a week and be on-call overnight once a week.
  
  
• The full-time intensive program consists of one 11 week unit of Basic Level I. The program requires students to attend classroom sessions twice a week, work in a clinical setting twice a week and be on-call overnight once a week.
  
  
• The part-time extended program consists of one 22 week unit of Basic Level I. The program requires students to attend classroom sessions once a week, work in a clinical setting once a week and be on-call overnight biweekly.

Calendar

• The residency program begins in September each year. Application deadline is June 30 of each year. Residents receive a stipend and health benefits.
  
  
• The full-time intensive program is only offered during the summer, June through August. Application deadline is March 31.
  
  
• The part-time extended program winter-spring unit begins in January and is completed at the end of May. Application deadline is July 31.

Program Director

Sister Paracleta Amrich, SS. C.M. has been the NACC supervising chaplain of the Resurrection Health Care Clinical Pastoral Education Program since May 2003. After spearheading the CPE program at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh and seeing it through to accreditation by the USCCB/CCA in 1989, Sister Paracleta left the program to become the General Superior of the Sisters of Saints Cyril and Methodius in Danville, PA from 1992-2000. Thereafter, while working on completing her doctoral dissertation, Sister Paracleta came to Resurrection Health Care and focused on bringing the program to a successful reaffirmation of its accreditation by the USCCB/CCA in 2005, valid through 2015. Sister Paracleta received her doctorate in theology from Duquesne University in May 2006.