Southern California Chaplains’ Association Announces: Third Annual All-Day Training Symposium Saturday, September 19, 2009 8:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. held at the Union Rescue Mission, Skid Row, downtown L.A. 545 S San Pedro St., Los Angeles A Chaplain’s Response to Homelessness and Mental Illness Caring for and ministering to the new face of homelessness due to today's current economic conditions—not because of lifestyle choice— and to those living on the streets who are afflicted with mental illness. Speakers presenting vital, current, practical information to enhance your ministries (click the links to read their biographies): Jeremiah Johnson—Welcome and Tour Steve Borja, Chief Program Officer—Chaplaincy at Union Rescue Mission Rev. Andrew (Andy) J. Bales, M.A.T., CEO of Union Rescue Mission Don Nose, Development Director—How the homeless ministry is funded, the Pastors' Lunch Program, and Heroes for Hope Linda Boyd, MN, Program Manager at Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health and liaison to the Los Angeles Police Department—Because she oversees all the mental health programs in the county that involve law enforcement, Linda will share practical experiences and ideas for ways that you can handle a wide variety of situations. This article from the Daily Journal provides inspiring insight into what she and the SMART unit do each day: "A 'Smart' Way To Help The Mentally Ill: Specially Trained Teams Of Police Officers and Clinicians Respond to Citizens in Crisis" Captain Rick Wall, Project Manager for the LAPD’s Mental Illness Project—“Law Enforcement and Mental Illness” L.A.P.D. SMART (Systemwide Mental Assessment Response Team) unit: Teams of LAPD officers and clinicians trained in dealing with individuals demonstrating suspected signs of mental illness or impairment, and aiding them and their families in accessing available services. You can apply these ideas in your community. Please see the menu and the map at the bottom of the page. Attire: Either your Chaplain uniform soft shirt with jeans and tennis shoes or non-uniform apparel with pants and tennis shoes. Basically, you want to wear comfortable clothing suitable for the optional tour of Skid Row. Many exciting door prizes will be given away!!! These prizes include FOUR passes to the Magic Castle Hint: A special gift will be given to each SCCA member who brings a Chaplain who has never attended an SCCA meeting. So, talk to other Chaplains and invite them to join us! EVERYONE'S yearly dues are due in September. If you attend the Symposium, you can pay your dues along with the Symposium registration. Even if you don't attend the Symposium, your annual $25 should be submitted this month to support SCCA's ministry and dedication to providing high quality local training events for you. The only exception is for the new SCCA members who joined the association during the past eleven months and paid at that time (they will pay again in September 2010). To donate your yearly dues without registering for the Symposium, please click on the "Donate Dues" button on the left (at the top of the page, the eleventh button down, between "Mailing List" and "Goals") or click here. To donate dues while also registering for the Symposium, continue to the blue box directly below. Registration Information Registration includes: Continental breakfast, lunch, snacks, seminars and door prizes. $25—BEFORE Sept. 16—preregistration for members whose SCCA dues are current $50—BEFORE Sept. 16—preregistration for members who need to renew their SCCA dues (if you paid your dues at the Symposium last year, then you need to renew them now) or for non-members (includes one year's dues donation of $25) AFTER Sept. 16—add $10 to the above prices for registration online or at the door. Total: $35 for members whose dues are current $60 if dues are not current or for new members (and includes one year of dues donation) Preregistration is closed. Please join us at the Symposium and register in person. Please send checks to: SCCA P.O. Box 73251 San Clemente, CA 92673 If you have any problems with the registration process, please email the webmaster with a full explanation of the issue at webmaster@SCCAChaplain.org. That way, I can look into it for you, and also ensure that the system remains workable for others. SCCA members who also belong to the International Conference of Police Chaplains (ICPC) may receive continuing education credits for attending SCCA classes. Education credits obtained through these trainings count toward the overall level of ICPC certification, but may not be used to substitute for ICPC's core curriculum requirements. To record these trainings in your ICPC educational file, please send a copy of the SCCA Training Certificate that you will receive at the event to the Credentials Chairperson at the International Conference of Police Chaplains, Attention: Credentials Committee Chairperson, P.O. Box 5590, Destin, FL 32540-5590, or scan and email the certificate to icpc@icpc.gccoxmail.com. Menu: Continental breakfast: Pastries and fruit, coffee and tea Lunch: Sandwiches and salads Snacks: Fruit, cheese, assorted chips, and cookies Drinks: Coffee, tea, water If you have specific dietary needs not met by this menu, please feel free to bring your own food, and we'll be glad to store it in the refrigerator for you. The Union Rescue Mission is in need of items for their ministry. SCCA encourages each Chaplain to bring something from the following list to donate to them: Toys for children ages 10-15 Men's and women's hygiene items: deodorant, tampons, pads, lotion, shaving cream, blades, shampoo Cases of bottled water Door-to-door directions to the Union Rescue Mission 545 S San Pedro St., Los Angeles Car pooling is strongly encouraged! So, talk with the other Chaplains from your department to decide who will drive, how many others his/her car can hold, and what time to meet. Or, for those who might choose to have an "Urban Adventure," Union Station is a short walk (15 minutes) from Union Rescue Mission. Parking: Once you arrive at the Union Rescue Mission, drive down the ramp into the basement-level parking. SCCA will have an attendant there to guide further. After you park: Follow SCCA directional signs to the elevator. Go up to first floor to reception, tell them you're with SCCA, and they'll give you an ID badge. Then, go to the Chapel on the first floor where we are meeting and eating. View Larger Map For written directions, you can go to Union Rescue Mission's Web site