Board Certification

1. Board Certification With the National Association of Catholic Chaplains • Education for Interviewers

2. Outline • Overview • Certification Timeline • Writing PRPI • Conducting the Interview • Writing PRPII • Conclusion • Interview Team Educators

3. I. Overview • Professional Integrity • Interviewers • Certification Process • Roles & Responsibilities • Collaboration • Certification Timeline

4. I. Overview, cont. The professional integrity of NACC depends upon the quality of our certified chaplains; therefore; interviewers, hold a significant role within the association and field of chaplaincy.

5. I. Overview, cont. Interviewers collaborate with… Interviewers on team and Interview Team Educators to assess competency and make recommendations.

6. I. Overview, cont. The Certification Commission relies on ONLY Presenter’s Report II to discern their conferring of certification They receive the PRPII written by the Interview Team and do not have any other material on which they base their decision.

7. I. Overview, cont. The Certification Process is designed to allow each applicant the opportunity to demonstrate: • Their Competency as a chaplain • Readiness for NACC Certification as set out in the Standards for NACC, including those particular to Catholic Theology and Ethics

8. Note re: Applicant Readiness • The NACC National Office conducts an official Binder Review in conjunction with the NACC Certification Commission prior to the applicant being scheduled for an interview • Materials are checked for completeness only (i.e. is everything included that is required?) • Neither the National Office nor the Certification Commissioners read for the quality of the content during the initial binder review • The interview process itself is intended to be a thorough review of the applicant’s readiness for certification (neither the NACC office nor the Certification Commission pre-approve an applicant’s readiness for certification during the Binder Review process)

9. Roles/Responsibilities Interviewersengage in the entire interview process which includes orientation materials & post test, PRPI, PRPII, recommendation, and completion of all forms and evaluations • Interview Team Educator (ITE) manages the entire interview process from beginning to end and is responsible for the quality of PRPI and PRPII, and completion of all forms and evaluations • Site Coordinator provides space and accommodations during the interview weekend. Coordinate and manage documents Locate chaplain to provide pastoral presence, if possible • Certification Commission confers certification based upon PRPII report written by the interview team

10. Never write in the Applicant’s materials

11. II. Certification Timeline • National Office • Interviews • Interview Team Educators

12. II. Certification Timeline cont. 1. National Office • Postmark deadlines for applicants to submit materials • Feb 15th for October Interviews (same year) • Sept 15th for May Interviews (following year) • Checks applicant’s materials for • 1-completeness of documents NOT content • 2-Education (CPE & Academic), with attention to Catholic Theology • 3-Endorsement • For materials not received by interviewer. 45 days in advance of the interview, contact your ITE who will then confer with the National Office

13. II Certification Timeline, cont. 2-Interviewer focus • Interviewers must update their training by reviewing the study slides (online) and taking the post test prior to the initial conference call • Interviewers are encouraged to participate in this call with the ITE from their site and members of their three person team

14. II. Certification Timeline cont. 2. Interviewer focus • New interviewers sign Confidentiality and Role & Responsibility Statements and submit to office • All provide NACC with address where materials are to be sent • Upon Receipt of materials • Contact ITE to report completeness (next day) • Participate in team conference phone call with ITE • Confer with team members via phone conference set up by one of the team members • PRPI to ITE for approval (at least 2 weeks before weekend) • PRPI to Site Coordinator (at least 90 minutes before interview) • Attend interview weekend, hold to timeline • Complete evaluation, peer review, & expense report

15. Do not write in the Applicant’s materials!!!

16. II. Certification Timeline cont. 3. Interview Team Educators • Contact Interviewers to set up team conference for review of post test and address any questions, concerns • Assess all PRPI (at least 2 weeks prior to weekend) and return to Presenters • Offer second team call to focus on writing of PRPII • Visit the site prior to the beginning of the weekend • Maintain integrity of interview day timeline, process, and PRPII

17. III. Writing PRPI • After reading Applicant’s materials, PRPI helps focus the team and the Applicant for the interview process • All areas checked in “Needs Clarification” are to be addressed in the question section • Reports are designed to give the Applicant an opportunity to satisfy the interview team of competency not obvious in the written materials

18. III. Writing PRPI • Standards that “Need Clarification” are addressed in a question that seeks competency in this area • Three standards can be addressed in each question with a maximum of five questions. You have only fifty (50) minutes for the interview • Applicants who raise significant questions need prioritization as to the most significant. Working with your team will help • Standards must be cited • Pre and proscriptive language is inappropriate

19. III. Writing PRPI, cont. • Interviewers and ITEs should work together on behalf of excellence • Correct grammar and spelling are vital as this is a professional document • ITEs may recommend wording changes to coincide with Standards or for clarity If the ITE does not understand questions or wording, perhaps Applicant and/or Commission may not either

20. IV. Conducting the Interview, cont.-Waivers Waivers are necessary… • If materials are late in getting to one or more Interviewers • If an Interviewer is absent • If an Interviewer is replaced at the last minute • If an Applicant hears PRPI over the phone These situations all require a waiver. Waivers are available at interview site through Site Coordinator or ITE and are to be signed prior to commencing the interview

21. IV. Conducting the Interview, cont. ITEs, Interviewers, and Site Coordinators working as a TEAM must: • Know the strengths and limitations of one another in writing of PRPII in a 60 minute timeframe • Bring along a familiar laptop, if feasible • Coming “prayed up,” rested and on time is vital • Keep the focus on the Applicant by: • Following the timeline • Holding to discussion area questions and citing Standards • Working together • Assure Professionalism!

22. IV. Conducting the Interview, cont., Closure • Applicant escorted to interview space • Materials are returned and receipt is signed • PRPII is read and clarified only if necessary • Not the time to re-engage in interview dialogue • Remind Applicant • Team recommends, Cert. Commission decides • When the Cert. Commission meets next • There is an appeal process-denied Applicant will be informed • Pastoral care offered by Site Coordinator to those denied

23. V. Writing the PRPII

24. V. Writing the PRPII, cont. Timeline • Written after face-to-face interview • Team has ninety minutes to draft report and get ITE approval This time does go by quickly • Know your team strengths in advance. Who writes well? who likes to word process?, etc. • Poorly drafted reports may result in an appeal or an overturned recommendation • Do not ask applicant to return until the 90 minutes is complete

25. V. Sample Reports - PRPII • In the “Process” section: Note the dynamics manifested by the Applicant in his/her interaction with the team Good examples (which hint at final recommendation) “The Applicant made good eye contact and responded openly to the team’s questions with humor, thoughtfulness and candor.” “The Applicant seemed anxious and seldom made eye contact. Although the Applicant answered some of the questions openly, his/her responses seemed defensive.”

26. V. Sample Reports - PRPII In the “Content” section: • All Standards checked in the “Needs Clarification” and cited in the “Interview Discussion” questions on PRPI must be addressed here in PRPII • This is where the team indicates how Applicant demonstrated competency (or not) for each of the above, with examples, and Standards cited and gives an indication as to what their recommendation is

27. V. Sample Reports - PRPII In the “Content” Section: • Team members need not agree but must indicate reason(s) for the split vote. The rationale for the endorsing AND dissenting opinion must be clearly articulated • Content issues must follow the order of the questions as they appear on the PRPI

28. V. Sample Reports - PRPII In the “Recommendations” section: • Recommendations should flow logically from what has already been said – no surprises • Must not prescribe remedies Bad Examples:“ Jane Doe should have another unit of CPE” “John Doe needs therapy” Good Example: “The team encourages this Applicant to continue actively seeking peer support and feedback in order to grow in the area of_____.” (Standard cited)

29. V. Sample Reports - PRPII Whatever appears in the “Recommendations” section becomes an integral part of: • Renewal of Certification in five years • Re-application process if Applicant is not certified

30. VI. Conclusion • NACC Certification is a process that requires a team of professionals • Prepared Applicants • Educated and Prepared Interviewers • Interview Team Educators • Site Coordinators • Certification Commissioner for weekend questions • Certification Commission

31. VII. Interview Team Educators • Mrs. Carolanne B. Hauck — Lead ITEcbhauck@lghealth.org • Sr. Anne K. Breitag, OPabreitag@yahoo.com • Rev. Timothy F. BushyTimothy.bushy@providence.org • Ms. Nancy Cooknancy.cook@christushealth.org • Mr. Augustine O. Durugusduru@yahoo.com • Ms. Ginger E. Geedingeaglegeg@gmail.com • Bro. Kenney Gorman, CFXkgorman@presencehealth.org • Mr. James P. Letourneaujimlet0523@hotmail.com • Ms. Bonnie J. McCulleybonnie.mcculley@dignityhealth.org • Dr. Matthias J. Mergesmmerges@chicagobooth.edu • Dr. Anne Murphyannenmur@att.net • Mr. Wilson O. Villamarwilsonvillamar@hotmail.com • Mrs. Cheryl Wilson Weisscherylweissaz@gmail.com • Lindsey Tews — Staff LiaisonLindsey.Tews@nacc.org

32. Document Links All of the documents referenced in this presentation are available on the NACC website under the “Certification” tab at www.nacc.org

33. We thank you for your continued interest and involvement in the of NACC… The Certification Process!