Child Guidance & Family Solutions COO presents “Spiritual Assessment in Behavioral Health” at 8th All-Ohio Institute on Community Psychiatry
Robert Bender will present to over 500 Ohio psychiatrists and mental healthcare professionals
Cleveland, OH - 02-05-2007 - The 8th All-Ohio Institute on Community Psychiatry, co-sponsored by the Department of Psychiatry Case Western Reserve University and the Ohio Department of Mental Health, will be held March 16-17, 2007 at the Hilton Cleveland East in Beachwood, Ohio. The CME- CEU-accredited event will feature a special presentation on “Spiritual Assessment in Behavioral Health” by Robert Bender, Chief Operating Officer at Child Guidance & Family Solutions and Permanent Deacon of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Cleveland. Bender will discuss the importance of understanding the relationship between spirituality and one’s basic posture of life, as well as, spiritual assessments, to more than 500 psychiatrists, social workers, nurses and other mental health professionals, consumers and family members who attend the All-Ohio Institute on Community Psychiatry each year. Spiritual assessment, made popular by physicians at Brown University School of Medicine, allow health care professionals an understanding of a patient or client’s spirituality, a critical dimension in formulating a health care plan.
“Spiritual Assessment in Behavioral Health” informs behavioral health practitioners on the dimension of spirituality in one’s life and to alert them as to how this may be helpful or potentially unhelpful in creating service plans. Spirituality assessments are part of a holistic approach to health care. Bender speaks extensively on the various options of spirituality in medical practice.
Accrediting bodies consider “spiritual assessment” an integral aspect of one’s overall assessment for the purpose of formulating service plans. Some basic concepts presented in the presentation include the nature of mystery, the adaptive/maladaptive role of religious beliefs, stages of faith formation, appropriate questions, the application of a spiritual assessment to treatment, and boundary issues.
The benefits of acknowledging patient’s spirituality are endless according to Bender. “One’s spirituality significantly influences the meaning that is given to life events. Spiritual beliefs and practices, for some, strengthen their ability to withstand and transcend suffering and adversity. Both of these are significant in our efforts to help those struggling with mental illness.”
Bender has consistently provided consultations and educational/staff development presentations to other agencies on performance measurement and improvement, integration of clinical decision-making with information technology, character development, ethical decision-making and spirituality of everyday life.
Child Guidance & Family Solutions provides treatment to over 4,000 children and 1,000 adults every year, employs 150 professionals and support staff. The agency is Summit County’s leading provider of behavioral and mental healthcare to children and families. Their counselors are on-site in numerous area school districts.
Media Contact
Kim Skerl
Administrative Assistant
Child Guidance & Family Solutions
Central Office
312 Locust Street
Akron, Ohio 44302
Phone: (330) 762-4559
