The Scope of this Course
This course offers your parish ideas, suggestions, and a general framework for developing a ministry to welcome and support persons experiencing homelessness within your community. Recognizing that each parish is unique, please use this guide as a starting point to foster open discussion within your ministry and to create a program that best fits your specific context.
What You Will Learn
Throughout this resource, you will explore various approaches to accompaniment, learn how to conduct a needs assessment for your parish, and encounter stories, examples from other parishes, and helpful resources to achieve your goals. This resource utilizes videos, articles, and other materials to assist you in developing a plan for accompanying persons experiencing homelessness in your parish community. To begin, we think giving some general background information is helpful to help us start on a similar page. While we all come from different backgrounds and experiences, it is helpful to make sure we all know some basic information. You will find information on the stigma of homelessness, a general guide to accompaniment and a basic mental health literacy guide.
Contributing Members -
Committee on Mental Illness and Wellness
Brother Fred Cabras OFM Cap., LCSW
Capuchin Franciscan priest and Director of Social Services at Capuchin Soup Kitchen in Detroit. Ordained in 2019, he has experience in psychiatric social work, homelessness services, and disability ministry. He serves on the National Catholic Partnership on Disability board and its Council on Mental Illness and Wellness.
Steve Nash
Kansas City–based mental health advocate and complex trauma investigator. He highlights gaps in traditional approaches, emphasizing research on childhood trauma’s lasting effects. Steve promotes integrating faith with evidence-based science to support healing and growth, and presents trauma education programs for parishes and national faith-based audiences.
Dr. Jean Nanos, Psy.D.
Licensed clinical psychologist with 27+ years of experience serving individuals, couples, and families. Specializes in psychological testing and evidence-based therapies (CBT, DBT, ACT). Level 1 Gottman trained and PSYPACT authorized. Former nonprofit clinical director who developed school-based programs and trained clinicians.
Chris Miller, Ed.D.
Educator in the San Francisco Bay Area working with NAMI Santa Clara County supporting FaithNet. Former teacher and youth ministry leader across Catholic schools and parishes. Holds a doctorate in education and degrees in clinical psychology, canon law, and ministry. Active in mental health policy and national Catholic youth ministry leadership.
Jennifer L.K. Charles, Ph.D.
Assistant Professor at the National Catholic School of Social Service. Clinical social work background in community mental health, including crisis stabilization and mobile response. Research focuses on mental illness stigma—especially provider attitudes and help-seeking among college students. Holds a Ph.D. from Virginia Commonwealth University.
Deacon Ed Shoener
Permanent deacon in the Diocese of Scranton and founder of the Association of Catholic Mental Health Ministers, the Catholic Mental Health Institute, and The Katie Foundation. Leader in Catholic mental health ministry and co-founder of national initiatives. His advocacy was shaped by his daughter’s death by suicide in 2016.
Father Viet Nguyen
Catholic priest ordained in 2018 for the Archdiocese of Kansas City in Kansas. Holds a psychology degree from the University of Illinois at Chicago. Has served as chaplain, parochial vicar, and pastor of rural parishes, with extensive ministry supporting those facing depression, anxiety, and addiction.
Ben Wortham
Vice President for Behavioral Health Integration at Catholic Charities USA, leading integrated health strategy and supporting 168 agencies nationwide. Oversees partnerships with healthcare systems, leads the aging section, co-leads veterans initiatives, and contributes to the Healthy Housing Initiative.
Tison Thomas, Ph.D., M.S.W.
Syro-Malabar Catholic leader and Diocesan Secretary for Faith Formation in the St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Chicago, supporting 10,500+ children. Acting Director of CMHS at Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. Social work Ph.D. with 30+ years advancing behavioral health policy, programs, and disability ministry.
Example Curriculum
Example Featured Products
Showcase other available courses, bundles, and coaching products you’re selling with the Featured Products block to provide alternatives to visitors who may not be interested in this specific product.
