the CHURCHES CARE PROGRAM
The Churches Care Program
Accompanying persons experiencing mental illnesses and addiction/SUD
Training
Training
Training
Church leaders (pastors, lay leaders, and church-connected health & mental health professionals) receive 2.5-days of
in-person training or 18 hours of online training on mental illnesses & addictions/SUD.
1.8 Clergy CEUs available from Brethren Academy.
Guidance
Training
Training
Professional clinical mental health and addictions guidance from a licensed counselor helps church leaders respond to individual needs that arise in their churches and communities.
Referral guidance, support strategies, and more.
Linking
Networking
Networking
Participating church leaders learn about mental health and addiction/SUD treatment agencies, halfway houses, and support programs, to increase church leaders’ knowledge of local treatment resources, and their ability to refer and connect individuals in their church and community to effective treatment and support.
Networking
Networking
Networking
Interact and Network with other participating church leaders (pastors, lay leaders or health professionals) in your cohort to share resources and lessons learned.
Resources
Assessment
Assessment
Diverse mental health and addiction/SUD resources will increase your knowledge and help you create a resource and referral list for your church congregation.
Assessment
Assessment
Assessment
Church Assessment and Consultation
Supplementary to the course, this confidential congregational questionnaire helps each church identify areas of strength and areas for growth in how their congregation perceives the church is supporting people experiencing mental illnesses or addictions. Church leaders receive a confidential results report and in-person consultation to help them understand and respond to the results.
PRESENTERS
Janelle Bitikofer, MSW, LCSW
Jannah Welcome, Trauma Trainer and Facilitator
Janelle Bitikofer, MSW, LCSW
Janelle Bitikofer, MSW, LCSW is a mental health and addictions counselor and educator with more than twenty years of experience assisting individuals and families. She has worked in all levels of mental health and addictions treatment, from psychiatric hospitals and inpatient drug treatment programs to outpatient counseling and emergenc
Janelle Bitikofer, MSW, LCSW is a mental health and addictions counselor and educator with more than twenty years of experience assisting individuals and families. She has worked in all levels of mental health and addictions treatment, from psychiatric hospitals and inpatient drug treatment programs to outpatient counseling and emergency response services. Janelle is the Executive Director of We Rise International and the author of “Streetlights” a mental health and addictions guidebook for Christians. She has served in leadership roles in various churches since 1996.
Mark Troyer, Lay Leader
Jannah Welcome, Trauma Trainer and Facilitator
Janelle Bitikofer, MSW, LCSW
Mark Troyer is an accountant and a lay leader at two churches. He is part of a house church plant in State College, PA and serves as an online host for Calvary Church in Boalsburg, PA (where he has also helped with men's ministry). He provides volunteer accounting support to City Church Ministries (an association of churches in the St
Mark Troyer is an accountant and a lay leader at two churches. He is part of a house church plant in State College, PA and serves as an online host for Calvary Church in Boalsburg, PA (where he has also helped with men's ministry). He provides volunteer accounting support to City Church Ministries (an association of churches in the State College area). Mark enjoys spending time with his wife and young daughter, songwriting and playing music (influenced by Sara Groves and Bob Dylan), and studying the Bible and theology.
Jannah Welcome, Trauma Trainer and Facilitator
Jannah Welcome, Trauma Trainer and Facilitator
Jannah Welcome, Trauma Trainer and Facilitator
Jannah Welcome is a Big Leap Certified Coach with the Hendricks Institute; Trainer & healing group Facilitator with the Trauma Healing Institute; and Founder of Sound Happiness, helping individuals live free from the effects of trauma.
PRESENTERS
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Carmen Nahir Medina is a Certified Family Recovery Specialist who works as a Case Manager for individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorder at the Naaman Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is the Board Director and Presenter on addictions and families for the GOAL Project (Global Addiction Recovery Partners), an addiction educatio
Carmen Nahir Medina is a Certified Family Recovery Specialist who works as a Case Manager for individuals experiencing Substance Use Disorder at the Naaman Center in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. She is the Board Director and Presenter on addictions and families for the GOAL Project (Global Addiction Recovery Partners), an addiction education organization. Carmen serves as a church youth leader and part-time missionary, and she is passionate about assisting Spanish communities and others with substance use disorder, encouraging them to make positive changes in their lives. With over seven years of professional experience, and personal experience with addiction in her family, Carmen's motivation is to educate the community and church to understand and respond to the disease of Substance Use Disorder.
Scott Theurer, Certified Recovery Specialist
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Scott Theurer is a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and a man in long-term recovery from substance use disorder. For the past several years he has been involved in the recovery advocacy movement in Lancaster County which works to strengthen recovery within individuals and our various communities. As Chairperson of The Lancaster Co
Scott Theurer is a native of Lancaster County, Pennsylvania and a man in long-term recovery from substance use disorder. For the past several years he has been involved in the recovery advocacy movement in Lancaster County which works to strengthen recovery within individuals and our various communities. As Chairperson of The Lancaster County Recovery Alliance since 2015, Scott has been involved with the creation of Joining Forces Lancaster and Project Lazarus Lancaster County. He is also part of the team presenting the annual Recovery Day Lancaster event in September.
Most recently Scott has consulted for the Pennsylvania Certification Board with a team of peers reviewing CRS testing curriculum and with the Donegal Substance Abuse Alliance on a program designed for recovering individuals who are re-entering communities after an incarceration. Scott is the Director of Recovery Environments for R3 House/ R3 Recovery Services a residential recovery program in Lancaster PA.
Linda Witmer, RN, MPH, MSPH, MDiv.
Carmen Nahir Medina, Certified Family Recovery Specialist
Linda Witmer, RN, MPH, MSPH, MDiv.
Linda Witmer is the past Director of the RN-BS in Nursing program at Eastern Mennonite University Lancaster. She has 18 years of college-level teaching experience in nursing programs. Linda has worked internationally, serving under both Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Mission with the K’ekchi’ Maya people in Guatemala.
Linda Witmer is the past Director of the RN-BS in Nursing program at Eastern Mennonite University Lancaster. She has 18 years of college-level teaching experience in nursing programs. Linda has worked internationally, serving under both Mennonite Central Committee and Eastern Mennonite Mission with the K’ekchi’ Maya people in Guatemala. Her work as a community health nurse in Coatesville, PA led to the initiation of Bridge of Hope, Inc. a non-profit organization serving homeless women and children. Linda is also a trained spiritual director and leads retreats. She is involved in leadership roles at Laurel Street Mennonite Church .