34th Annual Spiritual Care Day
October 24 @ 8:00 am - 12:30 pm
Spiritual Care in Addiction Treatment
Thursday, October 24th – 8:00AM-12:30PM
May Memorial Unitarian Universalist Society, Syracuse
This will be an in-person event with limited remote viewing access
Registration is Closed
Addiction doesn’t discriminate. It affects people of all economic strata, ages, sexual orientations, races, ethnic identities and religions. How do we as professional chaplains in hospitals and correctional facilities – together with communities of faith – respond to the needs of those facing addiction and overdose deaths, and the needs of their families and friends? This program will address such issues in congregational and institutional settings, and will help both chaplains and community-based spiritual caregivers to minister to patients, family and friends.
Featured Speakers
Dr. Tolani Ajagbe, FASAM, serves as the Chief of Psychiatry and Medical Director, Addiction Treatment Services at Crouse Health, in Syracuse, NY. He is also an Associate Professor of Psychiatry at SUNY Upstate Medical University, where he serves as the Division Chief of Addiction Psychiatry and Program Director, Addiction Psychiatry Fellowship. Dr. Ajagbe will present Opioid Epidemic in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Engaging Faith-Based Communities.
The Rev. Jana Biesanz, CT, is the Director of Mission Outreach and Education for Francis House. She has previously served as the Program Director for Authentic Presence, an end-of-life educational program, and as an Interfaith chaplain for Hospice of Central New York. An Association for Death Education & Counseling (ADEC) certified thanatologist, Rev. Biesanz trained in clinical pastoral education through SUNY Upstate’s Department of Spiritual Care. She brings 17 years of contemplative training and practice to the spiritual care, grief support and end-of-life education she offers.
The Rev. Kate Day will present “Research Literature on Spiritual Care in Addiction Treatment: An Overview.” Rev. Day has been the InterFaith Works Managing Chaplain at Crouse Health in Syracuse, NY, since 2009. She is an Episcopal priest in the Diocese of Central New York, and lives in DeWitt with her husband, Bill.
The Rev. Robert Searle has been a staff chaplain at Crouse Health since 2016. In 2023, he took over the Addiction Treatment Services Ministry for inpatients and outpatients at Crouse. His education includes a BS from Cornell University, a MDiv from Princeton Theological Seminary, a DMin from Asbury Theology Seminar, and a MA from St. John’s College. He has eight units of Clinical Pastoral Education to include a year Chaplain Residency at the Duke University Medical Center.
Ticket/registration options include:
- Live in-person event, including breakfast – $35.00
- Access to live online viewing of the event on Zoom (not interactive) – $25.00
- Access to a post-event recording only – $15.00
- All registration options include viewing access up to 14 days after the event
- Zoom live stream user/password links will be emailed to registrants on Wednesday, October 23rd
REGISTRATION IS CLOSED
For more information contact The Rev. Kate Day at
315-762-2141, or email revkatherineday@crouse.org
Back by popular demand – breakfast provided by Who Want Smoke BBQ & Catering
(no pork products)
Spiritual Care Week is a time of both celebration and education. Organizations and institutions throughout the world will recognize spiritual care providers as well as the spiritual care given through professional chaplaincy and pastoral counseling within our communities.
The 2024 theme is: “Chaplains Beyond Religious Roles.” Chaplains are viewed through a lens whereby they collaborate in many different roles with many different professionals to provide holistic interdisciplinary care, which otherwise would not be complete if the chaplain were not included.
Event Program Schedule
8:00 – 8:45AM: Registration and breakfast
9:00AM: Welcome and introductions, housekeeping details – invocation
9:00 – 10:20AM: Dr. Tolani Ajagbe presentation, including Q&A – Opioid Epidemic in the COVID-19 Pandemic Era: Engaging Faith-Based Communities
10:20 – 10:35AM: Break
10:35 – 11:05AM: The Rev. Robert Searle presentation – Moral Injury in Addiction Treatment Spiritual Care
11:05 – 11:15AM: Break
11:15 – 11:35AM: The Rev. Kate Day presentation – Research Literature on Spiritual Care in Addiction Treatment: An Overview
11:35AM – 12:20PM: The Rev. Jana Biesanz presentation – Healing Our Own Grief: A Model Ritual for a Diverse Group
12:20 – 12:30PM: Evaluations, CE certificates – benediction