Bringing EAP to Faith Communities: Genesis of a Canadian Congregational Assistance Plan

Abstract

Inspired by Employee Assistance Programming, this article reviews the evolution of a parallel process for a different constituency, members of faith communities, a Congregational Assistance Plan. The relationship between spirituality and counselling in Canada is discussed leading to a review of the process through which two Christian-based counselling agencies developed a network to serve the personal and mental health needs of church parishioners. The goals of the Congregational Assistance Plan are presented along with its structuring, implementation and utilization data for the churches that piloted the initiative.