To equip schools and chaplains to serve the spiritual needs of PK-12 students, staff, and their families. To give teachers and students the tools they need to make quality life decisions to succeed in every area of life. We display Christ in what we say and do. We meet people where they are, no matter the circumstance, to show compassion and love just as Jesus would. A program that has grown over 7000% in 5 years begs the question as to why? The chaplain program has run long enough to separate trends from anomalies. The primary role of a school chaplain is that of a spiritual counselor. School chaplains address a broad array of spiritual and personal issues beyond academics. Chaplains discuss problems at school and home, applying Biblical solutions and prayer. There is a worldwide lack of school counselors. In the U.S., the ratio of Licensed Professional Counselors (LPC) to students is 1/1200. The American Association of School Counselors recommends 1/300. Internationally, school counselors are even in a shorter supply. Unlike traditional school counselors, chaplains endeavor to meet with the parents or guardians as often as possible. This reinforces students’ goals and objectives by allowing chaplains to address family issues. By necessity, schools must begin at the bottom of Maslow’s Pyramid of Needs. How can children learn if they are hungry or scared? School chaplains work from the top down and minister on developmental issues related to spirituality, such as morality, creativity, love, and forgiveness. Toxic stress, associated with Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs), disrupts brain and immune system development. However, a caring adult in the lives of a child can buffer the physical and emotional damage of toxic stress by building resilience. Governments have seen a relationship between chaplains and the general well-being of children because the chaplain becomes a caring adult. In as little as 5 seconds a day, a chaplain can make a child’s day by simply greeting them by their name. The chaplain program does not rely on volunteers. 87% of people serving as chaplains are certified teachers. However, they are paid to serve as chaplains. ABOUT
Bridging the gap between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the United States.
— WHO WE ARE
Chaplains in School
The National School Chaplain Association (NSCA) was established to promote school chaplains as a legitimate and necessary member of a school staff through national standards for school chaplains.
NSCA is a Christian chaplain ministry that provides spiritual care, counseling, and practical community support to Pre-K through 12th grade students, teachers, and their families regardless of age, race, creed, color, sex, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, gender identity, disability, marital status, or socioeconomic status.
Trained and licensed chaplains provide counsel, education, advocacy, life improvement skills, and recovery training, providing a bridge between the secular and spiritual environments of community life throughout the United States.
— FOR GOD AND COUNTRY
Making an Impact
VISION
MISSION
CORE PRINCIPLES
— GODLY SERVANTS TO OTHERS
Attributes of Our Chaplains
NSCA CHAPLAINS…
Humility, modesty, integrity, respect, sympathy, curiosity about people
Sincere appreciation of people
Satisfaction in being with, listening to, and in trying to understand people and society
Ability to take a passive role
Ability to make a good first impression
Ability to accept people with differences
Ability to endure being misunderstood
Ability to give support to respondent even though they say malicious, prejudiced, and false statements
Sense of humor
Empathy while maintaining emotional stability
Ability to keep personal projections at a minimum and yet retain insight
Openly friendly, avoiding resentment in interview
Ability to tolerate love or hostility
Ability to take rebuffs
Ability to accept not being accepted
Gaining satisfaction outside the job for a whole personality
No feeling of need to use people to show power
Not aggressive
Respect for subcultural values and taboos
Non-judgmental
High sense of ethics: a professional attitude giving an impression of confidentiality and security of records, non-gossiper, non-judgmental
— SUPPORTING TRENDS
Program Success Drivers
Below are trends we believe are driving the success of the program:
Trained Professionals
Meeting a Need
Connecting With Family
Starting at the Top
Build Resilience
Developed Relationships
Paid Staff
— THE SOCIAL IMPACT
Our Program’s Significance
The scale of transformation and spiritual renewal resulting from the school chaplain program might be best described as revival. Millions of young people and adults in their lives are being won to the Gospel of Jesus Christ and discipled in the name of Jesus. Discipleship involves training to win and disciple others.
The social impact of school chaplaincy HAS BEEN IMPRESSIVE.
INCREASED
Graduations rates up to 37%
IMPROVED
Teacher retention
School safety
Respect for authorities
Self-respect
Confidence
Motivation and goal setting
Grades
Attitudes about solving problems
DECREASED
Bullying
Discipline issues
Alcohol and drug consumption
Reported violence at school and home
Dropouts down by 37%
Teen pregnancies reduced by up to 80%
Zero reported suicides
A few notes on this data: It is expressed in the best-case scenarios (not an average); some information is more accessible than others; not all data comes from schools, and some data is limited by the ministry’s ability to collect and assimilate. .