Commissions
The leadership of CASC/ACSS is made up of an executive Board of Directors, chair of Presidents Council and chairs of the three commissions. Commissions play a key role at CASC/ACSS by facilitating research, training, and professional development for members. Commissions also provide resources and guidelines to promote ethical and professional standards in spiritual care. They foster collaboration and the exchange of ideas among professionals. Together, these commissions strengthen CASC/ACSS’s mission, vision and purpose of promoting excellence in spiritual care and psychospiritual therapy in Canada, ensuring adherence to professional standards of practice, ethics and facilitating continuous growth within the profession.
Educational Standards Commission (ESC)
The ESC provides leadership for all educational and training programs. It is responsible for establishing and maintaining rigorous Educational Standards which include Accreditation of Teaching Centres, Certification, and all Educational Standards at the Basic, Advanced and Supervisory levels.
The Educational Standards Commission (ESC) develops and oversees:
- Standards for all CASC/ACSS educational programs, including Pyschospiritual Therapy Education and Clinical Psychospiritual Education.
- Standards for the Certification of Pyschospiritual Therapists and Spiritual Care Practitioners and Supervisor-Educators.
- Standards for the Accrediting of centres offering Supervised Psychospiritual Education.
- A procedure for processing grievances related to Educational Standards of the Association.
- Standards for academic requirements, assessment and equivalencies.
- All Academic Assessment Committee actions of the Association.
National Ethics Commission (NEC)
(NEC) upgrades the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct and provides oversight for all ethical investigations and grievances. It provides education and training to enrich the ethical environment of CASC/ACSS.
Functions of The National Ethics Commission include:
- Educate Members and the public about the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct to promote an ethical culture within CASC/ACSS
- Receive ethics grievances from CASC/ACSS Members and the public for alleged violations of the Code by CASC/ACSS Members.
- Participate in on-going education and training in the area of professional ethics and conflict resolution/mediation to support the work of addressing ethical challenges.
- Update and amend the Code of Ethics and Professional Conduct as necessary in order to reflect current developments and changes in the professional standards, practices, competencies and policies of CASC/ACSS.
- Propose administrative polices as needed.
Professional Practice Commission (PPC)
The PPC provides leadership in promoting the professional practice and enhancing the professional identity of the Membership.
The Professional Practice Commission:
- Develops and implements governance documents such as the scope of practice, standards of practice, including competencies.
- Serves as a professional practice resource to the Membership
- Provides leadership for the development of professional statutory regulation across all regions.
- Promotes and enhances the recruitment and retention of Members, identifying the value of CASC/ACSS Membership.
- Advises and reports to the CASC/ACSS Board of Directors on matters pertaining to professional practice, the work of the Commission and more
- Advocates with employers, faith groups and government for spiritual care, psychospiritual therapy and education.
- Ensures opportunities for professional affiliation, continuing education, and research by the Members of CASC/ACSS.
- Seeks and supports opportunities for collaboration with other associations.
- Evaluates and assesses the competencies of practitioners through certification and promotes excellence and accountability within the profession.
- Develops and oversees the peer review process of Certified Members.
