Overview Project Gabriel Ministry Guidelines In 2001, Project Gabriel began in the Archdiocese of Oklahoma City as the Archdiocese's parish-based response to crisis pregnancy intervention. As a manifestation of God's love, the parish acts as the Good Samaritan, giving the mother love, care and support throughout her pregnancy. The ministry is founded on the availability of program mentors whose purpose is to engage and assist women who may be considering abortion due to the lack of resources or support. Project Gabriel ministries offer a vital parish and community link for mothers. The clients often begin their search for help in their own community, with local churches, due to lack of transportation to or familiarity with other organizations. One-on-one interactions with the mentor and the relationship-building can be the catalyst for formal services and referrals. Mentors are trained and prepared to discuss pro-life options ( birth options ) and counter misconceptions that may drive an abortion decision. Training can be accessed through Catholic Charities Project Gabriel Outreach Ministry as well as directly through the parish s Project Gabriel Ministry coordinator(s). Project Gabriel Volunteers and Coordinators are individuals in the church, who, with the support of their Pastor and associated Parish Committee, mentor women in crisis pregnancies with the end goal of promoting birth options, including an emphasis on the spiritual and connectional support to the woman (and her immediate family). An individual s awareness of God s love and care enhances emotional healing and lessens desperation, isolation and loneliness. A Project Gabriel Volunteer can be any woman with a call to and the background for this ministry. A Project Gabriel volunteer can be either a non-paid parishioner or a paid staff member of the church. Catholic Charities Project Gabriel Outreach Ministry exists to keep the spirit of the original Project Gabriel ministry alive in the archdiocese of Oklahoma City by assisting faith communities in beginning Project Gabriel ministries; providing the ministries with suggested tools and professional recommendations for the structure and function of their ministries within their parishes; providing ongoing professional training and education to ministry coordinators and volunteers, beginning with a consistent Orientation format; and assisting ministries, as appropriate, with the coordination of referrals to community agencies for professional services. Steps to Begin a Project Gabriel Ministry Note: Each parish situation is unique; therefore, the information and structure laid out below are recommendations. 1. Learn about Project Gabriel Ministry and Obtain the Support of your Pastor and Church Leadership: A. Contact Catholic Charities to schedule Orientation access other resources on starting and sustaining a Project Gabriel Ministry. Catholic Charities can connect you with other parishes that have a Project Gabriel Ministry. B. Talk to your pastor and others in your church. C. Clergy support is essential for a successful Project Gabriel Ministry. 1
2. Establish a Project Gabriel Committee A. The Project Gabriel Committee provides guidance direction and support to the Project Gabriel Ministry. This committee should include concerned women from the parish community who collectively know the faith community and how to access community resources. It may prove beneficial to the Project Gabriel Ministry to have someone on the committee whom is familiar with social services. The group should include women who represent various cultures and backgrounds, when possible. B. Key Decisions 1) Will you have a Project Gabriel Ministry Coordinator? Co-Coordinators? 2) Will the Project Gabriel Committee be under the direction of the Pastor or Parish Council? Who will lead the Committee? 3) How will the Project Gabriel Ministry be financed? C. Identify Desired Activities, and Set Goals: 1) What unmet needs exist in the faith community? (What will be your Ministry s niche?) 2) Consider a survey/questionnaire to assess the congregation s interests and suggestions for fulfilling the Project Gabriel Ministry s mission. 3) What resources exist within and outside of the parish to meet these needs? 4) Set goals and priorities for the Project Gabriel Ministry 5) Don t forget the power of Prayer! D. Launch ministry, and communicate your programs and ministry using: 1) Church bulletin inserts; 2) Articles in the church newsletter; 3) Bulletin boards with social service ministry information; 4) Announcements at Mass; and 5) Individual conversations and group presentations. 3. Assess Existing Parish Ministries and Needs A. Meet with the leaders of current ministries to determine what they do and how a Project Gabriel Ministry could help with their ministry. B. What programs promote the choice of a birth option? C. Are there many in the parish that lack access to resources and support for crisis pregnancies? D. Who ministers to those who cannot reach the parish? E. Who ministers to individuals experiencing a life crisis change in health, job loss, divorce? F. What support groups or programs address loss and/or transition issues? G. Where do you see gaps in care? H. How does Project Gabriel Ministry program fit in? 4. Requirements (Safe Environment mandated): A. Safe Environment Training is required for employees or volunteers ministering to vulnerable adults and children as mandated by the Archdiocese. Contact your parish Safe Environment facilitator, or Catholic Charities, to coordinate training. 2
B. Safe Environment training Outside of Parish: 1) Employee or volunteer may be trained at a parish site other than their own parish. 2) Training may also take place at the Catholic Pastoral Center. However, individuals seeking training outside of their parish still must contact their own parish facilitator to complete all elements of the protocol. 3) When an individual is trained at an alternate site, it is the responsibility of the applicant to present a certificate of training to the parish facilitator for whom they will be employed or volunteer. C. Training to maintain personal safety is also recommended for home visitation personnel. 5. Responsibilities of Project Gabriel Ministry Volunteers: A. All Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers must: 1) Uphold the mission and values of Catholic teaching that each person is made in the image of God with inherent dignity. 2) Treat all persons with integrity and respect in accordance with the Archdiocesan Code of Conduct and strive to demonstrate Christ s love and compassion in all relationships. 3) Refrain from acts of dishonesty or fraud, for which there is zero tolerance. 4) Parish name tags are recommended for ministry volunteers, especially when visiting mothers whom are being mentored. B. Conflict of Interest Prohibited: 1) A conflict of interest may occur when Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers have the potential to take advantage of a ministry relationship in order to further their own financial, personal, religious, political, or business interests - or that of a family member. 2) No Project Gabriel Ministry volunteer or paid staff member shall use a ministry relationship for his or her private or personal advantage or the private or personal advantage of an immediate family member. C. Gifts: 1) Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers are discouraged from accepting gifts or payment of any kind for their services. It is further discouraged for services to be offered to parishioners with the expectation that benefits will be reciprocated in any way. Gifts made to the ministry may be allowed, but not solicited in exchange for any service or assistance. D. Privacy Regulations: 1) Information regarding the Project Gabriel Ministry participant being served should be collected on the Project Gabriel Intake form, which also has a second page for Contact Notes. The information captured on this form should be sufficient to maintain an understanding of the support needed by and being provided to the participant, and should be maintained for Ministry records. 2) The nature of services that may be provided through the Project Gabriel Ministry requires volunteers to sign a Client Rights, Grievance Procedure & Confidentiality Statement form to remain on file in their parish of service. 3
3) Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers may not share any information about the mother being mentored without her prior express written consent to do so, by way of completion of a Consent to Release/Obtain Information form. Exceptions to the confidentiality requirement include mandatory reporting circumstances of suspected abuse or neglect. 4) Written Consent should be obtained from the person receiving ministry services before publishing prayer intentions in the church bulletin or during liturgies. E. Reporting Abuse or Neglect: 1) State law and Archdiocesan policy requires reporting of suspected abuse or neglect: a. If you have reason to believe, or if you have personally observed, that any minor (under 18 years of age), elderly, or other vulnerable person has been subjected to neglect or abuse, of any kind, you have the legal obligation to report the neglect or abuse to the Oklahoma Department of Human Services by calling the appropriate number: Adults: Adult Protective Services: (405) 521-3660 Long Term Care Investigators: (405) 271-6868 Youth: Child Abuse & Neglect Hotline: (800) 522-3511 2) Additional Archdiocesan Reporting Requirement: a. In addition to reporting an incident of abuse or neglect to the Department of Human Services you must also report the incident to the Archdiocese by calling both the: Archdiocesan Hotline: 405-720-9878; and Vicar General: 800-721-5651. 4
General Policies Related to Project Gabriel Ministry 1. Insurance and Liability: A. Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers should never engage in any activity that conflict with parish or ministry guidelines. In addition to personal liability, the parish and Archdiocese might be held liable for your actions. When in doubt regarding whether you can or should participate in an activity, consult the parish Project Gabriel Coordinator and/or your pastor for direction. 2. Transportation: A. It is recommended Project Gabriel Ministry volunteers avoid using their personal vehicles to transport those whom they are mentoring. B. In the event a volunteer chooses to use her personal motor vehicle in the course of her volunteer duties, she must have a current driver license, motor vehicle insurance and provide the parish with proof of insurance annually. Completion of an online defensive driving course is recommended for personnel providing transportation services. C. When transporting a minor, a volunteer is recommended to in addition to meeting all applicable requirements of the Safe Environments training direction in this area have the minor s parent or legal guardian sign the Consent to Transport, Waiver and Release Agreement form prior to transporting. 3. Documentation A. Statistics of Project Gabriel ministry activities and client interactions should be kept to provide information to the Pastor, Committee and Parish Council, as applicable. Additionally, this information should be used to measure overall ministry benefit to the parish. Reports should be in terms of numbers to preserve confidentiality of clients. B. If records of client interactions or ministry activities contain personal information, the records must be maintained in a locked cabinet/drawer to protect the privacy of the client. (If you use a computer to document it must be password protected.) C. Tracking activities also will assist to identify what activities are most beneficial and may be used to write grants to support your ministry. 4. Catholic Charities Support: A. Contact Adoption & Pregnancy Services at (405) 523-2012 or Parish Engagement at (405) 523-3003. B. Catholic Charities staff will be available to meet with the Project Gabriel ministry on an as-needed basis to develop and offer support to the Project Gabriel Ministry as appropriate. Additionally, there are quarterly meetings and on-going education for volunteers annually. 5
5. Training available: A. Establishing policies and procedures and creating forms for use in the ministry, including forms for documentation and materials for advancing the ministry. B. Guidance in identifying community resources for social services. C. Communication and listening techniques to better assist clients. D. Personal safety tips to be aware of when visiting clients in their home or elsewhere. E. Disaster preparation, response and recovery. F. Cabrini Ministry program and Suicide Prevention resources and training. Examples of Project Gabriel Activities 1. Care both during and after pregnancy, for those in crisis pregnancies: Support as the mother makes efforts to engage her support system; Assistance planning for post-natal care and needs; General support through frequent phone calls to her, inquiring about her wellbeing and needs. 2. Collaboration with organizations and other knowledgeable people in the congregation and community to provide education, for example: Connect parish contacts who have expertise in housing resources; Connect parish and community resources to access dependable transportation. 3. Act as a Resource Person - Provide Access to and/or Partner with Resources in the Community, for example: Car seats, and training on installation; Baby items; Refer to State agencies for resources, such as o SNAP benefits; o TANF; o Childcare Subsidy; o SoonerCare or Medicaid insurance coverage; o Referrals to food banks; o WIC referral and assistance with enrollment process. Refer to local Crisis Pregnancy Centers, such as Catholic Charities, for additional support and professional case management. 4. Support Spiritual, Social and Emotional Needs for mothers, for example: Encourage personal spiritual growth through prayer, quiet time, bible study, etc.; Coordinate support groups 5. Sponsor and develop the parish Project Gabriel support and spiritual reflection for ministry volunteers. 6