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QUICK LINKS

 

Regular Registration​ has closed. Click here for registration waiting list

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The DESCA Team

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Evaluation link

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Request an attendance certificate (after the session)

Scroll down for DETAILED SCHEDULE and WEBINAR RESOURCES

Tuesdays, March 24 - April 28, 2026
10 am - 11:30 Central

Six weeks of web-based trainings brought to you by collaborative organizations including:

 

Church World Service

Crisis Care Ministries

International Orthodox Christian Charities

Lutheran Disaster Response

Oklahoma Conference of the United Methodist Church

Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services, Prevention Division

Presbyterian Disaster Assistance - PC (USA)

United Church of Christ

Week of Compassion, Christian Church (Disciples of Christ)

With additional support from the Center for Disaster Philanthropy

Schedule at a Glance

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All Live Webinars will be held 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central Time (US and Canada)

Webinars will not be recorded.

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  • March 24, 2026 - Calm in Crisis​​

  • March 31, 2026 - Faith in Action: Understanding Risk and Protective Factors​​

  • April 7, 2026 - Responding with Care: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Disaster Response for Diverse Communities​​

  • April 14, 2026 - Preventing Suicide: A Conversation About Hope​​​

  • April 21, 2026 - Tools for Building Resilience​​​

  • April 28, 2026 - Emotional and Spiritual Care in Human-Caused Disasters

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Following each 90-minute webinar session, participants are invited to stay for a bonus 15-minute guided reflection presented by Dale Suggs, Co-Founder & Director of the Beloved Compassion Network (belovedcompassionnetwork.org) to strengthen our sense of grounding and connectedness with the Sacred Source of Compassion.  These contemplative practices will cultivate deeper compassion for self and others, for more compassionate and effective caregiving in disaster recovery.

Detailed Schedule and Session Resources
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Click here for more information about Webinar Presenters and the 2026 Planning Team

March 24, 2026 - 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada):

Calm in Crisis

Presenters: Sean Coffman and Kristyne Duffy, Lutheran Disaster Response

 

Session Resources (click for links)

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Evaluation link

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March 31, 2026 - 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada)

Faith in Action: Understanding Risk and Protective Factors

Presenter: Emily Morrow, Senior Prevention Programs Manager, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health & Substance Abuse Services

 

This training equips faith leaders with the knowledge and tools to recognize and address risk and protective factors that impact the well-being of individuals, youth, and families. Grounded in both evidence-based practices and faith-centered principles, the training explores how spiritual communities can play a vital role in prevention, early intervention, and resilience-building.

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Request an attendance certificate

Evaluation link

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April 7, 2026 - 2026, 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada) 

Responding with Care: A Trauma-Informed Approach to Disaster Response for Diverse Communities

Presenter: Victoria Villa, Lutheran Disaster Response

 

Session Resources

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Request an attendance certificate

Evaluation link

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April 14, 2026 - 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada)

Preventing Suicide: A Conversation About Hope

Presenters: Megan Cannon and Daisha Dillard, Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services Prevention Division

 

Please note: This is a schedule change. Options for "Talk Saves Lives" trainings will now be offered through the Oklahoma Department of Mental Health and Substance Abuse Services' Training Institute. Enroll here for April 16, May 13, or June 11, 2026 trainings.

 

Session Resources 

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Request an attendance certificate

Evaluation link

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April 21, 2026 - 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada)

Tools for Building Resilience

Presenters: Suzanne Malloy and Marilyn Stone, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

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This program is designed to increase participants’ understanding of their own signs of stress and to teach in-the-moment strategies to handle stress.  Those attending will build on their experience while practicing new tools that have been shown to be effective in sustaining an individual’s capacity to serve.

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Please download and print the 3-page handout entitled "My Resilience Plan" (click here) so you can use it during the webinar to create your own set of notes and plan for building your resilience. The other handout is a set of resilience tools and practices we hope you will download so you can find and practice some tools.

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Session Resource

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Request an attendance certificate after the session

Evaluation link

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April 28, 2026 - 10 AM - 11:30 AM Central (US and Canada)​

Emotional and Spiritual Care in Human-Caused Disasters

Presenters: John Cheek and Kathy Riley, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance

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Although faith leaders and others in helping professions are trained to provide quality emotional and spiritual care, the disaster environment presents distinct challenges. This program will address ways to offer appropriate and respectful emotional and spiritual care following a human caused disaster. 

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Session Resource

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Request an attendance certificate after the session

Evaluation link

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Resources from the BELOVED Compassion Network

A Shared Google Folder with materials from Dale Suggs, Co-Founder & Director of the Beloved Compassion Network, to be shared with the participants in the Disaster Emotional and Spiritual Care Academy:

 

Special Thanks to Our Academy Funders!

For more information or to become a project funder contact
Mary Gaudreau Hughes, crisiscare@earthlink.net

©2020 by Crisis Care Ministries, LLC.

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