Regional Multifaith Committees
Regional Multifaith Committees, representing area faith groups, bring regional concerns to the attention of the Multifaith Council and are one of the means whereby the Council’s work is represented at the local level. These committees seek to preserve and improve the high quality of religious services and spiritual care in Government of Ontario facilities, community based programs and transfer payment agencies.
This is accomplished by:
- Providing support for Religious services and Spiritual Care Providers in correctional facilities, centres for persons with developmental disabilities, hospitals and long-term care facilities.
- Providing training and education for Spiritual and Religious Care Providers and faith group volunteers.
- Sponsoring information sessions and educational events for faith group leaders, political representatives and the public.
- Supporting and working with local faith communities and other organizations that have an interest in religious services and spiritual care and interfaith activity.
- Maintaining ongoing relationships with community faith groups.
- Supporting Community Chaplains and faith community volunteers who assist persons leaving provincial correctional institutions to return to their communities.
- Facilitating communication between Spiritual and Religious Care Providers and representatives of government institutions, community programs and transfer payment agencies.
- Conducting assessments of the quality of religious services and spiritual care programs in regional institutions.
- Certifying candidates for positions as Spiritual and Religious Care Providers in the region’s institutions.
- Monitoring the provision of religious services and spiritual care in the region’s institutions.
- Serve as the means through which the objectives and functions of the OMC are implemented at the local/regional level.
- Provide input to the OMC or the development of standards, policies and procedures for the provision of spiritual and religious care.
- Provide input to OMC on local spiritual and religious care issues.
- Provide multifaith spiritual and religious care resources for chaplains in government institutions and transfer payment agencies.
- Ensure the availability of persons with adequate understanding, ability and qualification, and with appropriate standing within their Faith Group to provide spiritual and religious care in government institutions and transfer payment agencies by screening potential candidates for chaplaincy postions in government institutions and transfer payment agencies.
- Provide for the assessment of spiritual and religious care programs in government institutions and transfer payment agencies.
- Provide personal and spiritual professional support to chaplains and providers of spiritual and religious care.
- Encourage Faith Groups and local faith communities in their acceptance of, involvement with and care for persons who are or have been in government institutions and transfer payment agencies.
- Represent the OMC at the local/regional level on committees, boards, councils relating to service delivery mechanisms.
- Promote the on-going development of a culture of mutual understanding,
respect and acceptance of all people within governmental institutions
and transfer payment agencies;
The Ontario Multifaith Council has regional representation across the province of Ontario, with Regional Multifaith Councils located in the following areas.
South West
1. Windsor-Woodstock
2. Brantford-Hamilton-Niagara
3. South Central
South East
4. North East
5. Kawartha-Lakeshore
6. South East
North East
7. North Bay
8. Sudbury
9. Algoma
10. Timmins
North West
11. Thunder Bay
12. Sunset Country