The Council Report

The Board ofDirectors forthe Council ofChurches ofWestern Massvoted topartner withTimeBanksUSA .

TimeBanksUSA wasfounded in1995 and itscentral office islocated in Washington D.C. The mission of TimeBanks is to nurtureand expand a movement that promotes equality and builds caringcommunity economies through inclusive exchange of time and talent.We are working with TimeBanks leaders across the US andinternationally to strengthen and rebuild community, and useTimeBanks to achieve wide-ranging goals such as Social Justice

The Council of Churches of WesternMassachusetts is working with the State ofMassachusetts Department of PublicHealth Bureau of Substance AbuseServices, the Council of Churches is leadingthe faith based community to becomeproviders of faith based services to servethose individuals transitioning fromincarceration or those who have served inthe US Military and are working to createnew and healthy lives back in thecommunity.

MA-Access to Recovery (ATR) is afederally-funded 6 month program

designed to give people who have substanceuse problems wider access to communityservices that help them on the road ofrecovery. Through the Access to RecoveryProgram, people who are motivated tochange their alcohol and drug behavior,have the opportunity to work with ATRCoordinators to create recovery planswhich help them define the path, the goalsand the action steps they will take to achievea life that provides more stability, less crime,and a better quality of life in terms of theirmental, physical and spiritual health.

Along with the Council of Churches, manyhouses of worship provide services as part ofATR. They are part of the ATR ProviderNetwork. Bringing together the strength of

the relationships they already have in thecommunity and the wide and broad array ofservices that they have always offered, ATRallows individuals to get the support wherethey may be most comfortable. Church andthose with a spiritual foundation have muchto offer.

By being a part of ATR people can receivesupport from those churches involved withFaith, Recovery in Action through some ofthe following services:

Pastoral Counseling

Recovery Coaching

Spiritual Groups

Support Groups

Classes

This past August many people from the faithbased community attended the RecoveryCoach Academy here in Springfield. Bycompleting this training, these Churches areallowed to be reimbursed for coachingservices through ATR.

bridges between diverse communities,and local ecological sustainability.

Time Banking takes the basic ideas ofCo-Production™ and builds on the factthat people naturally want to give back,to make a difference, just asprofessional providers do. With Co-Production™ that giving back isencouraged. Recipients becomepartners and participants in buildingsuccessful outcomes.

We can take the Five Core Values ofTime Banking and apply them to thebasic idea of Co-Production™ in thefields of social services to create arenewed sense of membership,belonging and joint ownership inpositive outcomes. This calls for all ofthe Five Core Values. Taking each inturn, this means that:

home or to take custody and place thechildren into a foster home.

‘Co-Production™’ is about workingtogether for a strong community andmore effective social services. It startsfrom the idea that services aresuccessful only when the people beingserved are involved. Teaching is anexample. A "teacher will teach, butlearning happens when studentsbecome engaged. That principle can betaken into almost every field of service.If clients don’t become actively engagedin achieving a successful outcome, theservice provider will not succeed alone.

The partnership between professionals,clients, and community is basic to Co-Production™. But there is another kindof partnership that is equally important.That’s the relationship between theworld of money and the world of home,neighborhood and community.

your understanding of Co-Production™.

For more on Co-Production™ and theeconomic theory that underlies it, you canread No More Throw-Away People, EdgarCahn’s book about Time Banking and Co-Production™.

2012 CampaignFaith Warming

Keep a home warm this winterwww.councilofchurcheswm.orgCall To Donate 413-733-7038

Council ofChurches of

WesternMassachusetts

About The Council...

HURCH IN THE ACRES IS SPONSORING A “LADIES NIGHT OUT AT CAMP GROTONWOOD!”ON SUNDAY, NOVEMBER 4, 2012

REGISTRATION & APPETIZERS: 5:30 P.M., DINNER 6:00 P.M.Pot Roast & Trimmings, Salad & Dessert (Vegetarian option available)

An evening of glorifying His name with music and Singing with Hornrette Washington, Minister of Musicat the Antioch Baptist Church in Corona, NY. She is a popular worship leader at State and National

Conferences. Additional Guest: Missionary Debbie KelseyPRICE: $15 PER PERSON, OR $13 PER PERSON FOR GROUPS OF 5 OR MORE

REGISTER BY OCTOBER 22, 2012 AT (978)448-5763 OR email: [email protected],167 Prescott Street, Groton, MA