Spiritual/Pastoral Care 2025 Spiritual Care Survey


Sponsored by

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The Catholic Health Association (CHA) and the National Association of Catholic Chaplains (NACC) are again partnering with the Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate (CARA) to survey those who lead and serve spiritual care through Catholic health care institutions and Catholic chaplaincy. This follows a similar effort in the fall of 2018, when CHA and NACC first commissioned CARA to bring a more scientific approach to studying trends in health care chaplaincy and spiritual care departments. For more than 25 years, CHA and NACC have partnered to study these trends.

Purpose

Spiritual care is essential to our Catholic identity and relies upon support from all levels of ministry leadership and integration with mission and interdisciplinary teams. The 2025 survey aims to capture the roles and responsibilities of chaplains and pastoral/spiritual care personnel at all levels, as well as the relationships and departments to whom they are accountable. All NACC health care chaplains or chaplains serving CHA member facilities are invited to participate.

The survey intends to:

  • Gather comprehensive data to understand spiritual care roles in Catholic health care for NACC members and CHA member ministries.
  • Assess the current needs that ensure our Catholic commitment to spiritual care.
  • Serve as a catalyst across the discipline by identifying current trends and proposing future opportunities.

CHA/NACC Spiritual Care Survey Frequently Asked Questions

Yes, but not electronically. You can complete a PDF version of the survey and mail it to CARA: 2300 Wisconsin Ave., NW, Suite 400A, Washington, D.C. 20007, or email Mark Gray. Your responses will be included.

Access the PDF

Choose the facility where you spend the majority of your time and answer the questions according to this setting. If you spend equal time at several facilities, choose the one that is Catholic.

We recognize this may be the case for some leaders. For this reason, one of the survey questions asks if you oversee multiple departments. Our team will note this according to your response. Complete the survey according to your largest spiritual care department. You may wish for us to follow up with you in learning more about the multiple departments you oversee. You can indicate that at the end of the survey.

  1. Review a PDF of the survey in advance.
  2. Gather details. Part Two asks in-depth questions about daily census, # of FTE's, board certification of staff, ecclesial status, staffing and coverage of full-time and on-call staff, and CPE program details. Part Two is estimated to take around 15 minutes to complete.
  3. Communicate with your Human Resources partner in advance. Part Three will require you to work with your Human Resources partner to report on the training requirements, compensation, and benefits of spiritual care and social work personnel. Providing them with the survey questions in advance will expedite the process. This section is solely sponsored by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. NACC has designed a formative resource to support you as you collaborate with Human Resources leaders in completing the survey. The resource aims to help you converse with your Human Resources partner so they may foster a deeper understanding of the experience, training, and impact of chaplains and spiritual care leaders on your organization and those you serve.

If you are a chaplain, Part One will ask questions about demographics, health care settings, roles, and responsibilities. It is estimated to take 15 minutes to complete.

As a departmental leader, whether or not you are a chaplain, you will respond to Parts Two and Three. All responses are needed.

The survey contains three sections:

  • Part One is designed for chaplains and those who support spiritual care. It includes questions on demographics, health care settings, roles, and responsibilities. The estimated time of completion is 15 minutes.
  • Part Two is designed for leaders who oversee spiritual care departments. It includes questions on organizational structure, staffing, professional standards, training, and documentation. The estimated time of completion is 15 minutes.
  • Part Three is designed for leaders who oversee spiritual care departments in partnership with their Human Resource leader. This section is solely sponsored by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. It includes questions on job requirements, compensation, and benefits for spiritual care personnel and comparative data for social workers. The estimated time of completion will vary.

Note:  See below for a NACC Formation Resource for mission and/or spiritual care leaders in working with their Human Resources or Compensation leaders.

Check your spam or junk folder. Look for an email entitled "Nationwide CHA and NACC Spiritual Care Survey is Now Open" which contains a link to the survey and your unique ID and password. If you need further assistance, CHA Service Center can verify your eligibility (servicecenter@chausa.org or (800) 230-7823).

If you cannot locate your unique ID and password, please contact Mark Gray at CARA.
All eligible chaplains and spiritual care/mission leaders who oversee spiritual care departments or personnel serving CHA member facilities and NACC health care chaplains with an active CHA or NACC web account will receive an email from CHA the week of July 14. Each participant will be given a unique ID, password, and a link to complete the survey. Check your spam or junk folder to ensure email delivery.
All eligible chaplains and spiritual care/mission leaders who oversee spiritual care departments or personnel serving CHA member facilities and NACC health care chaplains are invited to participate.

    Process

    The 2025 spiritual care survey is a comprehensive, three-part survey with sections tailored to participants based on their specific roles within the spiritual care team.

    Part One is designed for professional health care chaplains and those who support spiritual care. It includes questions on demographics, health care settings, roles, and responsibilities. The estimated time of completion is 15 minutes.

    Part Two is designed for leaders who oversee spiritual care departments. It includes questions on organizational structure, staffing, professional standards, training, and documentation. The estimated time of completion is 15 minutes.

    Part Three is designed for leaders who oversee spiritual care departments in partnership with their Human Resources leader. This section is solely sponsored by the National Association of Catholic Chaplains. It includes questions on job requirements, compensation, and benefits for spiritual care personnel and comparative data for social workers. The estimated time of completion will vary.

    Access NACC Formative Resource for Part Three of the Survey

     

    Timing and Communication

    The survey will open in mid-July and will remain open for a few weeks. CHA and NACC will report the results by the end of 2025.

    Mission and Leadership - Spiritual Care Survey Reveals Challenges for Ministry

    If you have questions about the survey, please contact:

    Jill Fisk, MATM
    Director, Mission Services
    Catholic Health Association

    Erica Cohen Moore

    Erica Cohen Moore, MA
    Executive Director
    National Association of Catholic Chaplains

    Hosted by:
    Mark Gray
    Director of CARA Catholic Polls
    Senior Research Associate
    Center for Applied Research in the Apostolate
    Georgetown University

    Special thanks to CHA's Spiritual Care Advisory Survey Subcommittee

    Austine Duru, M.Div., MA, Providence St. Joseph Health
    Rev. Leigh Jackson, M.Div., MSW, BCC, Ascension
    Ruth Jandeska, Ed.D., MA, BCC, Bon Secours Mercy Health
    Erica Cohen Moore, MA, National Association of Catholic Chaplains
    Rev. Greg Nealon, M.Div., ACPE Certified Educator, CommonSpirit Health
    M. Cristina Stephenson, CE, SSM Health