Associate Chaplain FP

Introduction

The State of Connecticut, Department of Correction (DOC) is expanding our Religious Services Department and hiring an Associate Chaplain to work and cover multiple Correctional Centers and Correctional institutions across Connecticut.

This position is full‑time, following a first shift schedule, 40 hours a week, Monday – Friday, 7:30 AM – 3:30 PM. The recruitment will cover multiple Correctional Centers and Correctional institutions across the State:
Brooklyn CI – Brooklyn, CT;
Corrigan CC – Uncasville, CT;
York CI – Niantic, CT.

The Connecticut Department of Correction is a diverse agency with a wide variety of employees ranging from Correction Officers to Educators, Managers, and Skilled Professionals. The DOC protects public safety by ensuring offenders serve their sentences in secure, humane facilities that provide re‑entry programming. The Department offers supervision for offenders on parole and community release. The Religious Services Unit provides trauma‑informed pastoral care, spiritual guidance, religious facilitation, and programming that reduces recidivism.

Annually, the Chaplaincy staff delivers over 80,000 hours of ministry, 20,000 worship services, and 50,000 individual and group counseling sessions.

The State of Connecticut is an eligible Public Service Loan Forgiveness employer, offering potential loan forgiveness after 10 years of service. Additional benefits include professional growth and development opportunities, and a healthy work/life balance for all employees.

• Provides clinical pastoral services to clients and their families.
• Accepts referrals and attends clinical staff meetings.
• Conducts group and individual therapy sessions and maintains documentation on client status.
• Works cooperatively with staff from other disciplines.
• Participates in discharge planning and encourages family and community support.
• Provides emotional and spiritual support during crises.
• Acts as liaison between the agency and religious communities.
• Prepares and conducts religious services, administers rites and sacraments.
• Provides pastoral counseling to agency staff and community referrals.
• Serves as consultant to community clergy on mental health.
• Provides religious education and participates in employee assistance programs.
• Recruits and oversees community volunteers.
• Serves on various committees and participates in in‑house educational programs.

• Extensive knowledge of pastoral ministry and formal religious services.
• Pastoral care and counseling skills, interpersonal communication, and effective written communication.
• Ability to train and collaborate with staff.

• Graduation from an accredited three‑year postgraduate theological seminary or a Master of Divinity degree or equivalent.
• Completion of all formal religious training required by a recognized religious denomination to perform pastoral duties.
• Three (3) years of pastoral experience or equivalent within a recognized religious denomination.

• Working knowledge of RLUIPA (Religious Land Use and Institutionalized Persons Act).
• Experience with intercultural and interreligious humility.
• Knowledge of group system dynamics.
• Ability to educate, mentor, and develop staff; collect and interpret data.
• Experience collaborating with other agency disciplines.
• Proficiency with Department Administrative Directives and conflict‑resolution strategies.
• Strong written and verbal communication skills.

• Ordained or commissioned and endorsed by a recognized denominational authority; endorsement must be ongoing and uninterrupted.
• At least two (2) units of clinical training from an accredited program, or one (1) unit plus an equivalent unit.
• Possession of a valid Motor Vehicle Operator’s license; willingness to travel as required.

• Must lift and restrain clients or inmates; exposure to communicable diseases and risk of injury from assaultive clients.
• Exposure to disagreeable conditions.

We welcome applicants from diverse backgrounds. The State of Connecticut is an equal opportunity/affirmative action employer and encourages applications from women, minorities, and persons with disabilities.

As defined by Sec. 5‑196 of the Connecticut General Statutes, a job class is a position or group of positions that share general characteristics and are categorized under a single title for administrative purposes. Such definitions are not intended to be all inclusive of every task and/or responsibility.