Community Collaborations & Partnerships

At The Ecumenical Center, we work closely with many different groups who can help us have a positive impact on our community. And in our partnerships, we frequently offer workshops, seminars, programs, continuing education/certification opportunities, counseling, support groups and more. Examples include:

Colleges & Universities:

• Trinity University, St. Mary’s, University of the Incarnate Word, and the University of Texas at San Antonio – ongoing collaborations to maximize the impact of our Ethics in Business program.
• University of Texas at San Antonio – we maintain assorted collaborations with the College of Business, the College of Education and the Department of Counseling.
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) Center for Medical Humanities & Ethics (CMHE) – our ongoing education series entitled “Conversations about Ethics” brings workshops and lectures by noted experts on ethical aspects of medicine and research.

Continuing Education Partnerships:

• State of Texas – The Center is an approved provider of continuing education for the following specialties:
  • LPC
  • LMFT
  • LSW
  • LCSW
  • LMSW
  • LCDC
• Association for Play Therapy – The Center is an APT Approved Provider 08-217
• Texas Education Agency–  The Center is an approved provider of CPE by the Texas Education Agency, TEA CPE Number 902304.

Medical Organizations & Healthcare Providers:

• Cancer Therapy and Research Center (CTRC) – we work closely with CTRC and Dr. Ian Thompson, invite their experts to panel discussions, look for other opportunities to share expertise, and share ways to meet current and emerging patient needs; in addition, our CEO serves on the CTRC Council.
• University of Texas Health Science Center at San Antonio (UTHSCSA) – we have worked with various officials to raise community awareness of mental health and ethical issues; we explore various opportunities for research collaboration; and we trade expertise – our CEO serving on the Nursing Advisory Council and a representative from the School of Nursing serving on our “Conversation about Ethics” steering committee.
• Hospitals and Hospital Systems – we reach out to hospitals to offer expertise in various educational areas, including programs in counseling, mental health and chaplaincy training.
• Methodist Healthcare Ministries (MHM) – we have found MHM to be a strong partner for The Center in such programs as child therapy, neurofeedback, professional education, and pastoral training in Laredo and the Rio Grande Valley.
• U.S. Department of Veteran Affairs (VA) – leadership from the VA and The Center meet regularly to educate each other and the community about services available to veterans and their families through both organizations; chaplains from the VA also interface with The Center annually.

Social Service Organizations:

• Haven for Hope, SAMMinistries – these organizations help people experiencing homelessness to transition to more positive living situations, and The Center interfaces with their clients whenever our clinical, counseling, or other programs can be of help (NEED SPECIFICS HERE).
• Hospice Providers – we interface with many of the hospice organizations serving South Texas – and are instituting a formal training program for individuals who wish to work in this caring specialty (NEED SPECIFICS HERE).

Support Groups:

• SOLOS (Survivors Of Loved Ones’ Suicides) – a peer-led, non-denominational support group for people who have lost a family member, friend or co-worker to suicide.
• ALS Association South Texas Chapter – a support group for people experiencing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis – a progressive neurodegenerative disease, also known as Lou Gehrig’s Disease – as well as their family or caregivers.
• Us TOO Prostate Cancer Support Group – for men directly affected by prostate cancer, as well as their families or caregivers.
• Compassionate Friends – a support group focused on the needs of families who have lost a child.
• Life After Loss – a bereavement support group, organized as a 6 week program and led by trained facilitators, to help people understand and live through the grieving process.
• Recovery International – a self-help mental health group for nervous patients, with techniques to help participant be self-led instead of letting nervous fears and symptoms them.

In addition to sponsoring and/or hosting the groups above, The Center provides referrals to various other local support groups dealing with disease, physical or emotional conditions, divorce or other personal loss, addictions, etc. However, due to the changing nature of both the groups, their meeting venues and schedules, we can only provide information to help you contact group leaders – not exact times and places of each meeting.