Member Care Associates, Inc. We provide and develop supportive resources for workers and sending groups within the mission/humanitarian sectors. MCAresources@gmail.com

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We are remembering our friend and colleague, Dave Pollock. Dave died suddenly in Vienna 10 years ago (11 April 2004). “It has been my conviction over the last four decades of my work in missions that member care is by its very nature the tangible expression of the love of Christ for us and of our love for Him.” (Dave Pollock, Developing a Flow of Care and Caregivers, 2002). The photo above is from Brazil 1999, at the WEA-MC consultation and the second MemCa gathering. From right to left: Marjory Foyle, Marcia Tostes, Ken Grant, Esly Carvalho, Dave Pollock, and Kelly O’Donnell. Note: 1. Click here for a short tribute-memorial about Dave in Connections, June 2004., page 8). 2. You can also write a comment about Dave on Facebook–via Families in Global Transition (starting 11 April, including a tribute by Ruth Van Reken : https://www.facebook.com/figt.org). 3. Some more information about Dave is posted on the 11 April 2014 entry on CORE Member Care–you can leave a comment there also about Dave.

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Recently published! Global Member Care (Volume 2): Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity, edited by Kelly and Michele O’Donnell. This 400+ page book is filled with cutting edge resources to help us keep current with our globalizing world and to further develop the global field of member care. It encourages us to connect and contribute to various international sectors (e.g., humanitarian, health, human resources) on behalf of mission/aid workers and humanity. Click here for the Crossing Sectors: description,  TOC,  and endorsements. Click here to order the book from the publisher at the special rate. 

**The electronic book version is now available on Amazon. **New resources added to the GMC bookseries  website–see Vol 2 Updates section **Suggestions for using this book–See Vol 2 Application section

Staying current! CORE Member Care: Check out the variety of ”reflections, research, and resources” on our weblog. It includes 225+ entries posted over the last six years. The latest weblog entries include brief quotes/videos related to living in peace (current) and living in truth–highlighting the personal character and moral competence needed for doing member care well. Loving peace and truth is foundational for moral health as mission.

Staying current! MCA Resource Updates: This monthly resource provides materials to help us integrate our lives and work globally. Signing up is easy and free: http://eepurl.com/kcuon. April 2014 issue presents several training opportunities for MC; March 2014 issue lists 100+ books for a MC library (classics through current); February 2014 issue shares strategies for relevantly crossing sectors; January 2014 issue features two edited books on families and singles in mission/aid; December 2013 issue presents the new edited book on global member care, Crossing Sectors for Serving Humanity; November 2013 issue is on the rewarding and challenging experiences of living globally;  October 2013 issue focuses on living in truth and peace; September 2013 issue highlights four recent resources/publications on mental health and psychosocial support; August 2013 issue includes some challenging/diverse perspectives on “healing humanity;” July 2013 issue provides materials on “global integration” and gloabilization/religious trends; June 2013 issue offers materials to learn about member care history and and to learn from global history; May 2013 issue provides perspectives on being faith-based in mission, humanitarian, and development work… [Note: All of the 60 Updates are archived on this site in the Resource Updates section including a translation tool of the Updates--47 languages with just a click!]

More Updates:

Global Mental Health: Strategies for Staying Updated, Kelly O’Donnell (Psychology International, March 2014, Vol. 25, No. 1); Click here for the full version of the article  (this issue has many articles related to global mental health and international psychology)

New material on Global Integration (GI)–Opportunities for consulting psychologists (and other MH colleagues—power point/handout overviewing our work in GI, March 2014)

People Care Course, Level 1, taught by Dr. Bob and Nancy Scott, 4-10 May 2014, Forterocca Conference Center, Piedmont area of Italy. Level 2 training is being considered for Fall 2014.  For mote information: nscott@brazoslink.net

Counseling and Member Care Course, Narramore Christian Foundation, Antalya, Turkey 19-31 October 2014) http://www.ncfliving.org/seminar_turkey01.php

International Council of Nurses. (2007).  Occupational health and safety management programme for nurses. Geneva: Author.["Nurses are the principal group of health care personnel providing primary health care at all levels and maintaining links between individuals, families, communities and the rest of the health care system. Working with other members of the health care team and other sectors or on their own, nurses explore new and better ways of keeping well, or improving health and preventing disease and disability. Nurses improve equity and access to health care and add quality to outcome of care." page 7]

New video overview: Global Mental Health and the Mental Health Action Plan (five minutes; http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dv_exaj2ofg)

Stanley E. Lindquist (1917-December 2013). We remember and honour Dr. Stan Lindquist, the Founder of Link Care Center in California, professor, psychologist, and pioneer in integrating psychology/faith and the care of mission personnel. Read more here: http://www.hanfordsentinel.com/kingsburg_recorder/obituaries/obituaries-stanley-elmer-lindquist/article_d1cf7134-61f4-11e3-9ccc-001a4bcf887a.html

Celebrating Global Member Care History (chapter 4, Member Care in India: From Ministry Call to Home Call, 2012)

Global Integration: Charting Your Course in the Service of Humanity.This was a three-hour workshop by Kelly O’Donnell at the annual conference of the Christian Association for Psychological Studies International (Portland, Oregon, USA, 6 April 2013). Click on the link above for the overivew and some of the handouts.

The Human Development Report 2013–The Rise of the South: Human Progress in a Diverse World. This is the annual report from the UN Development Program. The Overview section is easy to review, especially in light of  busy schedules!

New Action Plan Could be a Turning Point in GMH (GlobalPost, 28 Janaury 2013). Plus two short videos: Hidden Pictures: The Underexposed World of GMH (trailer for a film on the human faces/realities of GMH–coming winter 2013)  and Like a Death Sentence (Human Rights Watch, on the negative aspects of HR and MH in Ghana–simple report and full version plus brief video, 2 October 2012). Note: For more GMH updates and info see the GMH-Map section on this website.

The State of HR [Human Resources] in International Humanitarian and Development Organisations 2013, People In Aid

Global Mental Health: Trauma and Recovery, A Companion Guide for Field and Clinical Care of Traumatized People Worldwide (Richard Mollica, 2010)

 Inter-Agency Guide to the Evaluation of Psychosocial Programmes in Humanitarian Crises (UNICEF et al., 2012)

Hard Core Realities. What is daily life really like for mission/aid workers? How do they describe it? How candid can and should people be about “hard core realities”—such as seeing massive problems that they cannot fix, finding rest/relaxation in the midst of human misery, dealing as young women with multiple marriage proposals from locals, and exposing/preventing physical-sexual abuse in TCK settings? The two sets of resources (humanitarian realties—Stuff Expat Aid Workers Like etc. –and mission realities—MK Safety net etc.) will inform, entertain, and perhaps at times disturb you. Photo courtesy IRIN ©2008 Deghati/IRIN

Global Mental Health-Map.  This new website lists key resources for Global Mental Health (GMH). The goal is to help us to better understand and navigate the GMH domain and find relevant ways for connecting and contributing. Very relevant for member care. The site is part of an ongoing collaborative project to research, compile, and share GMH materials. We welcome your contributions and suggestions in order to make GMH-Map as useful as possible! Be sure to see the two brief overview articles that are linked on the site that list key resources in GMH (Psychology International, July 2011, March 2012).

New: Here is a one-page description and the links for our three GMH overview articles. Great for training settings too! Resource articles for GMH orientation–ODonnell

Planet India. This expanded issue of the Resource Update for Good Practice (June 2012) focuses on member care in India. The first set of resources present two books: Member Care in India: Ministry Call to Home Call (2012) and Marriage Masala: 52 Spices for a Healthy Marriage (2004). The second set of resources highlight the work a large member care organization in India called Mission Upholders Trust (MUT). There is a feature article from the Chennai-based magazine Christian Manager which overviews MUT’s history, values, and programs as well as a short summary of the recent national consultation on member care by MUT in Bangalore. These are of course just a few of the many materials and organizations related to member care in India today.

Confronting Corruption: Safeguards for Staff and Senders. This is an expanded issue of the Resource Update for Good Practice (April 2012). It includes 10 essential resources to help us understand, prevent, and deal with corruption.We highlight key materials with representative quotes from the faith-based community and the humanitarian/business sectors. One caveat to really take to heart: We are far more naïve about corruption—and our own capacity for self-deception—than we care to admit. Further, resources to deal with corruption are only as effective as the integrity and skill of the people who use them. We encourage us all to review these materials with colleagues and to apply them in our settings.

Physical Health—Preventing NCDs. This month (September) in the Resource Update for Good Practice we focus on the prevention and control of NCDs—non-communicable diseases.Governments, civil society, and the private sector have been involved in an extensive process to deal with four of the main NCDs: cancer, cardio-vascular, chronic respiratory, and diabetes. Four risk factors (often “lifestyle” factors) associated with these diseases are also targeted:inactivity (lack of exercise), poor diet (sugars, fats, trans-fats, processed foods), tobacco use, and alcohol abuse. Note that mental health and socioeconomic status—poverty—are also hugely influential. The two sets of resources included are from the United Nations and the World Health Organization.Reviewing and discussing resources like these can help prevent NCDs and promote healthy lifestyles for mission/aid staff and the people with whom they work (many who live in impoverished conditions and hence very vulnerable to these NCDs.)

Operational Security in Mission/Aid Settings. The focus of this month’s Resource Update for Good Practice (December 2010) is on operational security management. The first resource is the revised manual from Humanitarian Practice Network (HPN) on staff security.This comprehensive and updated manual is available as a free download starting 3 December 2010 at HPN.The second resource highlights materials from Crisis Consulting International (CCI).  CCI provides training, consultation, and resources in crisis management and security. This issue of the Update builds on the theme of safety and protection from the June 2010 Update (Staying Alive in Dangerous Places) Photo: Child in a rebel camp. Central African Republic. ©HDPTCAR

Interview with Dr. Michele and Dr. Kelly O’Donnell, consulting psychologists in member care, April 2012. We discuss global member care and several issues and opportunities in light of some of the challenges that are facing the world. (Interview by Bennet Emanuel with Christian Manager magazine, in India. —Bennet died suddenly shortly after this interview–he was much loved and still in his 30s.) The interview also highlights the need to cross sectors for good practice and to meaningfully connect and contribute in many new ways globally. (photo from Mahabalipuram, Tamil Nadu)

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