RADical Hope, Philadelphia Council Of Clergy Team Up To Support Clerical Mental Health

Yes, pastors need care, too!

The Philadelphia Council of Clergy, one of the oldest African American clerical organization in Philadelphia, has announced a partnership with RADical Hope to provide extra support to members of the clergy through a series of transformative group discussions. 

RADical Hope was founded in 2018 to address America’s growing youth mental health crisis. Since its creation, RADical Hope’s signature, evidence-based peer-to-peer resilience program has supported thousands of students on more than 65 college campuses across the U.S. Its impact earned attention, as well as organizational and financial support, from the National Football League and Major League Baseball.  One NFL team has implemented the program for several years to help its rookie players transition to professional sports.  The Philadelphia Council of Clergy, led by former NFL player Rev. Michel Faulkner, is the first religious organization to take advantage of RADical Hope’s effectiveness in strengthening connections and building resilience through peer-led group activities. 

RADical Hope fully funds all costs for every program partner through personal and corporate donations. 

“At the end of the day, pastors need care, too, and the best people who can help them through tough times are other pastors,” said Rev. Michel Faulkner, CEO of the 40-year-old Philadelphia Council of Clergy. “That’s the genius of the peer-to-peer model RADical Hope has engineered. We are all God’s children, so this works for everyone. All it takes is honesty, soulfulness, and a few comfortable chairs.” 

“Members of the clergy give of themselves every day of the year, but who’s taking care of the caregivers?” asked RADical Hope President and CEO Liz Feld. “Everyone’s battery gets drained sometimes. At the end of the day, we all need one another to strengthen ourselves individually. That’s why we were so inspired by the inquiry from Rev. Faulkner. By helping the caregivers, RADical Hope can reach so many more people in need.” 

RADical Hope’s proprietary program, RADical Health, teaches resilience and other life skills in four, 90-minute evidence-based peer-to-peer sessions. Please visit here to learn more about how this innovative program works.