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Development Counseling Services (DCS) assists Church leaders in empowering individuals and families who have significant barriers that prevent them from achieving long-term self-reliance, such as lack of skills, mental health issues, physical disability, criminal history, substance abuse issues, or any other vocational impairment. Services include career assessments, planning and coaching, coordination of educational and certified vocational training programs, funding resources and on-the-job training opportunities. Development Counselors are licensed professionals who work closely with individuals struggling with employment. To provide better assistance, development counselors work with Church leaders, mentors, and family members of the individuals as well.
DCS provides:
Professional consultation for Church leaders, service providers, members, and mentors
Short- and long-term career assessments, career planning, and coaching
Coordination of the following: educational and certified vocational training programs, on-the-job training opportunities, and funding resources
All referrals come from a Bishop/Branch President. Bishops/Branch Presidents can use the official referral form, email or call to submit a referral.
Candidates meet with a Development Counselor to ensure that the program will result in a successful outcome. The church provides either $3000 for certification training, or a three month paid internship. The latter provides free services to a local business where on-the-job training can be obtained. The church pays the salary during the time of the internship. The candidate is responsible for finding an internship.
Learn more on the Development Counseling Services website. It provides an overview of the services and information about the mentoring program and Business Partnerships. The website encompasses all key components of the Development Counseling Services Program. Candidates need to understand that DCS does not find jobs for them, but rather, in the spirit of self-reliance, they assist them in overcoming vocational barriers so they can obtain and maintain employment independently.
The Development Counselor can also assist Young Church Service Missionaries (YCSMs) during their missions, usually quarterly, to help them with career counseling and in developing life skills.
Our Development Counselor, Sister Rebecca Raphael, covers the entire Mid-Atlantic Region. That encompasses Virginia, Washington D.C., Maryland, West Virginia and western Pennsylvania. She currently has two Church Service Missionariies, Elder Bill Upton (804-270-0909) and Sister Grace Upton (804-814-1615), assisting her in covering the Richmond VIrginia Stake, the Richmond Virginia Midlothian Stake, the Richmond Virginia Chesterfield Stake and the Waynesboro Virginia Stake.
The Bishop's Authorization Form is filled out by the Bishop/Branch President with assistance as requested from the Ward Welfare and Self Reliance Specialist. Forms are submitted to:
Rebecca Raphael
Mid-Atlantic Regional Development Counselor
LDS Development Counseling Services
Washington DC Office
becca8602@ldschurch.org, 702-238-6607
(Note: The requests can be made to Elder and Sister Upton also.)