illinois corps of fire chaplains, inc july 2009 orientation

Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains, Inc July 2009

Orientation


IL MABAS Chaplain Program Leadership Team

• Fire Chief Curt KramerHampshire Fire Department

• Fire Chief Craig HaighHanover Park Fire Department

• Chaplain Jennie SwansonHanover Park Fire Department

• Chaplain Darrell CoonsBelleville Fire Department

• Chaplain Roberta PrestonOctavia Fire Protection District


Provide Holistic Care

Effectively serve the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual needs of those we serve and protect


What is Holistic Care?• People are by nature physical, emotional

and spiritual* beings (*beliefs and values systems)

• We as emergency responders have a responsibility to serve and protect the whole person

• Chaplains serve this purpose by specializing in emotional and spiritual care


What is a Fire Chaplain?

• Cares for the emotional and spiritual needs of personnel,

families and community in crisis situations

• Understands and trains in fire service culture and operations

• Not shift based, available 24/7 on assigned days


DUTY - SERVICE - COMMITTMENT

Commitment to the Fire Service

Always Ready to Serve

Those in Need


• Emergency Responder and member of the Fire Service – ‘one of us’

• Committed to serve and protect along side firefighters

• Trains to provide a Standard of Care for personnel and community


• Dependable, faithful, spiritually driven

• Not primarily a religious advisor – not faith specific

• Chaplain communications are private and confidential


Role of MABAS & Influencing Organizations

Local Jurisdiction

Auto/Mutual Aid

MABASDivisional Responses

Interdivisional Responses

Locally established or agreed upon policies are utilized.

Policies established by the Division are utilized.

Policies established by Corporate MABAS are utilized.

Illinois Corp of Fire Chaplains

IFC

NFPA

NVFC

ITTF


Really, though…What does a fire chaplain do?


Psychological First Aid

• We walk with people in the midst of crisis

We then place them in the hands of their own support systems and needed care.


5 Points Of Service

1. Firefighters and Staff2. Command3. Families of Personnel4. Victims of Emergencies and

Disasters5. Fellow Chaplains


A Link in the Chain

Incident Includes Internal Support and Assessment (Chaplain and Peer Support)

Pre-incident Education and Training

Intervention Plan Determination

Add External Support CISM/EAP/Medical Services

Continue Internal Supports

Problem Mitigated?

Follow up and Needs Assessment

ContinueInternal Supports


Purpose of CISM (Critical Incident Stress Management)

• To mitigate the impact of a horrible event

• To accelerate normal recovery of normal people reacting to abnormal events*

CISM Debriefings should be conducted by a trained team*Northern Illinois CISM Team. Hanks, Timothy 1994


Supports “Everyone Goes Home” Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #13

“Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support.”


Chaplain Duties• Visits stations and shifts• Responds to structure fires, deaths and

critical incidents• Makes hospital and home visits• Prayerful support• Performs weddings, blessings and funerals• Attends meetings, invocations, events• Participates in training


Chaplains are here …

when you feel like you’re REALLY STUCK


When someone needs to unload


Job Stress? Problems At Home?

Cutbacks in the Ambulance Departmenthave slowed response

times.

Yes Dear.


Or when things just go wrong…


Establishing A Standard Of Care


Chaplains Train To Provide An Effective Standard of Care For Those We Serve Together

Existing theological and pastoral training

is NOT sufficient for this job.


New chaplains do not always have the skills needed for this job

Interviews, orientation, comprehensive training and a probationary period should be required


Basic Training

• PPE & Fire Ground Safety/Operations• Incident Command System (NIMS)• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM)• Pastoral Crisis Intervention• Line of Duty Death and FD Funerals• CPR and First Aid• Departmental Training Opportunities


Advanced Training

• Suicide Intervention and Postvention• Disaster Response Deployment Preparation• Grief Following Trauma• Stress Management For Emergency Responders• Family Education• Public Safety Officer Benefits• Communication and Team Effectiveness• Terrorism: Psychological Impact and Implications


Salvation ArmyEmergency Disaster

Services• A Partner to MABAS chaplains• Offers CISM Training (ICISF) at a

discounted rate through grant funding• Deploys Chaplains to Disaster

Response• Provides Canteen and Rehab Services


Communications

Determine what method works best for your department• Pager

• Cell Phone• Dispatch Tone-Out

• 2 Way Radio

In order to help

Chaplains must know

when, where and how

to respond


MABAS


Statistics/Accomplishments

140 chaplains in 33 Divisions MABAS committee structure in Divisions

2,5,11,12,13 (23 Structured) National leader in chaplain program

development Extension to OEM and Homeland

Security Chaplains Partnerships with local police chaplains

and social workers


The Division Chaplain Committee

• 3 Positions• Chaplain Coordinator• Chief Liaison• Training Officer

– Policy Development includes» Duties and Training » Committee Guidelines» Task Force Response


RECRUITING A CHAPLAIN

Local pastor/priest Deacon Clergy group/Stephen’s ministry Consider multi-faith needs Consider Chaplain Team

3 magic ingredients…


Professional Organizations For Chaplains

• Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC) www.firechaplains.org

• Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains (ICFC)www.ilfirechaplains.org


How do I become a MABAS Fire Chaplain?

• Contact your local department Fire Chief and volunteer

• Talk to other MABAS chaplains about this ministry

• Begin training to learn and prepare for being called to this amazing ministry

GOD BLESS YOU AND STAY SAFE!

illinois corps of fire chaplains, inc july 2009 orientation

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