Maintaining a positive, personal relationship with First Responders is vital to any successful Chaplaincy Program. Some of the ways we do that is:
Attend shift briefings
Ride-a-Long with law enforcement/fire personnel
Participate in department social functions
Attend ceremonial events
Assist ‘on-scene’ when requested
Provide training in areas such as Stress Mgt., Family/Marriage Relations, Morals & Ethics, Disaster Preparedness, etc.
Provide personal counseling services
Crisis Intervention Support
Our Chaplains are professionally trained (most with ‘Advance’ Status) and prepared “24-7” to respond wherever a critical incident occurs. As crisis intervention specialists our chaplains:
Conduct Critical Incident Stress Defusings and Debriefings
Provide training in Stress Management
Provide counseling support to First Responders and citizen victims
Assist law enforcement with death/serious injury notifications
Provide on-scene support through the “Ministry of Presence”.
Community Liaison Services
As Chaplains we are not police officers/fire fighters – we are “CARE-Givers.” As such, we serve people regardless of their own faith base upon request. Some of the things we do in that role are:
Officiate at funerals
Serve as liaison between government agencies and faith community
Facilitate contact with appropriate referral agencies
Participate in local Ministerial Association
Provide a Speakers Bureau on a variety of topics
Participate in community activities (i.e. National Night Out, Fire Prevention Week, Citizens Police Academy, etc)
