Orientation

IL MABAS Chaplain Program Leadership Team Fire Chief Curt Kramer Hampshire Fire Department Fire Chief Craig Haigh Hanover Park Fire Department Chaplain Jennie Swanson Hanover Park Fire Department Chaplain Darrell Coons Belleville Fire Department Chaplain Roberta Preston Octavia 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 DUTY - SERVICE - COMMITTMENT

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 Locally established or agreed upon policies are utilized. NFPA IFC Auto/Mutual Aid NVFC Policies established by the Division are utilized. ITTF MABAS Divisional Responses Interdivisional Responses Illinois Corp of Fire Chaplains Policies established by Corporate MABAS are utilized.

Really, though… What does a fire chaplain do?

We walk with people in the midst of crisis 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 Firefighters and Staff Command Families of Personnel Victims of Emergencies and Disasters 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 Follow up and Needs Assessment Continue Internal Supports Problem Mitigated? Continue Internal 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.” NFFF www.firehero.org IAFC Safety and Survival Week Initiative #13 began after 9/11 Interviews with survivors and family of deceased about how much care they got after the incident. Indicated that mot enough support was given and traumatic grief/PTSD were prevalent. Study going on in Charleston to measure effectiveness of EAP extended services. Everyone Goes Home Recognizing the need to do more to prevent line-of-duty deaths and injuries, the Foundation has launched a national initiative to bring prevention to the forefront. The 2004 Firefighter Life Safety Summit produced 16 major initiatives that give the fire service a blueprint for making changes. The Foundation will play a major role in helping the U.S. Fire Administration meet its stated goal to reduce firefighter fatalities by 25% within 5 years, and by 50% within 10 years. The Foundation sees fire service adoption of the life safety initiatives as a vital step in meeting this goal. Visit the Foundation's Everyone Goes Home Web site to learn more about our efforts to reduce firefighter fatalities. Firefighter Life Safety Initiatives The Firefighter Life Safety Summit held in Tampa, Florida, in March 2004, produced 16 major initiatives that will give the fire service a blueprint for making changes. 1. Define and advocate the need for a cultural change within the fire service relating to safety, incorporating leadership, management, supervision, accountability and personal responsibility. 2. Enhance the personal and organizational accountability for health and safety throughout the fire service. 3. Focus greater attention on the integration of risk management with incident management at all levels, including strategic, tactical, and planning responsibilities. 4. Empower all firefighters to stop unsafe practices. 5. Develop and implement national standards for training, qualifications, and certification (including regular recertification) that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform. 6. Develop and implement national medical and physical fitness standards that are equally applicable to all firefighters, based on the duties they are expected to perform. 7. Create a national research agenda and data collection system that relate to the initiatives. 8. Utilize available technology wherever it can produce higher levels of health and safety. 9. Thoroughly investigate all firefighter fatalities, injuries, and near misses. 10. Ensure grant programs support the implementation of safe practices and/or mandate safe practices as an eligibility requirement. 11. Develop and champion national standards for emergency response policies and procedures. 12. Develop and champion national protocols for response to violent incidents. 13. Provide firefighters and their families access to counseling and psychological support. 14. Provide public education more resources and champion it as a critical fire and life safety program. 15. Strengthen advocacy for the enforcement of codes and the installation of home fire sprinklers. 16. Make safety a primary consideration in the design of apparatus and equipment.

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

when you feel like you’re REALLY STUCK Chaplains are here … when you feel like you’re REALLY STUCK

When someone needs to unload

Ambulance Department have slowed response times. Job Stress? Problems At Home? Cutbacks in the Ambulance Department have 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 Army Emergency 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

Determine what method works best for your department Communications In order to help Chaplains must know when, where and how to respond Determine what method works best for your department Pager Cell Phone Dispatch Tone-Out 2 Way Radio

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!