1. Orientation

2. 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

3. Provide Holistic Care
Effectively serve the physical, emotional, mental, social and spiritual needs of those we serve and protect

4. 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

5. 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

6. DUTY - SERVICE - COMMITTMENT
Commitment to the Fire Service
Always Ready to Serve Those in Need
DUTY - SERVICE - COMMITTMENT

7. 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

8. Dependable, faithful, spiritually driven
Not primarily a religious advisor – not faith specific
Chaplain communications are private and confidential

9. 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.

10. Really, though… What does a fire chaplain do?

11. 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.

12. 5 Points Of Service Firefighters and Staff Command
Families of Personnel
Victims of Emergencies and Disasters
Fellow Chaplains

13. 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

14. 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

15. Supports “Everyone Goes Home” Firefighter Life Safety Initiative #13
“Firefighters and their families must have access to counseling and psychological support.”
NFFF
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.

16. 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

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

18. When someone needs to unload

19. Ambulance Department have slowed response times.
Job Stress?
Problems At Home?
Cutbacks in the
Ambulance Department have slowed response times.
Yes Dear.

20. Or when things just go wrong…

21. Establishing A Standard Of Care

22. 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.

23. New chaplains do not always have the skills needed for this job
Interviews, orientation, comprehensive training and a probationary period should be required

24. 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

25. 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

26. 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

27. 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

28. MABAS

29. 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

30. The Division Chaplain Committee
3 Positions
Chaplain Coordinator
Chief Liaison
Training Officer
Policy Development includes
Duties and Training
Committee Guidelines
Task Force Response

31. RECRUITING A CHAPLAIN Local pastor/priest Deacon
Clergy group/Stephen’s ministry
Consider multi-faith needs
Consider Chaplain Team
3 magic ingredients…

32. Professional Organizations For Chaplains
Federation of Fire Chaplains (FFC)
Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains (ICFC)

33. 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!