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Developing Fire Chaplain Program | Firefighters Support Foundation

The Firefighters Support Foundation is a nonprofit organization dedicated to providing free training programs to firefighters and first responders. This material allows for the reproduction and distribution of resources for starting a Fire Chaplain Program. The accompanying video presentation features Chaplain Steve Brodehl, offering guidance on the role of a chaplain as a listener, spiritual guide, and source of hope. The program serves department personnel by providing routine encouragement, support during personal events, and availability for hospital visits. Chaplains also assist citizens in crisis by offering encouragement, stabilization, and education on rehabilitation options. Training resources are recommended, such as the Federation of Fire Chaplains' Essentials Class and Critical Incident Stress Management workshops. Chaplains should be accountable to an officer within the agency, follow SOP/SOG guidelines, and belong to a chaplain's organization for ethical standards. Membership in the department family fosters fellowship and provides insurance coverage for chaplain duties.

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Developing Fire Chaplain Program | Firefighters Support Foundation

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  1. Firefighters Support Foundation Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  2. About FSF The Firefighters Support Foundation is a 501c3 non-profit organization whose primary mission is to develop, produce and distribute training programs to firefighters and first responders. All of our programs are distributed free of charge. Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  3. Permission Permission is granted to reproduce or distribute this material so long as the Firefighters Support Foundation is credited as the source Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  4. Accompanying Video This PowerPoint presentation accompanies the video presentation of the same title. Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  5. Presenter • Instructor: • Chaplain Steve Brodehl • Oregon Fire Chief’s Association • Hillsboro Fire & Rescue Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  6. What is a Chaplain? • Listening Ear • Spiritual Guide • Resource to Leadership • Help to the hopeless Officer of Calm Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  7. Chaplains are….Connectors! Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  8. Who does the Chaplain serve? Agency must decide this point….. • Department Personnel or • Citizens in Crisis or • Both Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  9. Department Personnel Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  10. Serving Department Personnel • Routine encouragement through regular station visits with all personnel (short stay, intentional loitering) • Remaining open for any private questions or conversations initiated by the staff members • ONLY If requestedby fire personnel (or citizens), offer spiritual encouragement or assistance. • Engage in and observe as many department events as possible, becoming a regular part of the “department life” Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  11. Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  12. Serving Dept. Personnel (cont) • Available to officiate personal events members may request; from weddings to funerals etc. • When requested, visit any member of the department if hospitalized • Be available to offer strength and or encouragement without hesitation to any member of the department (Tailboard talk post-incident) • Available to the staff on a 24/7 basis as much as possible Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  13. Serving Citizens in Crisis Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  14. Assisting Victims While On-Scene • Encouragement • Stabilization • Direction • Education • Rehabilitation options Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  15. Encouragement Enter… the Chaplain In the middle of a crisis event or traumatic encounter, often victims do not believe they can go on… Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  16. Stabilization Enter… the Chaplain Victims often wish to make decisions while still in the heat of their emotional state… Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  17. Direction • What is going to happen next? • Why are there police in my home? • Why doesn’t everyone just do like TV? • What do I do now? • Enter the Chaplain!! • What is going to happen next? • Why are there police in my home? • Why doesn’t everyone just do like on TV? • What do I do now? • Enter… the Chaplain!! Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  18. Education • Why are they cutting a hole in my roof? • Why isn’t an autopsy going to be done? • Can’t they just cut my son out of the car right now? What are they waiting for? • Enter the Chaplain!! • Cards and letters keep coming  • Why are they cutting a hole in my roof? • Why isn’t an autopsy going to be done? • Can’t they just cut my son out of the car right now? • What are they waiting for? • Enter… the Chaplain!! Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  19. Rehabilitation • Enter the Chaplain!! • Liaison to immediate outside services such as Red Cross, emergency service groups, Ministerial Assoc. • Chaplain caries water, blankets, stuffed animals, flip flops, gloves and hats etc. Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  20. Where Do We Begin? Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  21. Let’s Answer Some Simple Questions Should Chaplains have specific training and if so, what in? • Federation of Fire Chaplains; Essentials Class (2 days $175) • Death Notificationswww.deathnotification.psu.edu (FBI, free on line) • NIMS (National Incident Management System):  (free on line) Go to FEMA website, Training/Independent Studies  IS 100 LEb IS 230.d IS 700.a • Stress First Aid (no cost…offered by Fallen Firefighters Foundation) • Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) (3 days… $225+/-) Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  22. Who Should Chaplains be Accountable to? • Choose an officer from within your agency to whom the Chaplain reports!! • Create Chaplain SOP/SOG • Chaplain should also belong to a Chaplain’s organization with expectations, a code of ethics and accountability. Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  23. Should Chaplain(s) be a Member of the Dept. Family? 1. Develops sense of fellowship and accountability within both Chaplains and agency personnel 2. Provides insurance coverage for Chaplain while performing duties as assigned 3. Allows for Chaplain to be identified to the public, the Department and others as an accountable member of a bona fide agency 4. Allows Chaplain to take part in any compensation programs that may exist Yes 2. Provides insurance coverage for Chaplain while performing duties as assigned (CYA for agency as well) 3. Allows for Chaplain to be identified to the public, the Department and others as an accountable member of a bona fide agency 4. Allows Chaplain to take part in any compensation programs that may exist Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  24. Create Communications Channel How do we request our Chaplain when needed? Have a plan that everyone knows!! Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  25. Where Might We Find Such a Person? • Ask existing department personnel if they know someone interested in chatting about Chaplaincy • Ask local clergy leadership if they or someone in their “congregations” might be interested Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  26. No one should ride alone… Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

  27. Thank You Steve.brodehl@hillsboro-oregon.gov Office 503-615-6564 Cell 503-341-1621 Starting a Fire Chaplain Program

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