CRISIS CHAPLAINCY CARE of HARRIS COUNTY

Crisis Chaplaincy Care (CCC) of Harris County is a collaborative effort between the Victim Assistance Centre, Crisis Chaplaincy Care, Emergency Response Network, and the ‘On Call’ Chaplains Network International. CCC’s mission is to foster residents’ emergency preparedness and to provide comprehensive services to meet the emotional, physical, informational, financial and spiritual care needs of those going through a ‘crisis’ time in their life. A ‘crisis’ is defined as something that a person cannot make it through on their ‘own’. However it can also include man-made and/or natural disasters. The word “victim” is used broadly to include County residents who have been sufficiently traumatized by the events of 9/11 to suffer from on-going feelings of anxiety and depression in anticipation of a terrorist attack, now or in the near future. Secondly, “victim” extends to all residents who need supplies and services or who find that they are on their own during the early stages of an event, possibly for as long as two or three days before emergency response teams arrive if roads are damaged and communication systems destroyed.

Resources of the faith community are utilized to build Crisis Chaplaincy teams within their congregations and communities.

For this reason, the initial concern of CCC is to galvanize residents throughout Harris County’s communities to be prepared for an event by coordinating information about the existing resources and programs available that coach community leaders on “preparedness.”

In an event, CCC can expedite an effective emergency response by maintaining a current database of the location of supplies such as blankets, prescription medicine, ham radios, food and palatable water, generators, services offered by retired professional volunteers such as doctors and pharmacists, and information about supplies and services pulled together from community volunteers, victim advocates and the faith-based community.

During the immediate response and long-term recovery phases, CCC provides:

• Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM);
• Nationally Recognized Certified Crisis Chaplains, trained and ‘on call’ to assist those affected by any ‘CRISIS’ in their life.
• Assistance in filing Crime Victim Compensation Claims;
• Training of volunteers;
• Immediate and long-term needs assessment;
• Assistance in organizing construction and repair of property;
• Volunteer hospital visits;
• Response team follow-up support and debriefing;
• Death notifications;
• Help with funeral arrangements;
• Crisis counseling;
• Chaplain services upon request

CCC will utilize victim assistance and chaplain volunteers certified or trained as indicated below:

CRIME VICTIM RELATED RESPONSE:
(May include, but is not limited to: assistance in filing and monitoring State Crime Victim Compensation claims, hospital accompaniment, immediate and long-term needs assessments, hospital visits, assistance with burial arrangements, crisis counseling, and emotional support)

• Minimum 2 years experience with victim assistance agency, and/or
• Willingness to complete minimum of 8-hour basic training and 8-hour advanced training

CISM – CRITICAL INCIDENT STRESS MANAGEMENT:
(Debriefing and support for first responders)

• Certification by recognized CISM Training Program

CERT – COMMUNITY EMERGENCY RESPONSE TEAM
(Community-based preparedness to prepare for and respond to the anticipated disruptions and potential hazards following a disaster. Training enhances ability of volunteers to reduce emergency needs and to manage existing resources until organized assistance becomes available.)

• Basic 8-session CERT training in disaster survival and rescue skills to improve ability of citizens to survive until responders or other assistance could arrive.)

CRT – CRISIS RESPONSE TEAM CERTIFICATION:

• Certification by NOVA – National Organization of Victim Assistance, or
• Certification by a recognized CRT training program

DEATH NOTIFICATION:

• Proof of training to provide death notification;
• Certified Chaplain;
• Willingness to complete Death Notification training

CERTIFIED CRISIS CHAPLAINS:
(Completion of Certification for Crisis Chaplains)

• Counseling in the Crisis
• Types of Crises
• Victimology
• Crisis Intervention
• How to get ‘Plugged-In” – The ‘On Call’ Chaplains Network and the Emergency Response Network(www.EmergencyResponseNetwork.org)

ADVANCED CRISIS CHAPLAINCY CERTIFICATIONS
(Advanced Certification Program of Crisis Chaplaincy Care)

• Advanced – Anger Management Specialist Certification
• Advanced - Complex Family Issues Certification
• Advanced – Youth Violence Intervention Certification
• Advanced - Certified Leadership Coach Certification
• Advanced – Spiritual Dynamics of Addiction
• Advanced – Certified Chemical Dependency Counselor

Marinelle Timmons, Executive Director Victim Assistance Center 1310 Prairie Street, Suite 1030 Houston, Texas 77002 Phone: (713) 755-5625 Email: victimac@aol.com

Don Hawkins, National Executive Director Crisis Chaplaincy Care 12501 Champion Forest Drive Houston, Texas 77066 Phone: (832) 265-0336 Email: don41hawkins@yahoo.com Web site: www.CrisisChaplaincyCare.org