DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
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NYDIS Training Curriculum
Operations Module 1
General Principles
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Objectives (1)
In this module you will:
 Explore all the stages of the
disaster continuum
 Understand and articulate the
definition and purpose of Emotional
and Spiritual Care (ESC)
 Identify and apply a core
intervention that you can use in
any phase of any disaster
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Objectives (2)
 Identify and appreciate the
qualities of being an ESC provider,
including the religious leader’s
identity and role
 Understand and demonstrate a
general approach to ESC
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
First Objective: Stages of A Disaster
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Question:
 What are some current or recent
disasters and what stage are they
in now?
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
How Individuals and Communities Are Affected
by Disasters
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Situational Awareness
 Where are you in relation to the
event?
 Emotionally, spiritually,
mentally
 What phase is the disaster in when
you get there?
 What are you going there to do?
with whom? for whom? why?
where?
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Second Objective: Definitions
Emotional and Spiritual Care
(ESC) is defined as:
 Attending to the emotional distress,
psychological and spiritual needs,
and crisis-in-faith, of traumaaffected persons through the
caregiver’s presence, listening,
words, crisis intervention and/or
referral to professional care.
The Salvation Army, p. 36.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Purpose
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The purpose of Emotional and
Spiritual Care:
 To help those affected draw upon
their own emotional and spiritual
resources in the midst of their pain
 To help them work through their
grief rather than take away their
grief
Disaster Spiritual Care, Roberts & Ashley, Eds., p. xvii
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Getting Started
Photo courtesy of FDNY Photo Unit
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Third Objective: Core Intervention
 During the emergency phase, the
role of the emotional and spiritual
caregiver is to provide acute
emotional and spiritual care
interventions largely through being
present, listening, creating an
environment of safety and security,
and providing basic chaplaincy
services.

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The Salvation Army, p. 36.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
PCAID
(The Salvation Army approach)
 Presence
 Connect
 Assessment
 Intervention
 Develop ongoing care plan
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Presence
Requires that you:
 Be self-aware
 Keep all of your attention on the
other person
 Listen with your heart and with
your mind.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
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Connect
 Emotionally and spiritually
 Through your presence and
compassion
 By establishing relationships of
trust
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How to Open a Conversation
 Introduce yourself and your
function
 Start with fact/content questions:
 What happened?
 When did you get here?
 What do you need right now?
 Is anybody missing?
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Guidelines for “Connecting”
 Human qualities for connecting
 Connecting in practice
 Factors which prevent us from
connecting
The Salvation Army, Appendix 5-A, p. 84
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OPERATIONS MODULE
Assessment
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 Is the person:
 Safe
 Far enough away from further danger
 Are their basic needs being met?
 If yes to the above, assess for:
 Mental Health
 Ability to connect with loved ones and
caregivers
 Assets and coping abilities
 Spiritual reactions and needs.
The Salvation Army, p. 79.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Intervention
 The basic goal of crisis
intervention is to stabilize the
system.
 Remember Bambi’s mother!!!
 “Yes, there’s danger out there”
 “ – But you’re safe.”
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Intervention
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 Foundational elements of care:
 Being present
 Connecting
 Being with
 Listening
 Making appropriate referrals
whenever you are in doubt.
The Salvation Army, p. 81.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
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Intervention Guidelines
 Don’t rush to fill the space with words
 Be aware of the power of a non-anxious,
accepting presence to come alongside
and walk with another through their
pain.
 Be aware of the vulnerability of the
survivor.
 Demonstrate appropriate boundaries.
The Salvation Army, p. 76.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Different Interventions for:




Pre-planning/preparedness
Immediate response phase
Short-term recovery
Long-term recovery
But the overall PCAID approach
will work in each phase of a
disaster.
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OPERATIONS MODULE
Developing a Plan of Care
 Before ending the intervention, ask
the survivor what their next steps
are:
 “What do you need to do next?”
 “Is there anyone you need to call?”
 “Who will be with you tonight?”
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
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1
 What is not clear about PCAID or
the purpose of Emotional and
Spiritual Care in a disaster?
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Exercise
 Look at the following photo.
 In groups of 4, follow the PCAID
model and identify what you would
do in each of those stages if you met
this group of individuals after the
explosion.
 Each group will explain to the
larger group how they would
develop one of the stages in PCAID.
 What did you learn?
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Oklahoma City Bombing, April 19, 1995
Copyright 1995, The Oklahoma Publishing Company
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Guiding Approach





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Patience and flexibility
Experience
Putting others first
Monitoring your own health
Staying fit
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
Fourth Objective: Qualities of ESC
Caregivers in Disaster (1)
 Are able to lead and to follow
 Are familiar with different human
reactions to trauma
 Can assess ESC needs through
observation, intuition, and nonthreatening dialogue
 Possess good crisis intervention
skills
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OPERATIONS MODULE
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
Qualities of ESC Caregivers in
Disaster Response (2):
 Are able to reach out and connect with
genuine compassion
 Are emotionally and spiritually mature
 Maintain objective and calm presence
in chaotic situations
 Are “low maintenance,” flexible and
adaptable
 Are resourceful problem solvers
The Salvation Army , p. 31
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OPERATIONS MODULE
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
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General Response Principles
 Most disaster response is local.
 Things happen and move very
quickly.
 Bad things happen fast.
 You cannot control either of these.
 Disaster sites are generally a multifaith and richly diverse spiritual
environment.
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Disaster Chaplains
 ARE a part of the overall response
 ARE Secondary and Tertiary
Responders
 ARE NOT to self-deploy
 Have a different identity and role
than in a worshiping community
 ARE NOT in charge.
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Religious Diversity
 Every disaster site is going to be a multifaith environment.
 Respect other people’s belief systems.
 Unless you ask, you have no idea what
their beliefs are.
 If these are unfamiliar to you, ask what
appropriate behavior would be.
 Ask what their spiritual/religious needs
are at this time.
 Be respectful of what they believe.
 Do NOT proselytize.
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World Trade Center Recovery Operation
Photo courtesy of FDNY Photo Unit
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Religious Leaders’ Identity in
Disasters
 Is different from ‘at home’
 Issues:
 Not being in charge
 Working as part of a team
 Multi-faith ‘worshiping
community’
 Different interventions
 Listening & Presence vs.
Answers
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OPERATIONS MODULE
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
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Disaster ESC “Do’s”
 See Attachment C.
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Awareness of Limitations
 Function as part of a team
 Remember reporting chain of
command
 Don’t overstep your role
 Refer often
 When in doubt, ask for help
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Guiding Principles Throughout
 Never inflict ministry on anyone
 Help them find and use their own
emotional and spiritual resources
 Respect the religious diversity you
will find
 Be a calm, non-anxious presence
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DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Objectives Review (1)
 Know all the stages of the disaster
continuum
 Understand and articulate the
definition and purpose of Emotional
and Spiritual Care (ESC)
 Identify and apply a core
intervention that you can use in
any phase of any disaster.
37
1
DISASTER CHAPLAINS
OPERATIONS MODULE
Objectives Review (2)
 Identify and appreciate the
qualities of being an ESC
Caregiver, including the religious
leader’s identity and role
 Understand and demonstrate a
general approach to ESC.
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