Illinois Corps Of Fire Chaplains, Inc (ICFC)

MABAS 54 Training

MABAS 54 FIRE CHAPLAINS
Serving local Fire Departments/Districts in Cumberland, Effingham, Fayette, Jasper, Richland, and Shelby Counties.

Invite you to Fire Fighter Culture and Care
Friday, September 16, 2011
10 am – 3 pm

At the Effingham Fire Department Central Fire Station
505 West Fayette Avenue, Effingham, Illinois

Instructors:
Chaplain Jennie Swanson, President, Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains
Chief Chris Overbeck, Montrose, IL
Chief Merle Adermann, Vandalia, IL

This Fire Chaplain Training will be held on Friday, September 16, 2011, from 10 am to 3 pm.

It fulfills 1/2 of the the Fire Culture and Operations MABAS Chaplain Requirement.  Chaplains should also attend the MABAS 54 Basic Chaplain Orientation or a comperable class.

Cost is $20
Lunch on your own at a local restaurant.

The fire chaplain’s job is to support and work with local fire departments/districts to provide support and counsel to fire fighters and their families. We are looking for volunteers in the area, but you don’t have to commit to being a chaplain to benefit from this training. It may prove helpful to ministry in your church. For more information, contact Chaplain Jim Wright at 618-483-6395 or  jimwright1961@gmail.com

Detach and mail attached registration to:
MABAS 54, c/o Effingham Fire Department,
Attn: Joan Buzzard,
505 West Fayette Ave., Effingham, IL 62401.
Make $20 checks payable to : MABAS 54

Download TrainingFlyer9.16.11[2]

  

 

Resources for Fire Chaplains

As I complete one of two days in the Individual and Peer Support CISM class (now titled Assisting Individuals in Crisis), it became obvious that I need to make better available some of the newer and older resources we have collected for your use. There is a lot of information on this website, but here are a few highlights you may find helpful.  I will post more as time goes on.  Hope you find these helpful.  Let me know what else you would like to see reposted or created.
Jennie

ICFC/MABAS Fire Chaplain Training Standards:
Download Icfc_mabas_program_policy_manual
Download MABAS Chaplains Q&A[1]

Chaplain Program Development:
Download Thefirechiefsguide
Download LS Assignment - Petrakis

Membership:
Download Icfc_application
Download Bylaws of the Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains[1]

 

Chaplain Gathering a Success

It's 11pm Saturday night and I am now home from the IAFPD Conference in Peoria, where our chaplains gathered for a time of networking, learning and planning.  Thank you to the IAFPD and all its supporters for allowing us to come and providing a place for us to grow. 

I was so pleased that we had 17 participants in all, including three spouses. We hosted a booth in the expo which as constantly busy with folks stopping by to tell about their chaplain programs or seeking guidance toward getting started.  I have about 30 follow-ups to work on and each will be sent a copy of "The Fire Chief's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Chaplains".  We gave away Twizzlers and other treats and raffled off two NFFF posters.  Everyone helped in the booth and I appreciate you all jumping in to help as I was wearing several hats at the same time. 

The booth opened Thursday for a couple hours and we had many visitors. On Friday we had lunch together and a casual but necessary annual meeting.  In the later afternoon we met to discuss the new MABAS Chaplain training standards and dispatch procedures for the response team.  The conversation regarding dispatch procedures and accountability in general was extremely productive.

On Saturday the chaplains met without me to discuss ideas about new leadership on committees, brainstorm fund raising and promotional ideas and generally get to know each others gifts and strengths.  We have much work and planning to do but it was exciting to witness such enthusiasm!  In the second half of the morning the chaplains that stayed a hile longer attended the second half of the class I as teaching and co-authored with Chief Pat Kenny (IFCA), "Why Leave it at the Door Doesn't Work" dealing with Initiative 13 of the 16 Life Safety Initiatives .  This class talked about the reality of life and work stress overlapping and the impact it has on us, our families and our jobs. We talked about the need to establish effective resources to identify and help with problems before they become debilitating. It was a great class and over 55 people attended. 

Having been invited back again for next year's conference, we will be starting now in planning and using more time for training and improving our registration and scheduling procedures.  Throughout the year you will see new opportunities for some of the trainings in the MABAS document offered so that everyone can get a chance to work toward that level of certification.  There was a great desire to organize by Divisions which has been a goal of mine for quite some time.  Please keep an eye on this website as we move forward and I will do my best to keep you all informed.  Your ideas and leadership are welcome. 

Thank you to all the chaplains and spouses that came this weekend, I appreciate you more than you know.  Each of us brings gifts to this ministry and we are stronger together.  God is calling many to this task.  Let's keep our eyes on the work ahead of us as we prayerfully seek the right paths to follow and doors to walk through.  God bless you all and keep up the good work.  See you at training! Be safe!

(What do you think? Comments are open for this post)

PSOB Coverage While Participating in Disaster Assistance

Attached is an important reminder about what the fire service needs to keep in mind when assisting in disaster situations to avoid the possibility of not meeting the requirements of a Public Safety Officer.  Please familiarize yourself and your team members with this information and take whatever steps you can to get it out to the departments in your state.  This information was assembled and provided by

Chief Kyle Lenn is the Nebraska LAST Coordinator and a state advocate for the foundation’s Everyone Goes Home Program and I want to thank him for sharing it with us.

Please let me know if I can be of any assistance.

Thanks
John Proels
National Fallen Firefighters Foundation (www.firehero.org)
Coordinator - Local Assistance State Team Program (LAST)

Download In_a_disaster_make_sure_members_are_covered-1

MABAS Guidance: MABAS Qualified Fire Service Chaplain Resources

Exciting and Important Direction
From James P. Reardon, Fire Chief (Ret.)  CEO, MABAS

As announced at our 2011 February conference, MABAS is supporting a new, formalized resource capability for fire service chaplains. Accordingly, MABAS extends the following guidance in support of and in the development of a qualified and capable system of accessing fire service chaplains during agency times of need.

 –      The MABAS Executive Board, in cooperation with the Illinois Fire Chiefs Association, endorses and encourages the divisional development of a qualified fire service chaplain resource capability. See attachment; Q & A about fire service chaplains.

 –      The MABAS Executive Board encourages local divisions/departments to develop a fire service chaplain cadre from their local clergy in order to secure chaplains qualified and capable of providing responsible assistance to firefighters, families, chiefs, agencies and the like when dealing with difficult situations.

–      The MABAS Executive Board encourages local divisions that are committed to creating a local fire service chaplain program to seek guidance and consultation from the MABAS Chaplain Steering Group by contacting Pastor Jennie Swanson at jennieswanson@sbcglobal.net or 630-479-1970  (cell). In order to qualify as an official “MABAS Chaplain” minimal standards must be met.

 –      The MABAS Executive Board encourages local MABAS divisions to develop “Box Cards” for multiple chaplain response during events where multiple individuals and families are directly impacted. Chaplain Resource “Box Cards” may be interdivisional by design.

 –      As an interim plan to assist by providing access to qualified MABAS chaplain resources by MABAS Divisions and/or agencies, MABAS is providing a chaplain resource pool for 24/7/365 access by all divisions through RED Center. The procedure for requesting and accessing the MABAS Fire Service Chaplains resource is as follows:

 –      The request for a MABAS Fire Service Chaplain must meet the following criteria and provide the following detail for action:

A.      The request for a MABAS Fire Service Chaplain(s) must be made exclusively by a Chief Officer of the agency(s) directly impacted by the event.

 B.      Requests for MABAS Fire Service Chaplains should be made through the impacted agency’s divisional dispatch center to RED Center at 847-724-5700 or 847-272-2121 .

 C.      RED Center, upon receiving a quest for MABAS Chaplain assistance, will gather the following information from the requesting division.

1.       Impacted division agency and county

2.       Requesting fire chief, their agency, and callback telephone numbers

3.       Nature of the event with particulars associated with specifics, such as; what happened, number of firefighters impacted, family particulars, denomination (if readily available), other notable matters of background 

D.      RED Center, upon receipt of a request for a MABAS Chaplain(s), will take the following actions.

1.       Review interim Illinois Chaplain Response Team List (attached) and identify the three (3) closest chaplains geographically to the event’s host agency.

2.       Prior to contacting a chaplain for response, contact team leader, Pastor Jennie Swanson at 630-479-1970 (cell) for advisement, consultation and direction regarding chaplain(s) assignment. Pastor Swanson is provided command decision and assignment authority regarding chaplain assignments.

3.       RED Center shall advise via cell phone or text the Chief Executive Officer of MABAS whenever a chaplain is requested and has been assigned.

4.       Team Leader Pastor Swanson shall keep the MABAS CEO advised as needed and as appropriate during chaplain assignments generated by divisional requests to RED Center.

Download MABAS Chaplains Q&A[1]

Download MABAS Response list[1]

Death of Chaplain Lee Gatzke

We lost a good chaplain and a good friend today, Chaplain Lee Gatzke. 

Lee was Chaplain for Sauk Village and South Chicago Heights Fire Departments and was a part of the ICFC and MABAS Chaplain Program from their beginnings. He served as a fire chaplain with the Federation of Fire Chaplains and other organizations long before these groups became a reality.  Lee also served as Lead Chaplain for the SMART Search and Rescue Team and was recently appointed State Chaplain for the Illinois Firefighters Association.  Lee served as Chaplain with Southern Baptist Disaster Relief and trained and served along side Salvation Army Emergency Disaster Services.  He was a dedicated partner to the Red Cross as well.  These are just a few of his accomplishments and gifts to others.

Lee touched the lives of thousands through his ministry in the fire service, disaster relief, his church and his daily walk with God.     Whenever there was a need, he always responded and served with honor and dignity. He will be truly missed.  His dear wife Vicki and his extended family and departments remain in all of our prayers. 

Details on funeral service arrangements:

Crete Funeral Home
1182 Main Street
Crete, Il

Wake - Tuesday May 10 - 11am to 9pm
Fire Deparment line up - 6:30 Tuesday night, 7pm Walk-Through
Funeral - Wednesday, May 11 - 10am
Committal Service at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Cemetary in Elwood, IL
with luncheon to follow at Temple Baptist Church - Sauk Trail and Euclid Ave. 

Wear your Class A Dress uniform if available.

Wear your Seatbelt! Stay Alive - Watch this Video

From: the Illinois Firefighter Life Safety Task Force
To: You and your family 

Have the COURAGE to be Safe!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=U6w4mNbXdjE

Firefighter Fatalities Email Notifications

https://service.govdelivery.com/service/subscribe.html?code=USDHSFA_17

The link above enables you to receive an email from the United States Fire Administration when there has been a firefighter fatality.  It is necessary for us as chaplains to be aware of the needs of our personnel and significant events that occur nationally. 
 
You can also learn more about types of these events at any of these websites:

http://www.usfa.dhs.gov/fireservice/fatalities/

http://www.firehero.org

http://www.firefighterclosecalls.com/secret.php

Please make sure that you stay informed about line of duty deaths that occur and other safety issues that are of great importance in the fire service. Be safe.

NFFF Everyone Goes Home ONLINE Training

http://www.ctbsinstructors.com/onlineCTBS_OPEN.htm

Now You Can Participate in a valid online Courage to Be Safe® training program! » Register Today: Courage to Be Safe® Online

To qualify for a Courage to Be Safe® certificate of completion you will be required to: • Register by providing a username, name, and state. • Complete the online Courage to Be Safe® program. • Complete the required paper for evaluation. • Answer any questions your program mentor may ask. • Participate in a short evaluation at the end of the program. » Register for Online Courage to Be Safe® Training

PTSD and Ministry Blog

http://ptsdministry.blogspot.com/p/about-pastor-dave.html

This blog is the creation and insight of a fire chaplain from Ohio.  I found his words inspiring and full of healing.  Its worth your time to read and share.  I hope you feel the same.  Thanks Dave.

 

SUICIDE PREVENTION AND CRISIS INTERVENTION GUIDEBOOK

This resource was recommended by one of our ICFC/MABAS chaplains, made known to him by the poeple at LivingWorks.net (ASIST Suicide Intervention Skills Training).  I hope that you find it helpful in your jurisdiction. 

From http://www.firenuggets.com/suicide.htm

...This manual was a labor of love, determination, dedication and commitment by several members of the San Jose Fire Department in California. Sadly enough, it was written after several years of sadness and grief experienced by the families, extended families and the fire family of San Jose Fire Department Firefighters. This manual is in memory of several beloved San Jose Firefighters. We miss them each and every day. The authors hope to provide a resource for firefighters should they find themselves, their coworkers, their families or someone they know in need. Their hope is to open our eyes to a word that is seldom spoken and difficult to talk about, but one that touches the hearts and minds of the survivors of suicide forever....

http://www.firenuggets.com/suicide.htm

Other helpful resources:

http://www.livingworks.net/page/Applied%20Suicide%20Intervention%20Skills%20Training%20%28ASIST%29

http://www.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

 

 

 

IAFPD "Fire Call" Chaplain Article

Our good friends at the Illinois Association of Fire Chaplains (IAFPD) have been very kind to us and published this article on the ICFC MABAS Chaplain Program this summer. 

We look forward to joining with them at their June 9-12, 2011 Conference in Peoria, IL where we will host training for our chaplains and offer curriculum for the general conference as well.  More information will be coming soon.  Mark the dates so that you can come too!

Article: Download Chaplainarticle.fircall.2010

IAFPD conference website: http://www.iafpd.org/Annual_Conference.html

NFFF Roll of Honor Widget Available

http://weekend.firehero.org/widget/

Now You Can Feature a Tribute to the Fallen Firefighters Being Honored in 2010 on Your Organization's Website

Help us honor America's 80 firefighters who died in the line of duty in 2009 and 25 from previous years. Their names will be enshrined at the National Fallen Firefighters Memorial during the annual Memorial Service on Sunday, October 3, 2010 in Emmitsburg, Maryland. You can pay tribute on your website by including this 2010 National Fallen Firefighters Memorial Weekend Tribute Widget.

Copy and Paste this entire block of code onto your website. The featured fallen firefighter will change automatically. No additional changes to the coding are required.

After you have placed this Tribute on your website please drop us a note at webteam@firehero.org.

Note: If your department has website hosting through FireCompanies.com or FirehouseSolutions.com you can add the Memorial Weekend Tribute to your website. Please contact your hosting provider to add this tribute. If you are a website hosting provider and need more information or something specific, please contact webteam@firehero.org.

New ICFC Publication: Fire Chief's Guide

The ICFC proudly releases the first printed publication from the ICFC, authored by Fire Chief Curt Kramer (Hampshire, IL) entitled The Fire Chief's Guide to the Care and Feeding of Chaplains.

This publication was first distributed at the 2010 Fire Rescue International Conference here in Chicago during our presentation An All-Hazards Plan for Utilizing Chaplains in Emergency Response, taught by Chaplain Jennie Swanson and Fire Chief Craig Haigh of Hanover Park, IL as well as Fire Chief Curt Kramer.

This brief and humorous guide gives you what you need to know about the new standard for fire chaplain program establishment, training and implementation.  These are the standards that we follow here in Illinois through the Illinois Corps of Fire Chaplains and the MABAS Chaplain Program. 

Printed copies are available at no cost.  Please make your request to jennieswanson@sbcglobal.net and we will get them out to you in booklet form as soon as possible.

Enjoy and distribute as needed! (Intended to be printed double sided in booklet form)

 Download Thefirechiefsguide

 

Death of Former Fox Lake Fire Chief Stu Hoehne

Our deepest sympathies go out to the family and friends of Chief Hoehne. 
Please keep the family and all those affected in your thoughts and prayers.

For the full article click here:

http://www.dailyherald.com/story/?id=400286

American Red Cross Bereavement Practices Guide

Many thanks to Chaplain Bruce Borror (Ohio) for passing this along.  It describes grieving and funeral rituals for many faith groups in a direct and respectful way.  A must-have document for today's Fire Chaplain.

Download ARC_bereavement_practices[1]

Bruce Borror, Chaplain WTFD/OFFC
"Serving Those Who Serve"
www.ohioffc.org
www.wtwp.com
614-562-6222

Everyone Goes Home 5 Minute Safety Drills

http://www.everyonegoeshome.com/resources/take5/

The Take-5 Safety Drills were developed by WHA Insurance based on safety research and accident data. Each topic has an instructor's sheet as well as a student handout.

The material may be used as part of a training session to encourage discussion or the handouts can be posted for individual review and consideration.

If you have any comments or suggestions please email info@everyonegoeshome.com

Policies

This is a creative solution to a challenge that one of our fire chaplains faced last year: What do you do with the pets belonging to people who need our help finding housing after a fire? 

Chaplain Lee Gatzke in Saulk Village, IL worked with his department to develop the following guidelines.  Nice work Lee! Many thanks to Sauk Village FD for allowing us to share their new guidelines.

Download Pet Assistance.sauk village

ICFC MABAS Program Policy Manual

The following document is the approved ICFC Policy Manual containing Chaplain Committee structure and recommendations for fire departments to consider when initiating a MABAS Chaplain Program.  It is our hope that these recommendations are of help to you. 

Download Icfc_mabas_program_policy_manual

A Chief's Perspective on The Worcester Fire

The excerpt below is from the most recent email update (12/1/09) from  TheSecretList@FirefighterCloseCalls.com

December 3rd marks the 10 year anniversary of a major fire and tragic LODD that will be remembered for decades to come.  The excerpt below and article linked at the end should be required reading for every Fire Chaplain seeking to gain a better understanding of those we serve and to appreciate the valiant history of the fire service. 

May God surround and protect all who still feel the pain of that day.
Peace,

Jennie

 

 

The Worcester Fire Department responded at 1813 hours that night to Box Alarm 1438 for a fire at 266 Franklin Street.(NOTE: 266 Franklin Street is now the the address and location of WFD's E-6, E-12, L-1, R-1 and Scuba-1 quarters)

 

2 members of rescue 1, Firefighter Paul Brotherton and Firefighter Jerry Lucey, entered the building searching for occupants. Fire conditions worsened in the building at a rapid and unexpected rate. FF's Brotherton and Lucey, on the fifth floor, became disoriented in the smoke-filled building. Lost, and running low on air, they called for help. Several crews began searching for the lost Firefighters. Two crews reaching the fifth floor also found themselves disoriented in the smoke and trapped by the maze of interior walls: Lieutenant Tom Spencer and Firefighter Tim Jackson from Ladder 2, and Firefighter Jay Lyons and Firefighter Joe McGuirk from Engine 3 were now trapped. Though many more highly heroic fire fighters attempted to locate their missing brothers, their efforts proved futile.

 

Be sure to read the link below, entitled "A Chiefs Perspective" about WFD District (Ret) Chief Mike McNamee, who made the beyond difficult decision to end search operations for the missing members-and saved more lives by doing so.

The Line of Duty Deaths of Worcester Firefighters Paul A. Brotherton, Timothy P. Jackson, Jeremiah M. Lucey, James F. "Jay" Lyons III, Joseph T. McGuirk, and Lt. Thomas E. Spencer devastated Worcester, the Fire service, the nation and the world. Their Line of Duty deaths marked the worst loss of Firefighters' lives in more than 20 years in a building fire in America, and the third worst fire in Massachusetts' history.

http://www.telegram.com/article/20091129/NEWS/911290432/1052

Everyone Goes Home Courage to be Safe Program

The Illinois Task Force on Firefighter Life Safety
presents Everyone Goes Home - Train the Trainer

Firefighters must have the courage to face a multitude of risks in order to save
lives and protect their communities. Their courage allows them to willingly risk
their own lives so that others can be saved. A different type of courage is
required to stay safe in potentially dangerous situations, avoiding needless risks
and tragic consequences. This provocative and moving presentation is
designed to change the culture of accepting the loss of firefighters as a normal
occurrence. Building on the untold story of LODD survivors, it reveals how family
members must live with the consequences of a firefighter death and provides a
focus on the need for firefighters and officers to change fundamental attitudes
and behaviors in order to prevent line of duty deaths. The central theme
promotes the courage to do the right thing in order to protect yourself and other
firefighters and ensure that "Everyone Goes Home" at the end of the day.

 
This program is a must see for all who care, share, and have a
feeling for the safety of all firefighters!

When: Saturday, November 21, 2009 (Black Shift)
Where: Palatine Rural Fire Protection District
35 North Ela Road
Inverness, IL 60067
Time: 9:00 am to 2:00pm

Cost: Paid for by National Fallen Firefighters Foundation

Registration Below

Download Everyone Goes Home - Train the Trainer-1