Our spirit is most vulnerable in times of crisis and often it suffers first, leaving emotional wounds that take a long time to heal. In the chaos of crisis search begins for a moment, for space, for respite. Our Chaplains are there to deliver Spiritual First Aid to those who find themselves dealing with a disaster.
Disaster Chaplaincy Services provides the spiritual and psychological first aid; crisis support to help people draw on spiritual resources in loss; spiritual care that respects the broad nature of each person’s spiritual tradition, responding and attending to the human meaning in times of loss; peer support to clergy and chaplains & first responders to ease compassion fatigue and burnout.
Disaster Chaplaincy Services provides educational assistance for religious/ professional/faith Leaders. We insure that our chaplains deliver skilled and interdisciplinary spiritual care in times of disasters, crises, and emergencies in the NY tri-state area.
Rev. Noster Montas prepares to deploy for 30 days on the USNS Comfort
NEW YORK, 19 January, 2010 — Disaster Chaplaincy Services’ (DCS) chaplain, Rev. Noster Montas is being deployed with a group from the New York area on a 30-day mission aboard the USNS Comfort off the coast of Haiti. Montas is part of a 47 person contingent deployed by the American Red Cross in Greater New York and the Miami Red Cross chapter to be translators on the medical ship. In addition to the DCS chaplain, included in the team are volunteers from the American Red Cross, 1199 SEIU United Healthcare Workers, and the Haitian Americans United for Progress, all of whom are fluent in Kreyol and English.
Montas and the rest of the Greater New York Red Cross volunteers leave tomorrow to meet the USNS Comfort already en route to Haiti. While Montas is out of the country, DCS will be staying in touch with his wife and two children to offer them support through this time.
Montas is a great example of what it means to be a Disaster Chaplaincy Services volunteer. On one hour notice he cleared his schedule for the next month and made himself available for this difficult deployment. His understanding that service is a sacrifice inspires all of us to use the gifts we have been given to help others in their time of need.
Thank you to Vince Porcelli who is our On-call Lead this month and has spent countless hours on the phone and email scheduling and organizing DCS’ local response. And a special thank you to all the DCS chaplains who have deployed to the various sites around the city to listen, companion, and support all those in the Haitian community affected by this heartbreaking earthquake. DCS chaplains continue to be on alert and on call.
Our thoughts and prayers go with everyone on the USNS Comfort and to all the people of Haiti. “L’union fait la force”–”In unity there is strength”
Peace and blessings,
Rev. Julie Taylor
Executive Director
Donate now to support the ongoing work of Disaster Chaplaincy Services.
NEW YORK, 17 January, 2010 –
Beginning on January 14th, Disaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS) volunteer chaplains have been providing support to the Haitian community of New York City in response to devastating earthquake that hit Haiti on January 12th. At the request of the American Red Cross in Greater New York DCS chaplains were onsite at four public schools in Brooklyn providing crisis interventions and support to the affected students and staff.
Throughout the weekend DCS chaplains have given support to the Haitian community and are scheduled at a number of locations in the upcoming week.
Thank you to the many chaplains and staff who stepped up to this call. We continue to be in contact and communication with municipal agencies as well as our non-governmental agency partners regarding how DCS can best be of assistance in meeting the ongoing and emerging needs of the community.
For information on friends and family who may be affected in Haiti and the Federal response, click here for the White House Haiti Relief page.
Please consider making a donation to one of the many great organizations working on the relief effort, including Disaster Chaplaincy Services.
DCS chaplains continue to provide spiritual care to all people affected by the collision
NEW YORK, 9 August, 2009 — Disaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS) today continues to be mobilized and chaplains are providing spiritual care to all people affected by yesterday’s tragic aircraft collision over the Hudson River. Since early this morning, three DCS chaplains have been activated and are present at the Office of Chief Medical Examiners to be with the families.
Yesterday, DCS chaplains provided comfort, assistance, and spiritual care for the families and others involved at the Family Assistance Center, the Red Cross, and the Heliport site.
DCS chaplains continue to be on alert and on call.
Donate now to support the ongoing work of Disaster Chaplaincy Services.
NEW YORK, 8 August, 2009 — Disaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS) today has been deployed to provide spiritual care to all people affected by the tragedy of the helicopter and plane collision over the Hudson River. DCS is responding and has chaplains on site at the Family Assistance Center.
DCS chaplains continue to be on alert and on call.
Please continue to check our website for updated information.
On July 30th, the Metropolitan College of New York and the Brooklyn Borough President’s Office present a pandemic flu excercise for faith leaders serving in houses of worship. Disaster Chaplaincy Services encourages you to register for this free event to learn how to keep your faith community safe.
Participants will have access to an expert panel that help you develop a pandemic flu plan for your house of worship, gain skills and obtain tools to implement your plan, and help you identify available resources in your community.
Date: Thursday, July 30th
Time: from 8:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.
Location: Brooklyn Borough Hall (Courtroom)
209 Joralemon Street
Brooklyn, N.Y. 11210
Please click here for more information and registration for this event.
This advanced level course will enhance your skills to provide effective emotional and spiritual care to meet the disaster-related needs of disaster responders and disaster affected families and individuals within disaster operations. This course builds on the crisis intervention principles taught in the Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) core courses to effectively integrate these principles within teams for appropriate care throughout the disaster continuum from the immediate to long-term recovery process.
This course is designed for trained clergy, chaplains, mental health professionals, and CISM trained crisis responders who desire to enhance their skills in providing Emotional and Spiritual Care to survivors of disaster and trauma.
Suggested but not mandatory prerequisites: Individual Crisis Intervention & Peer Support; Group Crisis Intervention; Pastoral Crisis Intervention.
The class will run three evenings Tuesday-Thursday from 5PM-9PM, June 16th, 17th, 18th. There is a registration fee for this course, but the course is discounted if you are a member or friend of DCS. Download the flyer for more details.
Emotional & Spiritual Care in Disaster: June 16, 17, & 18 2009 in NYC [Download PDF]
Hosted by the New York Board of Rabbis
Disaster Chaplaincy Services’ (DCS) on-call chaplain was activated at 3am on February 13th, 2009, and sent immediately to Newark International Airport to support those affected by the crash of Continental Flight 3407. The flight originated in Newark, New Jersey. Additional chaplains were mobilized for possible deployment to Newark and Buffalo. This is the second airline incident DCS chaplains have been deployed to in the last thirty days. DCS also provided on-scene support to the passengers and families of US Airways Flight 1549 after the aircraft was ditched into the Hudson River. Disaster Chaplaincy Services’ chaplains continue to be on alert and on-call to deploy as needs are assessed.
Family members and loved ones of passengers and crew aboard Flight 3407 should contact the airline directly at 1-800-621-3263.
New York City: NYC VOAD Mental Health & Chaplaincy Committee, September 18th, 9am-11am at 330 5th Ave, 9th Floor. The NYC DOHMH’s Office of Mental Health Disaster Preparedness and Response will give a presentation on the DOHMH current response planning, working with mental health providers, and training for mental health providers to respond in times of emergency. There is no charge for this presentation.
Sullivan County: Hudson Valley CISM Team is offering the courses “Grief Following Trauma” and “Basic Group CISM” on September 27-28. These are all-day courses and attendance both days is required. There is a registration fee for these courses. (CLICK HERE for more information and registration brochure)
In response to Hurricane Gustav, the State of Louisiana is working to inform prospective volunteers and donors of how to best to get involved. To support Louisiana’s efforts, please consider reaching out to local relief organizations working in the affected areas.
http://www.volunteerlouisiana.gov
http://www.ohsep.louisiana.gov/
Disaster Chaplaincy Services’ (DCS) on-call chaplain was activated at 3am on February 13th, 2009, and sent immediately to Newark International Airport to support those affected by the crash of Continental Flight 3407. The flight originated in Newark, New Jersey. Additional chaplains were mobilized for possible deployment to Newark and Buffalo. This is the second airline incident DCS chaplains have been deployed to in the last thirty days. DCS also provided on-scene support to the passengers and families of US Airways Flight 1549 after the aircraft was ditched into the Hudson River. Disaster Chaplaincy Services’ chaplains continue to be on alert and on-call to deploy as needs are assessed.