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/

http://gov.louisiana.gov

NEW YORK, May 30, 2008 — Disaster Chaplaincy Services (DCS) today deployed 3 chaplains to provide spiritual care to all people affected by a construction crane collapse on New York’s Upper East Side including their relatives and members of the community. According to initial news reports, 2 people were killed and 2 people were hurt by the accident.

DCS counts on an involved network of partners, donors and volunteers to help continue its mission. Please, click here to donate to DCS and support its work.

(CLICK HERE for the complete press release.)

Disasters can occur at any time and polls show that in times of crisis two-thirds of Americans turn to their religious leader for comfort and guidance. Emergency preparedness is now an integral part of community planning and New York City is planning borough conferences specifically to equip faith-leaders with skills in disaster response and recovery initiatives.

To help strengthen and localize existing preparedness and collaborative efforts, The New York City Citizen Corps Council, chaired by the Office of Emergency Management, in partnership with the American Red Cross of Greater New York, Department of Health and Mental Hygiene, and the City’s Borough Presidents” Offices, is planning an emergency preparedness conference in each Borough devoted specifically towards houses of worship and their congregants.

These conferences will focus on equipping faith-leaders to skillfully lead disaster preparedness, response and recovery initiatives. Participants will engage in scenario exercises, workshops, and panel discussions. Most importantly, by providing progressive steps for leaders to best prepare for all emergencies, the conferences will help empower NYC’s local faith leaders and congregants to better understand their communities’ vulnerabilities and ensure ongoing engagement with disaster preparation.

“It would be wonderful if we weren’t needed, but we know we will be, and we are ready.” Read the full article with Executive Director Julie Taylor HERE.

On Monday, December 31, Mayor Michael R. Bloomberg celebrated the end of 2007 by inviting religious leaders from the City’s five boroughs to the New York Public Library. Rabbis, Imams, Priests, Bishops, Pastors, Ministers and congregants were present in large numbers, with Executive Director Julie Taylor as one of the honored guests. The program featured invocations by six faith leader, music from the Mama Foundation for the Arts Youth Choir and remarks from the Mayor. “As we gather here today from different religions and different parts of the world, we recognize that we share so much in common as people of faith and as New Yorkers. The New Year will bring new challenges and I look forward to tackling them by working together with the guidance and wisdom of our city’s spiritual community.”

Led by crisis intervention educator and trauma counselor Peter Volkman, MSW, CSW, two day training will examine statistics, myths and attitudes about suicide, develop practical skills for response and intervention, and address pastoral self-care in the midst of such strong emotions. Participants will also share in the creation of a suicide education brief. Congregational leaders, emergency response providers, chaplains, educators, students — all are encouraged to attend.

Location: 502 W. 41st Street (Sts. Cyril & Methodius and St. Raphael side parish hall – separate entrance) Cost: $50 materials fee RSVP: Marlene Smith, msmith@dcs-ny.org

On June 14th, 2007 DCS took a little time out to say “thank you” to our chaplains for that job well done.

”You are cordially invited to attend the Inaugural Partnership Tribute Event benefiting Disaster Chaplaincy Service on Thursday, June 14th, 2007.” That was the call that went out to all of our Chaplains and ultimately over 400 friends of DCS.

And this is just a sample of our chaplains!

Chaplaincy is among the work of the unsung heroes. Often asked to represent the intangible during a time of crisis the chaplain goes about the day quietly supporting others. But in that quietude a word, a gesture, a glass of water at just the right time lives are changed. In the world of chaplaincy, thank you comes in the form of gratitude for knowing you are in the right place, at the right time, for the right person.

On June 14th, 2007 DCS took a little time out to say “thank you” to our chaplains for that job well done. Our Inaugural Partnership Tribute Event was an event full of joy, honor and celebration. We took the time to recognize selfless individuals from the private, public and in the form of our chaplains, the religious sector of our disaster response services community.

From right to left Julie Taylor, Michael N Emmerman, ARC-GNY Executive Director Theresa Bischoff

Along with our chaplains, DCS chose Michael N Emmerman and Virginia Mewborn to honor for their Dedicated, Compassionate and Selfless Service to the Community.

“Benefits are usually worth more than money. For Disaster Chaplaincy Services its first Tribute was a perfect opportunity to celebrate the success of its mission and express helped raise not only funds but gain new promising friendships. ”

From left to right: Rev. Julie Taylor, Rabbi Stephen Roberts, Virginia Mewborn, OEM Commissioner Joe Bruno

Nearly 200 people were treated to an array of Kosher vegetarian dishes, ensuring that all would be able to enjoy our menu selections. One of the highlights of the evening was showing the premiere of DCS’s new video

Oxana Trush, LOGOS Consulting

“Responding to the Call”. Produced by Kate Kenny of Spiritu Productions, it captivated the audience as it revealed the true nature of Disaster Relief Chaplaincy. This DVD will serve as a tool to share the story of DCS, our chaplains and those we serve.

Derrick McQueen (vocals) and Victoria Ramsey (piano)

The evening was capped off with a soulful rendition of “What a Wonderful World” performed by DCS staff members Derrick McQueen (vocals) and Victoria Ramsey (piano). The nature of events to which DCS responds are serious. But it is precisely because of what we do here at DCS that we can honor and celebrate those in service. They are what make the words ring true, “What a Wonderful World”.

Disaster Chaplaincy Services and the Logos Institute for Crisis Management and Executive Leadership were the local hosts for a regional conference on crisis intervention presented by The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation, Inc. (ICISF) on June 4-7 at Union Theological Seminary in New York City. Attendees from around the world gathered to learn the latest training and education on comprehensive crisis intervention systems. Attendees attended sessions on Crisis Intervention, Peer Support, Strategic Crisis Response, and other issues vital to the training of Crisis Responders.

There was also a Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) Town Meeting held the first day of the conference. The purpose of the meeting was to 1.) improve communications between ICISF and CISM practitioners and the CISM teams in the field, 2.) discuss the most current developments in CISM and to 3.) assist in planning for the future of CISM. This innovative course of action at the beginning of the conference helped to assure that while learning the most updated information, the facilitators and instructors were able to tailor sessions to what is happening in the field. Conference attendees were thrilled to be such an integral part of the training process.

The New York City setting was perfect for the conference. The Union Theological Seminary, nestled in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of Manhattan, allowed for great dining, easy transportation, sightseeing opportunities and areas of reflection from its courtyard or from Riverside Park.

Rev. Julie Taylor, Executive Director of DCS remarked, “It is so exciting to have this many professionals in crisis response networking and setting the pace for the future of the field.”