• Offers theological perspectives and disaster response theories, research and concepts from innovative Buddhist, Christian, Jewish, Muslim and other contributors
   
• Integrates the classic foundations of pastoral care with the unique challenges of disaster response on community, regional and national levels
   
• Provides a comprehensive explanation of a disaster’s lifecycle and how spiritual care changes following a disaster

Now available from Skylight Paths Publishing (discounts available for quantity orders), Amazon, Barnes&Noble, and elsewhere.

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The Authors

Stephen B. Roberts is chairman emeritus and a founder of Disaster Chaplaincy Services, a partnership program within the American Red Cross of Greater New York. He is the associate executive vice president of the New York Board of Rabbis overseeing the Jack D. Weiler Chaplaincy Program and a past president of the National Association of Jewish Chaplains. He has taught extensively on disaster spiritual care and was the primary researcher for the only published peer-review research on the impact of disasters on spiritual care providers.

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Willard W. C. Ashley Sr., a psychotherapist, is the founder and senior pastor of the Abundant Joy Community Church in Jersey City, New Jersey. He was project director for Care for the Caregivers Interfaith Program, the largest clergy resiliency program in the United States, created to assist caregivers in New York after 9/11. He also serves as a consultant on disaster recovery and clergy self-care to the Dutch Government (Impact Foundation), Israel, the president of South Korea, congregations, and Fortune 100 companies; and is a board member of Disaster Chaplaincy Services.

Prepare Your Community: A Leadership Forum for Faith and Community Leaders to Build Resiliency for Emergencies

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.

Mayor Bloomberg’s 7th Annual Interfaith Breakfast:

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.”

DCS featured in the Daily News:

"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.