“TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN®” and
“ACUTE TRAUMATIC STRESS MANAGEMENT”
PRACTICAL TRAINING FOR FIRE & POLICE CHAPLAINS
MAY 16-17, 2011 IN HERMITAGE, PA
Sponsored by the Hermitage Fire Department,
Hermitage Police Department, and St. Paul’s United Church of Christ
TAKING CARE OF OUR OWN®
On Monday, May 16th, the National Fallen Firefighters Foundation and the Pennsylvania Fire Academy are teaming up to bring us this eight-hour training program to help fire and police chaplains prepare for the worst: a line-of-duty death or serious injury. Developed by fire service personnel and families who have lost a firefighter in the line of duty, the class covers pre-incident planning, survivor notification, family and co-worker support, and benefits and resources available to the families. You’ll go home with specific ideas, practical information, real-world insights, and valuable materials.
Instructors for this class include Bill Hinton from the Foundation; Chief Mark Wessel of the Keokuk, Iowa, Fire Department; Joddie Walker, a certified trauma specialist; and (tentatively) Carol Liddy, daughter of a fallen firefighter. Adding his expertise will be Bill Ruth, Field Supervisor for the Western Region, Office of the Pennsylvania State Fire Commissioner.
ACUTE TRAUMATIC STRESS MANAGEMENT
On Tuesday, May 17th, we’ll give you more real-world tools by training you in Comprehensive Acute Traumatic Stress Management. You’ll learn how to “jump-start” an individual’s coping and problem-solving abilities in the middle of a situation. You’ll learn how to stabilize acute symptoms of traumatic stress and stimulate healthy, adaptive functioning. And you’ll learn techniques for connecting with particularly challenging, emotionally distraught, individuals. Following this class, if you wish, you can take the exam and apply for certification from the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress.
Our instructor is the Rev. Dan Schafer, an ordained minister in the Assemblies of God, Mid-Atlantic regional director of the International Conference of Police Chaplains, a Fellow of the American Academy of Experts in Traumatic Stress, and a chaplain for the Brick Township PD, Stafford Township PD, Ocean County Sheriffs Dept, Jackson Township PD, Jackson Mills FD, Larsen Rd. FD and Hightstown FD (all in New Jersey).
COST
This two-day seminar for chaplains, prospective chaplains, and interested clergy is just $125. The fee includes two days of instruction and discussion, workbook and other materials, certificates of training, a t-shirt, and donuts & coffee plus lunch and snacks on both days.
LOCATION
Classes will be held on the upper floor of Hermitage Fire Department’s station 3 on the corner of Mercer Avenue and Maple Drive in Hermitage (just a few miles north of Interstate 80 exit 4B). Parking is in the lot to the right of the station, located at 541 Mercer Avenue.
Classes are 8:30 am to 4:30 pm both days. Registration is Monday at 8 am. Dress is casual. Because the weather (and air conditioning) can vary in May, we encourage you to bring a sweatshirt.
The closest hotels are in West Middlesex and include the AAA-rated ??? Radisson ($85+tax; phone 724-528-2501) and AAA-rated ?? Super 8 ($61+tax; phone 724-528-3888). Be sure to mention you’re coming to “Fire Chaplain training.”
To register, visit www.HermitageFire.com
