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Emotional & Spiritual Care After Disasters

What makes Resilience?• James P. Stratoudakis, Ph.D., LCP,Director, Office of

Quality, Compliance and Risk Management, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

• Charles Mauer, Ph.D., Fairfax-Falls Church CSB Mobile Crisis Unit

• Rev. J. Beth S. Goss, M.Div., M.B.A., Pastor, Presbyterian Disaster Assistance, National Response Team

Needs after a Disaster

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Obvious

Not obvious

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Information you will gain from this session

the role of Emotional and Spiritual Care (ESC) after disaster

Guidelines for good delivery of ESC Strategies for faith communities and

houses of worship Resources in Fairfax County

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…calls into question our ability to live with hope and trust in a

network of relationships.

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“A disaster affects the entire fabric of community that existed prior to the event. Disaster Recovery is in large part the rebuilding of community, the re-tying of the thousands of strands of relationship in the fabric of our being together that have been severed by the disaster.”

--The Rev. John A. Robinson, Jr.- Light Our Way, p. 6

The Emotional Impact of Disaster

…time →

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• Many Definitions -- Common Elements • The struggle for meaning• The relationship of the human spirit to

transcendence and hope.

A word about “Spirituality”

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• A broader term than religion or faith tradition

• Many choose religion or faith tradition for their source of belonging, meaning, and identity.

• Every person has a source of belonging, meaning, and identity whether or not ‘religious.’

more about “Spirituality”

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Who has been impacted?

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Who needs ESC?

Bereaved and seriously

injured, those suffering loss

of property

First Responders

Family and close friends

Caregivers

Faith communities, Business &

Government groups

Community at large

Nation & World at Large

…in Short,

Everybody

Who Does Emotional

and Spiritual

Care?

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Religious leadersDeaconsStephen Ministers

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

Office ManagersMusiciansSextons

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Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

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Members of Groups: Lions ClubTorah Reading GroupBook GroupsAerobics Classes

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

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Friends AND Strangers

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

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Parents, Grandparents, Sisters and Brothers

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

Barbers

BartendersBeauticians

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Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

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Teachers and Counselors

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

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Receptionists at Houses of Worship, Service Organizations, Government Organizations

Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

ANYONE who is willing to be present

to suffering persons

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Who Does Spiritual and Emotional Care?

Essentials for Healing

Self-Care23

Narrative Positive Relationships

Narrative

• Brings the trauma into consciousness. • Gives us a way to confront the

experiences. • Lessens symptoms.• Externalizes it and gives it structure.

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Nurturing Positive Relationships

FamilyClose Friends

Group ConnectionsListening Partner

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Self-Care

What Is Emotional and Spiritual Care after Disaster?

Ministry of presence

Accepting/respecting persons where they are

Listening to survivors’ and caregivers’ stories

Encouraging close connection to community

Encouraging self-care

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How can we organize for Emotional and Spiritual Care?

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Know…

• Your own capabilities• Your own unique contribution• Your own limits.• Your natural partnerships

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Know For Whom you will provide care…• For Survivors

• Individuals and Their Families

•Entire Community• For Responders

& Caregivers

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Lots of ways to help… Educating people through media and

training groups

Providing information about available mental health and pastoral counseling resources

Holding commemorative events at anniversary times.

What will your role be?

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Adhere to ESC GuidelinesSee National VOAD Points of

Consensus in Delivery of Emotional and Spiritual Care (Spanish and English versions available)

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From Light Our Way (pg 16)

• Respect for diverse faith traditions

• Concern for confidentiality

• Guarding against unsolicited proselytization

• Respect for social diversity

• Description of professional boundaries that guarantee safety of clients

• Mechanisms for ensuring that caregivers function at levels appropriate to their training and educational backgrounds

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One Group in Fairfax County

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• Interfaith based,• Community

volunteers• Commitments to

integrity and good practices

What Fairfax County Community Chaplains do

• Show up when deployed• Offer ministry of presence• Assess need for referrals and

make referrals as appropriate• Medical• Mental health• Spiritual (refer to someone from

survivor’s faith tradition) 35

Other ways to help deliver ESC• Training in disaster ESC for groups

who serve others• Ministerial associations• Mental health professionals new to

disaster work• Teachers• Community leaders• Case managers

• Training in peer listening for the general public

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LongTermRecoveryGroups ArrangeSpecial Care for Caregivers

• Care for Caregivers retreats

• Compassion Fatigue retreats

• Mental Health Support

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More from the Community Services Board

James P. Stratoudakis, Ph.D., LCP,Director, Office of Quality, Compliance and Risk Management, Fairfax-Falls Church Community Services Board

Charles Mauer, Ph.D., Fairfax-Falls Church CSB Mobile Crisis Unit

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