Services
YAKIMA VALLEY COMMUNITY CHAPLAINCY
Like members of the Armed Forces of the United States, police officers, firefighters, and Emergency Medical Service personnel can benefit from an in-house chaplain program. They often need a “safe insider” with whom they can express their frustrations, problems, accomplishments and victories...either personal, family, or on-the-job.
The nature of an emergency event often requires a quick response by a professional to offer emotional, relational, and spiritual support. Yakima Valley Community Chaplains are available to help victims, families, friends, witnesses, and all Emergency Service Personnel. This assistance is provided upon request and can range from at-the-scene care to follow-up services such as notifications, defusing, debriefings, listening, funerals and memorials.
The volunteer Chaplain program enhances the goals and vision of the cities they serve. In addition to police and fire personnel, chaplain services are available to all city personnel, residents, visitors, businesses, schools, organizations, neighborhoods, and the religious community upon request.
This volunteer program includes, but is not restricted to, the following services:
- Support fire and police personnel during and after critical incidents as needed.
- Attend shift changes, do ride alongs, or just be available to police and fire personnel.
- Perform crisis intervention and/or care for victims, families and witnesses of critical incidents.
- Follow the scene as it transitions to hospital or other locations, providing continuity for victims.
- Interface with other clergy, extended family, Red Cross, and other community support mechanisms to meet needs of victims.
- Assist with notifying families of serious injuries or death.
- Visit individuals at the hospital and/or home.
- Perform weddings, funerals, memorials, etc.
- Offer department and community education programs on grief and loss, victim response and recovery, stress management, relationships, marriage and family, parenting, morals and ethics, and other interpersonal topics.
- Serve as liaison between Police and Fire Departments and the religious community.
- Represent the community at ceremonial and formal events upon request.
- Coordinate and communicate between the religious community and the city on special committees and projects, volunteer programs, and emergency/disaster preparedness.
Yakima Valley Community Chaplaincy is a faith-based 501(c)(3) non-profit organization whose purpose is to provide Police & Fire Chaplain services and care throughout the communities we serve.
Since 2003, volunteer chaplaincy ministry has been part of our community’s fire and police departments. From its beginning chaplaincy services have been provided free of charge. This ministry is supported exclusively through donations from those who value ministry to emergency service personnel, crisis victims, families and survivors. Generous support from churches, civic groups, businesses and individuals has enabled us to truly serve those who serve us with absolutely no cost to them.
Our mission is to recruit, train, and support local community chaplains who will freely serve their Police & Fire Departments while helping build bridges of cooperation between Church and City.
You can partner with us in several ways:
- Become a volunteer chaplain or part of our support services team.
- Commit to praying regularly for Yakima Valley Community Chaplaincy.
- Consider giving a tax-deductible gift to support the ongoing ministry of Yakima Valley Community Chaplaincy.
SOME FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS:
Are chaplains available to anyone?
Yes. Anyone may call and request the Chaplain to get in touch with them. This includes prisoners, victims, emergency service personnel, their families and any other city employee.
What are the chaplain qualifications?
They must be licensed or ordained ministers in an established and recognized religious community. They must also complete a basic chaplain training course and participate in on-going training. In addition, prospective chaplains must undergo a background check, be approved by the Senior Chaplain, and be appointed by the Police and/or Fire Department Chief.
What about all of the religious and faith-choices of people?
Chaplains are available to anyone without regard to race, creed, or position. They serve non-denominationally and will gladly serve people of all religious groups or refer you to someone of your particular religious group.
What is the difference between clergy and a chaplain?
Clergy offer spiritual oversight of a particular faith , religion, church, and/or denomination. Chaplains work with people regardless of religious choice. While chaplains are often clergy members of a specific religious group, they serve any group when serving in the role of chaplain.
Are chaplain discussions private and confidential?
Yes! The only exception is if there has been child or elder abuse, or if the person is in danger of harming him/herself or another person.
How will my donation help support Yakima Valley Community Chaplaincy?
At this time, all of our chaplains volunteer their time and service to the communities in which they serve. Donations to Yakima Valley Community Chaplaincy help support chaplain training and equipping chaplains to serve. By the time a chaplain has received his/her basic training and issued standard equipment there is approximately $2,500.00 invested. Ongoing training is approximately $500.00 a year. Your tax-deducible gift helps make this training possible.