Cowlitz County Chaplaincy

Like members of our military services First Responder personnel can benefit from an ‘in-house’ chaplain program.  They often need a safe insider with whom to express frustrations, challenges, accomplishments and victories… personal, family or job-related.

Since its beginnings Cowlitz Chaplaincy has expanded services and built a reputation for being a service where First Responders and their families as well as citizens benefit from this ministry. Currently they have two (2) full-time chaplains, Tom Haan, Mario Gambaro, and Doug Fields with part-time help from Flip Eiland and Francisco Uribe.

Working side-by-side with local emergency services personnel our chaplains are professionally trained and equipped to provide what they refer to as the “Ministry of Presence” whenever and wherever a crisis occurs.

SERVICES PROVIDED BY COWLITZ COUNTY CHAPLAINCY 

#1 – To First Responders and Their Families

• Maintaining a positive, personal relationship with First Responders is vital to any successful Chaplaincy Program. Some of the ways we do that is…
• Attend shift briefings
• Ride-a-Long with law enforcement/fire personnel
• Participate in department social functions
• Attend ceremonial events
• Assist ‘on-scene’ when requested
• Provide training in areas such as Stress Mgt., Family/Marriage Relations, Morals & Ethics, Disaster Preparedness, etc.
• Provide personal counseling services

#2 – Crisis Intervention Support

Our Chaplains are professionally trained (most with ‘Advance’ Status) and prepared “24-7” to respond wherever a critical incident occurs. As crisis intervention specialists our chaplains:

• Conduct Critical Incident Stress Defusings and Debriefings
• Provide training in Stress Management
• Provide counseling support to First Responders and citizen victims
• Assist law enforcement with death/serious injury notifications
• Provide on-scene support through the “Ministry of Presence.

#3 – Community Liaison Services 

As Chaplains we are not police officers/fire fighters – we are “CARE-Givers.” As such, we serve people regardless of their own faith base upon request. Some of the things we do in that role are…

• Officiate at funerals and weddings
• Serve as liaison between government agencies and faith community
• Facilitate contact with appropriate referral agencies
• Participate in local Ministerial Association
• Provide a Speakers Bureau on a variety of topics
• Participate in community activities (i.e. National Night Out, “Every-15 Minute”, Fire Prevention Week, Citizens Police Academy, etc)

Cowlitz Chaplaincy