HomeMy WebLinkAboutCONTRACT FOR CHAPLAIN SERVICES JFD Contract for Chaplain Services for the Jeffersonville Fire Department
This agreement for Professional On-Call Chaplain Services ("Agreement") is made and entered
into as of the day of , 2019 between the City of Jeffersonville,
IN, acting on behalf of its Fire Department ("Fire Department") and Jeremy Neff.
("Contractor/Chaplain").
WHEREAS, the City of Jeffersonville Fire Department desires to retain the services of a duly
qualified chaplain to perform services to provide spiritual and emotional stability to all career
and volunteers of the Fire Department as described in this Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the Contractor possesses the requisite skills to perform the requested services and
has expressed a willingness to perform said services pursuant to the terms and conditions set
forth in the Agreement; and
WHEREAS, the provisions of said services by Contractor is in the best interest of the Fire
Department.
WHEREAS, the contractor shall be paid $500.00 per month for his services to the Fire
Department.
NOW, THEREFORE, for and in the consideration of the mutual promises, covenants and
benefits set forth in this Agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt of
which are hereby acknowledged by the parties, City and Contractor agree as follows:
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Section 1 Responsibilities
1.1 The Chief or officer he designates will be responsible for supervising the administration of
these guidelines.
1.2 The Chaplain of the Jeffersonville Fire Department will be responsible for maintaining a
pastoral relationship with career and will provide counsel and guidance when requested.
1.3 The Department Administration or PIO shall be responsible for contacting the Chaplain in
cases of career or volunteer deaths or serious injuries requiring hospitalization.
Section 2 Duties of the Chaplain
2.1 Emergency Situations The Chaplain will respond when contacted by the PIO, the fire chief or
incident commander, or at his own discretion, and will report to the Incident Commander on the
scene. When at a scene, the Chaplain will be under the command authority of the officer in charge
(Incident Commander).
The Chaplain will respond as follows:
a. To the scene when:
1. A working occupied structure fire is reported
2. A critical incident is in progress
3. A critical injury or death of a firefighter is reported
4. The incident involves a victim that is a member of a department member's family
5. Whenever the incident commander determines that the services of a Chaplain may be of
value in the ongoing emergency operation. This may include situations where:
(a) The victim or family is highly emotional or unstable
(b) Care is needed for the family of a victim while treatment is under way
(c) The victim or the family requests the services of a chaplain/clergy
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(d) The incident commander feels the presence of a chaplain would be of benefit to the
victim or to department personnel
b. To the hospital when:
1. The incident commander or paramedic providing treatment determines that the victim or
family may need support or counsel of the chaplain
2. The victim's family needs to be located and notified
3. A member of the fire department is the victim
2.2 Follow-Up Duties
a. On-The-Scene Duties:
1. Provide appropriate victim assistance to free operational personnel for firefighting or
emergency medical duties;
(a) Watch for signs of physical or emotional stress
b. Post-Emergency Duties:
1. Conduct follow-up to ensure victims are receiving necessary assistance
2. Ensure that firefighters' needs are met in the area of on-the-job injuries, critical incident
stress, etc.
3. Notify families when a death or critical injury has occurred to a member. This notification
will be done in person with an accompanying uniformed fire officer
4. Notify Funeral Coordinator, Public Information Officer, and all appropriate employee
organizations when a firefighter dies in the line of duty
5. Will assist with funeral services (if requested) and provide family consolation and guidance in
event of death of a department member
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2.3 Routine Duties
a. Duties within the fire department
1. Visit all stations and shifts within the department
2. Visit hospitalized department members and families
3. Participate in recruit training as suggested by training officer
4. Be available to help or counsel members in time of stress
5. Assist when requested by any division of the department in their programs, as available
6. Attend fire department functions as requested by the Chief
7. Conduct funeral/memorial services as needed or when requested
8. Be a member of the Critical Incident Stress Debriefing Team
9. Participate in parades, wakes, memorial services and other special projects as determined by
the chief or his/her designee
10. Be on-call on a twenty-four(24) a day basis
11. Prepare and monitor reports, maintain chaplain files and implementing modifications in
chaplain operations as needed
Section 3 Qualifications and Training
3.1 The individual appointed to the position of Department Chaplain will be:
a. An ordained priest or minister holding an endorsement from a religious body in which
he/she is a member in good standing
b. In good physical health and willing to participate in necessary training events
c. Interested in the fire service, reliable and willing to serve in crisis situations
d. Prepared through education and training to serve people in a crisis zone
e. Willing to commit the time necessary to make the ministry of the chaplaincy effective
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f. Committed to learn the skills necessary to effectively relate to and minister to career
and volunteer personnel in crises
3.2 To the extent possible, the Chaplain will be given the opportunity to meet with members
and staff of the department, visit stations and receive guidance in understanding fire
department organization and procedures.
3.3 After appointment, the Chaplain will be issued the following equipment:
a. Chaplain's badge, identification card
b. Chaplain's business cards
Section 4 General Guidelines
4.1 The Chaplain does not replace the home church pastor, but seeks to support the
concerns of every church for its members who may be career or volunteer firefighters with
special risks or needs. The Chaplain shall be available to minister to every member of the
department, regardless of his or her national origin, race, sex, or religion.
4.2 Any communication a person makes to the Chaplain on a strict confidential basis will
not be released to department members or any other person. Any fire department personnel may
go directly to the Chaplain without having to notify his or her supervisor or anyone else.
4.3 Fire department administrators will keep current contact information (home phone
and/or cell phone #'s) for the Chaplain. The Chaplain may also be contacted through the fire
department administration if desirable
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4.4 Examples of situations where the Chaplain should be contacted include, but are not
limited to:
a. Death, injury to, or hospitalization of one of the following: fire department member,
member's spouse or child or member's immediate family member (i.e. parent, sibling, grand
parent or other close relative)
Section 5 New Chaplain Orientation
5.1 Once the right person has been found, that chief of the department should meet with the
chaplain to discuss what is expected from the standpoint of the fire department and from the
standpoint of the chaplain. In addition, the Chaplain should be given an orientation on fire
department procedures
5.2 For a period of time, the new chaplain should plan on visiting all stations. Building
rapport with the firefighters is essential from the beginning of the program. A time to visit
with the union and association leaders is also very helpful.
5.3 The new chaplain should be introduced to the entire department through a formal process.
This introduction should include a memo to the department announcing the appointment of
the chaplain and a formal meeting with the department members. This could be a training
meeting, an association meeting, or a special meeting. This would be a good time to
officially present the new chaplain with a badge and identification card.
5.4 The department should also enroll the new chaplain in the following organizations which
will provide the new chaplain with valuable materials, resources, training and a network of
fellow chaplains:
1. The Federation of Fire Chaplains
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2. The International Critical Incident Stress Foundation
3. Fire Chaplain Training Institute
This contract shall be governed by the laws of the County of Clark in the State of Indiana
and any applicable Federal, State and local laws, rules, regulations and ordinances.
Any changes to this agreement must be made in writing and agreed to by both parties.
Either party may terminate this agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other
party.
In witness of their agreement to the terms above, the parties or their authorized agents
hereby affix their signatures:
Date: .,.9 /1 /' Date: 1-1.) \4\
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Attest:
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