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HomeMy WebLinkAboutJeremy Neff Chaplain Services 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 10th day of January , 2024 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: Section 1 Responsibilities 1. The Chief or officer he designates will be responsible for supervising the administration of these guidelines. 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. 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: 1. 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: 1.The victim or family is highly emotional or unstable 2.Care is needed for the family of a victim while treatment is under way 3.The victim or the family requests the services of a chaplain/clergy 4.The incident commander feels the presence of a chaplain would be of benefit to the victim or to department personnel 2. 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 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 1. The individual appointed to the position of Department Chaplain will be: 1.An ordained priest or minister holding an endorsement from a religious body in which he/she is a member in good standing 2.In good physical health and willing to participate in necessary training events 3.Interested in the fire service, reliable and willing to serve in crisis situations 4.Prepared through education and training to serve people in a crisis zone 5.Willing to commit the time necessary to make the ministry of the chaplaincy effective 6.Committed to learn the skills necessary to effectively relate to and minister to career and volunteer personnel in crises 1. 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. 2. After appointment, the Chaplain will be issued the following equipment: 1. Chaplain's badge, identification card 2.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 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. 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. 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 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 inate his agreement upon thirty (30) days written notice to the other party. In witness of hei reeme t to the terms above, the parties or their authorized agents hereby affix their si at r s: Date: Date: ,- k A By.