Professional Crisis Responder & Emergency Services Chaplains
Accreditation Endorsement and Certification For Professional Crisis Responder Chaplains

Isaiah 6:8 Also I heard the voice of the Lord, saying, Whom shall I send, and who will go for us? Then said I, Here am I; send me. Crisis Response Chaplains go where others never will!

™Homeland Crisis Institute is setting the standards for crisis first responder and emergency services chaplains and ministers by offering accreditation and certification to all who meet the requirements of professional chaplains. Homeland Crisis Institute is the professional crisis chaplains division of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International Inc.

Applicants must be Master Chaplains and members of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International and meet the requirements as set forth by governing board of directors. Applicant's training must have been completed by training Institutions that are approved of by Homeland Crisis Institute. Please note Homeland Crisis Institute does not accept degrees, diplomas, certifications, certificates of completion or any other paper bought from diploma mills. Training requirements must be meet for consideration for endorsement and certification.

Different agencies, ministries and religious organizations have various criteria for their accreditation and certification programs. The following comprises the minimum standards for Crisis Responder Chaplains certified through Homeland Crisis Institute.

Applicants must be Master Chaplains and members in good standing with Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International and trained and certified in the following. CISM/CISD, NIMS, Cultural Sensitivity and Spirituality, Traumatic Stress Intervention and Crisis Couseling, Chaplain Death Notification Procedures, Importance of Confidentiality, Certified in faith based alcohol and drug abuse intervention, Volunteer Chaplain Liability, Suicide Intervention and Postvention, Racial Profiling, Disaster Relief on state and federal levels.

1. Applicants requesting endorsement and certification as Crisis Responder Chaplains must be trained and certified in traumatic stress intervention and crisis couseling. Training must be verified by the HomeLand Crisis Institute review board to assure training was done by approved and accredited Instructors or training institutions. Applicants must agree to keep their training updated by seeking the most current training in crisis and trauma intervention.

2. Crisis Responder Chaplains must be certified in "NIMS Training". NIMS promotes the use of state and local mutual aid to help local jurisdictions better handle large-scale disasters. While most emergency situations are handled locally, when there's a major incident help may be needed from other jurisdictions, the state, and the federal government. The National Incident Management System provides a consistent nationwide template to establish Federal, State, tribal and local governments and private sector and non-governmental organizations to work together effectively and efficiently to prepare for, prevent, respond to and recover from domestic incidents, regardless of cause, size or complexity, including acts of catastrophic terrorism. NIMS benefits include a unified approach to incident management; standard command and management structures; and emphasis on preparedness, mutual aid and resource management. Cultural competence is the ability to work effectively with individuals from different cultural and ethnic backgrounds, or in settings where several cultures coexist. It includes the ability to understand the language, culture, and behaviors of other individuals and groups, and to make appropriate recommendations. Cultural competence exists on a continuum from incompetence to proficiency.

3. Applicants must be trained and certified in death notification procedure, (Federal, State, Military, Prison, Jail, Police, Fire, Emergency Services). There are many different ways that people respond to a death notification. For that reason it is vital that Chaplains have the proper training in procedures for doing death notification.

4. Applicants must be trained and certified in crisis counseling and be able to work with situation such as disaster relief, burnout, PTSD and post shoot trauma.

5. Applicants must be trained in the importance of confidentiality conforming to approved ethical standards.

6. Applicants must be trained regarding having programs in place to be able to respond to disasters or any other crisis situations on a state or federal level.

7. Applicants must be trained and be able to offer crisis counseling for police officers, federal agents, military and firefighters. Applicants must have a referral program with guidelines in place for those needing long term counseling. Applicat must provide a copy of their referral program to Homeland Crisis Institute.

8. Applicants must have extensive training and be certified in faith based alcohol and drug abuse intervention, and be able to assist the community at large, City, State and Federal agencies and employees, and their families who have such issues.

9. Applicants must have training and be certified in Suicide Intervention and Postvention and be willing to work within their community, city , state and federal agencies.

10. Applicants must be trained and certified in Cultural Sensitivity and Spirituality. Regardless of profession, Country, State, or Cultures, cultural sensitivity will always be a part of society. However, paying attention to customs and cultural differences can give someone outside that culture a better chance of assimilation or acceptance. Ignoring cultural differences can get an unsuspecting individual into trouble from the lack of knowledge regarding cross cultural and ideological differences. It is vital for chaplains to have a good understanding regarding different culture's, customs and ideals.

11. Applicants requesting endorsement and certification as Crisis Responder Chaplains must agree to the CFMI Racial Profiling policy. The policy has a storng emphasis in discrimination, harassment, retaliation, or intimidation based on actual or perceived race, color, national origin, religion, age or gender.

Chaplain Fellowship Ministries and Homeland Crisis Institute are committed to a zero tolerance regarding violations of this policy, and therefore, all members are subject to discipline for a single violation of any portion of this policy. Nothing in this policy is intended to limit a victim's right to pursue additional remedies outside of Chaplain Fellowship Ministries or Homeland Crisis Institutel. Any allegation of misconduct or violation of this policy will be thoroughly investigated and violators will be disciplined accordingly.

12. Applicants applying for endorsement and certification as Crisis Responder Chaplains must sign an agreement stating they will further their training in all areas of chaplaincy including but not limited to local and federal disaster relief.

Note: In reviewing an application for accreditation and certification the review board will look at each of these areas to determine if the applicant's training meets the standards set forth by Homeland Crisis Institute. The review board will request any and all documentation regarding training which will confirm that these areas of training and certifications have been meet and are current.

If there is a deficiency in the applicants training the review board may authorize the approval of an application under the conditions that the applicant will obtain the required training and certifications within a certain time frame. In most cases the review board will allow the applicant a period of 6 months to provide the proper certifications or certificates of completion in the areas of training needed. An additional 6-month extension may be applied for if there is justifiable cause. Upon satisfactory completion by the review board the applicant will be issued the accreditation documentation required for endorsement and certification as a Crisis Responder Chaplain by Homeland Crisis Institute. Contact Public Realtions department for further information.

™Homeland Crisis Institute is the Professional Crisis First Responder Chaplain's Division of ™Chaplain Fellowship Ministries International, Inc., © All rights reserved. Last Updated on Thursday April 16, 2009 at 9:46 AM.