The Emergency Spiritual Care Team Mission

How well prepared is Columbus to respond to a disaster like 9/11?  Clergy in New York City provided spiritual care for the victims of the terrorist attack; are pastors and spiritual caregivers prepared to come to the aid of critical incident victims in our city?  These questions gave birth to what is now the Emergency Spiritual Care Team. 

The ESCT is a volunteer interfaith organization that provides emotional and spiritual care for those in the greater Columbus community who have been impacted by a recent critical incident. 

• We endeavor to provide timely and competent short-term support.
• We serve at the request of the coordinators of emergency response.
• We are respectful of the spiritual background and beliefs of those we serve.

ESCT and the American Red Cross of Greater Columbus entered into a formal partnership in 2006, bringing together the Red Cross’s outstanding on site services for disaster victims and the ESCT’s pool of trained spiritual caregivers. When a community crisis occurs, the ACR will call up response-ready volunteers from ESCT’s Activation Team to provide on-site spiritual and emotional care for those affected by the disaster.

Activation Team volunteers can expect to be activated several times over the span of a year. 
     

Three Response Levels

The ESCT is prepared to respond to three levels of emergency… 

• In a level one emergency (a short term critical incident involving a few victims) the ESCT will respond with 2-3 volunteers for one day or less. 
• In a level two emergency (a sustained incident affecting a larger group of victims) the ESCT will call up teams of volunteers to serve in rotating shifts if necessary, usually for more than one day.
• n a level three emergency (a critical incident or disaster involving a very large number of victims) the ESCT may call up its entire team of volunteers to serve for an indefinite period of time.

The ESCT expects to receive up to forty level-one requests in 2007.  

How to Apply to be an Activation Team Volunteer with the ESCT

The ESCT continues to expand in order to meet the growing needs in our community.  To become a volunteer on the ESCT Activation Team, please complete the application form and the background check form, and mail them with a $45 application fee to ESCT, 3620 N. High St., Suite 107, Columbus, OH 43214.  Make your check out to Grace Connection and write ESCT on the memo line.
When we have processed your information, we will contact you to schedule an interview with an ESCT board member. 

Training Requirements

All new applicants for the Activation Team must complete the following training (see schedule below).

• Pastoral Crisis Intervention* (PCI replaced Care When It’s Critical as the basic training prerequisite for ESCT volunteers.  Applicants who completed CWC must attend the Spiritual Care Refresher.)
• Introduction to Disaster Services (American Red Cross) online course at http://www.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01/ (approximately one hour)
• Disaster Mental Health Overview (ARC) within one year

* PCI is an International Critical Incident Stress Foundation course

To register for Pastoral Crisis Intervention, Spiritual Care Refresher or Disaster Mental Health Overview, send an email with your name, address and phone number to schad@c-roads.com at least one week before each training event.

Schedule of Upcoming Training

• Spiritual Care Refresher* (no charge with payment of application fee)
  Dates: December 1 and December 4, 8:00 a.m.-12:00 p.m.
  Location: American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
                995 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH  43205
  Instructor: Greg Schad
  Requirement: must have completed Care When It’s Critical
  
  
• Pastoral Crisis Intervention* ($325, $150 for ESCT members and candidates)
  Date: January 25-26 (8)
  Location: American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
                995 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH  43205
  Instructor: Greg Schad
• Disaster Mental Health Services Overview (no charge)
  Dates: to be determined
  Location: American Red Cross of Greater Columbus
                995 E. Broad St., Columbus, OH  43205
  Instructor: American Red Cross Staff
• Introduction to Disaster Services (no charge)
  Online at http://www.redcross.org/flash/course01_v01/         

            * CPE’s recognized by Ohio CSWMFT Board

How to Support the ESCT Financially

The ESCT is funded by gifts from individuals, churches and corporate donors.  If you would like to contribute financially to this ministry, make your check out to Grace Connection (write ESCT on the memo line) and mail it to Grace Connection, P.O. Box 1002, Worthington, OH, 43085.   

The ESCT Board of Directors

Karen DeJong, Pastor
Tyler Flynn, Minister at Large, Mission Columbus
David Loynachand, Retired
Richard MaGue, Counselor
Greg Schad, Executive Director, Crossroads Counseling Group
Pam Sherman, Clinical Director, Youth Advocate Services
Rick Tawney, Pastor

How to Contact Us