Firefighters, police and paramedics are among the first people on the scene in a crisis, but another line of defense exists to provide support for the people who face traumatic scenarios every day.
Emergency Ministries, founded by Skip Straus in 1998, was formed to provide emotional and spiritual care for first responders who witness trauma firsthand on a daily basis. The group is now headquartered in Old Town Spring, and provides its services free to more than 40 Texas agencies in more than 50 counties in the state.
The nonprofit helps first responders with experiences and issues such as behavioral health, suicide prevention, marriage counseling and post-traumatic stress. Every chaplain has worn a badge as an emergency responder.
“We’ve been there, done that, worn holes in the T-shirt,” Straus said. “When these guys find out that you are a brother medic or firefighter, they open up instantly, [because] you understand what they’re talking about.”
For first responders, relating the traumatic events that they witness can be challenging, Straus said, but it helps to talk with someone who has had similar experiences.
“If they are healthier, then they are going to do a better job helping everyone else,” chaplain Jim Russell said.
Russell has worked both as an EMT and an Army chaplain.
Chaplains go through a long training process to deal with a variety of situations and receive special training in suicide prevention and crisis intervention. The chaplains must be licensed or ordained ministers, but several are also board-certified chaplains or have masters degrees in the field. The organization employs four full-time chaplains and six volunteers.
Examples of calls the organization has received include longtime EMTs who have seen many traumatic injuries, firefighters returning to their jobs after suffering injuries and emergency personnel who have responded to scenes of multiple fatalities such as murders and traffic accidents.
The chaplains are ecumenical and minister to people of all faiths, including those who are non-religious and require behavioral health services, without a spiritual component.
Emergency Ministries services are available to a large portion of the Greater Houston area, including most areas north of Beltway 8 such as Tomball, Atascocita, the Cypress Creek Fire Department, the Harris County Precinct 4 constable’s office and the Harris County fire marshal’s office.
“We’re there at one, two or three o’clock in the morning saying ‘We are here for you. There’s someone here who cares about you—what can we do?’” Russell said.
Emergency Ministries
26602 Keith St., Spring 281-651-2661 www.emergencyministries.org
