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By Franklin Knower
1st Responder Newspaper Columnist
There is an organization, "Home Ground," on Long Island, that is dedicated to assisting World Trade Center rescue and recovery workers, and their families by providing a wide range of counseling services to them. It is financed by a special grant and falls under the administrative service of South Nassau Communities Hospital, but it does not take place in a hospital or a clinic. Recently they called together interested fire and EMS Chaplains who were summoned as a resource to assist in the long term recovery process. Their Chaplain's Day Workshop Seminar discussed the "Changing Roles of Chaplains in Fire and EMS Services in the Aftermath of 9/11."This was enough to persuade me to attend. It was my first visit to the Lakeland Fire Department in Ronkonkoma, NY, where the conference was held. If you have never seen their monument park dedicated to deceased members and others, please don't pass up the opportunity. It is a moving experience. It was daylight when I first saw the park with fountains, four corner firefighter fountains, and engraved monuments on the boarder of a large body of water. When the conference was over, I was also moved to see three fountains with a color light on each, one red, one white, and one blue. A sight to see. The Home Ground program opened with speakers explaining their role in the organization. They are in the most part psychologists, health care worker and social workers. Most are or have been members of fire department or EMS units. To a person they all agreed the first responder fire and EMS are all professional, whether paid or volunteer. They also agreed nothing in their past had trained them for what they experienced through 9/11. For one person that even included two terms in Vietnam. The Towers' destruction was described as appearing to be "not real" something out of a movie set because in all the rubble there was no office, no computers, and no paper. One thing that was very real to the speakers was the smell. Another remarked that the bodies and body parts he saw had no blood. Dry parts; unreal. They talked about companies sending donated products, intended to make the workers more comfortable, and that it was appreciated. Those assigned to Fresh Kills on Staten Island had to get used to raking out a pile of debris down to one quarter of an inch, to better find the very smallest of body parts and evidence. They had to use fireworks and bottle rockets to frighten away the sea gulls looking for body parts also which they found very disturbing while they worked. But, they did it because they knew that everything had to be catalogued by the police department. Many problems relating to the families of those who survived were mentioned. Denial that they have been affected by the work of rescue and recovery from9/11 was the biggest problem they described. They talked about some responders who spent all they had because they might have thought "why worry about money since the world may come to an end tomorrow." One speaker reported that probation officers in county jails told him that more responder children are being charged now with misdemeanors ;there is more worrying and insecurity with the children who watched what their parents had to do during the operations. What will be felt by these children who witnessed the tumbling towers? Will they suffer with dreams of destruction 40 years from now or have fears about losing people they care about? We were shown a presentation including research findings about how many responders could have symptoms that bother them and pictures drawn by children who were affected by what happened. The children are very expressive in therapeutic art. They are asked to solve a conflict, including the conflict's resolution on a story board. They showed the towers burning and they wrote about their fear and anger at the terrorists. Some concern was mentioned about EMS not getting enough recognition on the job like the firefighters did. This created some anger for some EMS workers who served at the rescue and recovery. All that was needed was recognition, a sense that they mattered in the hard work. Another problem was first responders to 9/11 reported that they did not get the proper response to their PTSD symptoms or other concerns. They, on their own, called a mental health person who maybe did more damage than help because of unfamiliarity with what a first responder does. This became evident when Home Ground first came into the picture and responders began telling them stories of their experiences shortly after they finished working on 9/11 recovery. Other issues that Home Ground personnel find is that the first responder often comes in for support at the point where they hit the bottom, and need help the most. At this point the focus was changed and we were advised on how important the fire and EMS Chaplain has become. We were told how we could assist and what to look for. They explained that Chaplains can be the "first line" of recognizing someone who needs some help. Rather than just be bread and butter Chaplains, we must spend time and be available for the firefighter who would talk to the Chaplain before his officers and, most responders don't go home to discuss their problems there either. Home Ground is asking for help from the department Chaplain to be available for those looking for someone to talk to when things go wrong. The Chaplains need to know the good and the bad that go with the job. Firefighters and police are described as action-oriented people. They respond with clear solutions to problems. When the job goes well they celebrate life. When the pendulum swings back and things go bad, it hurts. The more we celebrate, the more at risk we are to feel bad if something goes wrong. I've noticed several times in a defusing or debriefing there is a highly trained firefighter or EMS who will be devastated if something goes wrong. It tears them up. This is a normal reaction to being in control. Your training tells you to do this or that. But, when the situation changes beyond your control, and you have done all that's possible, don't keep beating yourself up. This is the time to "let go, and let God." It's an expression I've heard somewhere, but I can't remember who or where. If the Chaplain can act professionally, they have a good chance of being listened to. One thing a Chaplain can suggest to a firefighter who is a control person is to use that ability at home when focusing on learning experiences for the children. Help them work out problems and solve them as you nurture them along. Advice from the clergy on staff is for the Chaplains to bring the ministry of "being a good listener" at the fire station. Chaplains know that for true healing to take place, spiritual healing must have happened. Chaplains should get to know the local clergy and let them know what a fire Chaplain does. Many clergy have no idea and, it becomes difficult for them to assist in supporting the firefighters in their congregation. It is important to use the local clergy as a resource. They will be dealing with the 1st responder for years to come. An odd note-death notification is usually a sad occasion in a negative atmosphere. September 11 brought a different reaction, some relief and a "thank you" because the family would now have a body to bury. Chaplains must listen when the firefighter wants to get something off his chest. Spiritual counseling is built within faith traditions. These are boundaries within faith communities. Now is the time to bring the firefighter's clergy into the equation. Finally the program ended with a description of the way Home Ground provides counseling services and family support to 9/11 responders and how to get in touch with them if you know someone who needs help or want more information about their programs. More specific information could be included down the road. The View Through the Chaplain's Window is, the work Home Ground (reach them at www.Homeground.org or 516-286-0155) is doing is the best answer available. The staff is trained in CISM but doesn't offer it to 9/11responders at this point because that is an immediate stop gap to be used when the rescue and recovery event is still active. Home Ground picks up the firefighters and EMS responders down the road for further nurturing, even years later. They listen, they reach out, they listen and counsel. God Bless, and keep up the good work.
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