Rogue Valley Chaplain’s Association (RVCA) started in 2009, born out a need for a regional chaplaincy presence in Southern Oregon. In 2018 the name was changed to Southern Oregon Public Safety Chaplains because the service area expanded to 5 counties in Southwestern Oregon. Public Safety Chaplains serve as Police, Sheriff, Fire and EMS Chaplains throughout the Rogue Valley. At the present, they ar
e serving first responders, staff and their families in over different departments over 5 counties. Public Safety Chaplains are also available on a 24/7 basis to assist first responders with community members in crisis situations. These Chaplains serve as spiritual counselors, and are also trained in Critical Incident Stress Management. As spiritual counselors, they not replace the spiritual leaders of the person being served but are a supplement and a bridge to the spiritual leader in time of extreme crisis. The first goal of the Publilc Safety Chaplain is to tend to the spiritual, emotional and practical needs of the first responders and their families. While serving agencies in the community, their service extends to the community members affected by a critical incident. Most Public Safety Chaplains are in involved in death notifications, on scene crisis intervention and other measures to support the community members who are in the grips of a traumatic event. The Community Chaplains ministry is as follows:
Support Public Safety Chaplains with short and long term ministry to community members
Disaster Response
Chaplain Visitation Program
Business Chaplaincy
The Community Chaplains are the key component to successful ministry int he communities of the Rogue Valley. As Public Safely Chaplains minister to community members, in the midst of a traumatic event, the Community Chaplains come alongside and take over the day-to-day ministry continuation for the community member. This could be for a week or two or for a few months, while a person or families recover from a traumatic event. Community Chaplains will also respond to assist the community in the case of a disaster. They will be available to serve under the direction of the Public Safety Chaplain under the direction of Law Enforcement, Fire or Emergency Management personnel. This could be support at a shelter, assisting with notifications, support at a triage center, feeding or whatever service is necessary in a disaster. Other community services would be to visit folks who need a friend or some sort of helping hand, especially those that tend to call emergency services in non-emergency situations. And lastly, Community Chaplains will be actively working with businesses, int the community, who are requesting ongoing Chaplain support for their employees.
