American Red Cross Spiritual Care in Disasters

A Learning Experience

Date: Friday, May 16, 2025

Time: 8am - 12:30pm

Location: Hyatt Regency Buffalo, 2 Fountain Plaza, Buffalo NY

Fee: This session is offered at no cost to participants but you must pre-register to attend.

Continuing Education Hours (CEH):  4.5

Eligibility: This workshop is open to all, including chaplains with Board certification and Associate certification, as well as CPE residents, with ACPE, APC, CASC/ACSS, CPSP, ICPC, NACC, NAJC, or NAVAC.

How to Register: Use the conference registration system to register for this offering.

Are you a Disaster Spiritual Care volunteer, or are you interested in becoming one? Join us for this pre-conference session, designed specifically for you.

We'll provide an in-depth introduction and overview of Disaster Spiritual Care in the American Red Cross, including the essential DSC Fundamentals Course. You'll learn how to prepare to respond to a variety of crises, from mass casualty events to natural disasters. We'll explore the critical role that Disaster Spiritual Care volunteers have in supporting survivors and families following national disaster relief operations. You'll come away with a thorough understanding of how to support those impacted by crises with emotional and spiritual care. Join us to learn more about how you can be part of the team that provides emotional and spiritual support in times of crisis.

Agenda

8am:  Welcome

8:30am:  DSC Fundamentals Course

11:30am:  Mass Casualty Incident overview

• • Pack your Go-Bag (What to bring)
  • Lessons learned from Prior Disasters:
    • Catastrophic Fires – Los Angeles Palisades & Altadena Fires 2025
    • Mass Casualty events of 2024/25 – New Orleans 2025
    • Major Hurricanes Helene/Milton Sept 2024 and 200+ Tornado events in 2024

12:30pm:  Conclusion