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Have you ever wanted to reach out during a disaster or crisis and help someone? If you want to help, maybe this program is for you…Check it out… What is a Companion and what does it take to be a Companion?A companion is a natural caregiver that will help victims of a disaster or crisis through the recovery process. Companions provide safety, security and support until the victim’s needs are met or they are turned over to a professional support person. The benefit of local companions in a disaster or crisis is that they are familiar with the local culture, the local customs, and the languages and have compassion for the challenges in the local community. The key elements you need to be a Companion are sensitivity and empathy! What does a Companion Do?
How much time does it take?The time spent helping someone depends upon availability of the individual and the volunteer companion. At first, there may be several conversations. As time goes by and resources are received, the ongoing support will lessen. Any amount of support you can give will make a world of different. Who will work with me?A Companion Care Coordinator and other companions will be available to support you. The wonderful part of a caring team is the support everyone provides for those we care for and those who are the caregivers. What Does a Companion Need?The Spiritual and Emotional Committee of LARRI is sponsoring the companion training, “The National Organization of Victims' (NOVA) Companion Training.” Some companions already provide peer support in their organizations or congregations. They may have taken workshops provided by the Disaster Mental Health Team Training (DMHA), American Red Cross, Pastoral Crisis Intervention/Counseling, Stephen Ministry, CERT (Community Emergency Response Team Training) or other counseling training program. To be a companion through LARRI, companions must take the four hour training “The National Organization of Victim’s (NOVA) Companion Training.” The training is provided by Rev. Gerry Griffith and Dr. Jean Marie Thompson. Both are members of the National Organization for Victims Assistance (NOVA), and board members and crisis responders on NOVA's Indiana affiliate, the Indiana Crisis Assistance Response Team (I-CART). Rev. Griffith lives in Indianapolis and serves as an Interfaith Minister. She has responded numerous times, both locally and nationally. Her first disaster response was to the Oklahoma City bombing. In 2003, she coordinated Project Aftermath to aid recovery from two floods in Indiana. Rev. Griffith is a Staff Trainer for NOVA and has taught Companion Care to many faith-based groups and community caregivers. Dr. Thompson lives near South Bend. She is a licensed clinical psychologist and certified alcohol and drug counselor. Dr. Thompson specializes in simple and complex trauma and has responded to local and national disasters since 1999. She serves as the District 2 Team Leader for the Indiana Division of Mental Health and Addiction-Disaster Response. Dr. Thompson teaches disaster health for several organizations including the American Red Cross. Here are the topics to be covered:
What are the Criteria to be a Companion?Companions are natural caregivers that lead victims of a disaster through the recovery process. They provide safety, security and support until the victim’s needs are met, they are linked with a Long Term Recovery Specialist and local emotional or spiritual care. The benefit of local companions is that they are familiar with the culture, the language and have compassion for the challenges present in the community. A companion is:
How do I begin?If you are interested in information about “Psychological First Aid and Companion Care” contact Sandy Applebee at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
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