Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy
Pastoral care and counseling for those who risk their lives for us

July 27, 2004 – – Rob Dewey, Senior Chaplain and Founder of Coastal Crisis Chaplaincy, spoke to Rotarians about the counseling needs of our fire, police and EMS rescue professionals and the stress they undergo everyday in the line of duty. CCC ministers to these fire, police, and EMS professionals, but also to others including their families, rescue crews and emergency victims themselves.

Founded in 1990, CCC also provides on-scene early intervention at emergency scenes by responding with trained clergy. Oftentimes, if a victim of an accident or other emergency situation requires ministering, the patient’s priest from his/her church can be called by a Chaplain. CCC’s 15 current volunteers also network with Chaplains from area hospitals and Chaplains at the Citadel. Emergency personnel and their families also benefit from CCC counseling for on-the-job stress and pressure. According to statistics, suicide takes more emergency personnel’s lives than duty, so this ministry is especially important.

CCC responds to emergencies locally, statewide, and nationally. Locally, Chaplains respond to automobile accidents, suicide attempts and other emergency situations in the Charleston region thanks to a team of local clergy, volunteers and networks of other area Chaplains. Through the South Carolina Association of Chaplains and SLED, Rob and his team also respond to events on a statewide level, such as the recent death of an Orangeburg police officer. Staff Chaplains helped the Orangeburg Police Department and supported its officers during this time of grief at the loss of one of their own. CCC even responds nationally, and this was evident when Rob went to New York after the attacks of September 11, 2001. Among his many other hats, Rob is also a Chaplain for the FBI and ATF where he routinely trains for potential terror attacks and hostage crisis negotiations.

We are proud of our fellow Rotarian who has formed the first Crisis Chaplaincy program in South Carolina, which is only among 100 other programs in the U.S.!