West, Texas
In 2013, a fertilizer plant explosion in West, Texas, killed 12 firefighters and destroyed a large portion of the small town.
Steve Calvert worked alongside the Federation of Fire Chaplains with surviving families and first responders, during the tragedy and for months after.
In the aftermath of this devastating event, it became evident to Steve that emergency responders (fire-rescue, police, EMT, etc.) needed mental, spiritual, and emotional tools to equip them not only for such 
catastrophic events, but also for a lifelong career of exposure to trauma and stress.
Encouraged by Coppell Fire Chief Kevin Richardson, Steve developed a training program on mental resiliency for firefighters and emergency responders and presented it at the 2014 and 2015 international FDIC 
conferences in Indianapolis, IN. The program, called In for the Long Haul, is now gaining national attention.
A Transformed Chaplaincy
At the conference, he entered into a national conversation about the need for a new kind of chaplaincy–a trained, certified and paid position that offers both the 
traditional role of spiritual and emotional support along with effective, preventative tools for addressing the growing number of suicides and other ill effects.
Launching Champion Responders
In June 2015, Steve and his wife Gina launched Champion Responders as a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization, dedicated to these objectives:
- Provide Steve’s In for the Long Haul training to as many first responders as possible.
- Develop a companion program, Together for the Long Haul, for families of first responders.
- Provide on-call support for first responders and officers.
- Document accurate numbers of the state of first responder behavioral health through an extensive research project.
- Build a network of trained and certified Chaplains to multiply the scope of their efforts.
- Raise awareness and funds for this cause. See how you can help.