Programs and Committees

► Educational Programs
► Culture Brokers
► Speaker's Bureau
► Spiritual Care Committee
► Nursing Committee
► Social Work Committee
► Children and Adolescents Committee

Educational Programs

The Westchester End of Life Coalition educates about end-of-life issues. The goal is to increase awareness, offer practical information, and influence policy to improve the end of life experience.

We provide community lectures, panel discussions, study groups, and workshops for professionals. We hold public forums on topics such as access to hospice and caring for children and adolescents with life limiting conditions as well as policy forums with advocates and legislators.

We welcome your suggestions for issues, books and speakers on topics you would like to know more about or are of interest to you.

Contact: info@Westchesterendoflife.org.

For current programs and details about past programming, please go to our calendar.

Foreign Language Translators /Culture Brokers

The Westchester End-of-Life Coalition is concerned about helping all people struggling with end-of-life issues in Westchester. Different cultural groups have different ways of understanding severe illness and death and reaching out for help.

The Coalition is always looking for individuals who are willing to be “Culture Brokers” and advocates for those at the end of life in ethnic and immigrant communities.

A Cultural Broker helps people of different cultures and background navigate the system and access services. A Cultural Broker speaks the native dialect of the patient and has intimate understanding of the patient’s ethnic traditions and cultural practices. A Cultural Broker can help bridge the communication gap between service providers and consumers, minimize misunderstandings, and act as an advocate for the patient.

If you would like to offer your services as a Cultural Broker, please contact us.

Speakers' Bureau

The Westchester End-of-Life Coalition can bring end-of-life education to your community group.

We will help you find speakers and discussion facilitators who will come to your agency, community center or congregation to talk about end-of-life issues.

Examples of topics that are often requested:

· Advance Directives

· Communicating about Death

· What is Hospice?

· Deciding on DNR (Do Not Resuscitate) directives

If you would like a speaker to come to your organization, or would like to be considered for our list of available community speakers, please contact us.

Committees

Spiritual Care Committee

Spiritual Needs at End of Life:
Meaningfulness, Connectedness, Transcendence

The Spiritual Care Committee of the Westchester End-of-Life Coalition recognizes that the dying process raises spiritual issues for dying persons and their loved ones. The Committee works to enhance the spiritual care they receive by providing support to Westchester clergy by way of networking opportunities, resources, referrals and educational programs. Our hope is to increase the scope and quality of spiritual care at end of life.

Meaningfulness: Search for meaning of life, death, suffering, hope. Why? Why have I lived? What have I contributed to my family, friends or community? What makes me human, unique, and valuable? What does my dying mean to me and to others?

Connectedness: Mend breaks with self, loved ones and one's creator. When my body does not do what I want it to do; when family and friends do not accept my wishes; when I cannot understand where God is in my suffering, I feel disconnected. The mending process offers deeper connections and peace.

Transcendence: Find the source of meaning and connection. Is this all there is to life? In my search for meaning and connection, I may find that I am part of an ultimate reality that is eternal. In that hope, I find strength.

To learn more about the work of the Spiritual Care Committee, please contact info@westchesterendoflife.org.

Nursing Committee

This committee offers educational programs and networking opportunities for palliative care and/or hospice nurses. If you want to become involved, please contact us.

Social Work Committee

This Committee offers information and networking opportunities for social workers active in Westchester. We are eager to hear from the Social Work community about your ideas for our committee and your needs in the field. If you have suggestions/questions, are interested in becoming involved, or would like information about advanced studies in social work and palliative care, please contact, Susan Gerbino, Ph.D. at SGerbino@westechesterendoflife.org.

Children and Adolescents Committee

The life-limiting diagnosis or premature death of a child or adolescent is a major disruptive crisis for the family. Our committee serves as an information and resource center for parents, siblings, and extended family members. This committee also offers information, educational programs, and networking opportunities for palliative and pediatric health care workers, including those in pediatric intensive care units and neonatal ICU’s.

If you have suggestions, questions, or are interested in becoming involved, please contact Nathan Ionascu, MD, at NIonascu@westchesterendoflife.org

Previous educational programs include:

Pediatric Palliative Care Conference (fall 2007) based on the PBS documentary, “A Lion in the House.”

“Communicating with Children and Adolescents with Life-Limiting Conditions” (fall 2003), summary of proceedings.

National Pain Foundation
The NPF is a non profit organization dedicated to the empowerment and education of pain patients and their families

National Prison Hospice Association
Promotes hospice care for terminally ill prisoners