February 2007 

Welcome to Connections.  The current edition of Connections and archives of previous editions are located in the ‘What’s New’ section of www.LIVEpartners.org.  Please forward this e-newsletter to your staff, coalition members and other organizational partners using the 'forward a friend' prompt at the bottom.

Sally Field’s new film spurs conversations about end-of-life issues…“Two Weeks” is major motion picture featuring a family facing the death of their matriarch (Sally Field).  The movie is going to have a limited release in eight cities in the next two weeks - Atlanta, Dallas, Nashville, New York, San Francisco and Seattle on March 2 with two additional cities, Boston and DC, on March 16. Depending on how well the movie does, it may be released nationally.  Caring Connections has prepared outreach materials to help you promote the movie and position your agency/coalition as a resource to your community, visit www.caringinfo.org/twoweeks. To watch a trailer and learn more about the movie go to www.twoweeksmovie.com/movie.  Please help us spread the word about this touching film among people in these key cities and use this opportunity to engage your community in discussions surrounding care at the end of life!
The National Hospice Foundation and Caring Connections are hosting a special film premiere in Washington, DC on March 8, 2007.  The film’s director, Steve Stockman, will be on hand and will hold a post-film conversation with Don Schumacher about end-of-life issues raised in the film. If you would like to join us in Washington DC to see the film before its public debut, call 1.800.658.8898 or email caringinfo@nhpco.org to purchase tickets in advance.

Hospice employees wanted for book project…The creators of the acclaimed book series This Day in the Life: Diaries from Women Across America have launched a new book project on working women in America, and would like to include a selection of professional hospice caregivers.  Participants are asked to create a "day diary" on March 27, 2007 — the same date that approximately 500 other women across the country and from all walks of life will also be chronicling a day in their lives.  For more information about participating in the book project, visit www.thisdayinthelife.com/participate.htm. The deadline for confirming participation is March 1.

LIVE Campaign wins ASAE Award… Caring Connections’ “It’s About How You LIVE” campaign was one of 15 Awards of Excellence given by the American Society of Association Executives as part of their 2007 Associations Advance American Awards.  Of these 15, one will be chosen to receive the Summit Award, the highest association honor they bestow.  The Association’s Advance America Awards are presented annually to recognize associations that propel America forward with innovative projects beneficial to society.  For more information about this prestigious award, go to www.asaecenter.org.  NHPCO and the Caring Connections team thank all the LIVE partners and coalitions who have taken the “LIVE” campaign out to their communities – it’s your participation that has made this campaign successful!  (Remember that your hospice, coalition or organization can register as a “LIVE” campaign partner free of charge. Campaign partners have access to a wealth of tools and outreach ideas that can augment your current efforts or help you initiate new outreach to your community.  Learn more about the “LIVE” campaign and the campaign toolkit at www.LIVEpartners.org.)

CAPC Launches GetPalliativeCare.org…The Center to Advance Palliative Care (CAPC) introduced their new consumer Web site www.getpalliativecare.org. Resources in the site include a palliative care provider directory, a three-step process for obtaining palliative care, links to related organizations, and a brief questionnaire for consumers considering palliative care. Visit www.getpalliativecare.org to learn more.

New Media Outreach Series from Caring Connections…Caring Connections will soon be launching a new media outreach initiative with NHPCO’s Senior Fellow Bill Colby, a nationally-known author and attorney.  Colby will be writing monthly articles for Caring Connections that hospices and coalitions can place in local newspapers, community magazines, consumer newsletters and organizational newsletters.  The articles will cover a wide range of end-of-life issues facing American society today.  The first article will be available March 1 at www.LIVEpartners.org.

“In Life and in Death We Belong to God”, co-sponsored by the Duke Institute on Care at the End of Life and the Presbyterian Church (USA), March 12-14, 2007, Durham, NC…This conference will explore the theological, medical and practical dimensions of end-of-life care for theologians, faith community leaders, and healthcare professionals.  For more information and to register, visit www.iceol.duke.edu/pcusa.  

Professional Training Program on Compassionate End-of-Life Care, March 16-23, 2007, Upaya Zen Center, Santa Fe, NM…Designed for physicians, nurses, social workers, hospice workers, clergy and other healthcare professionals, this training program offers practical and essential contemplative practices for working with dying people and their families.  CME/CE credits are available.  For more information, go to www.upaya.org. 

Free Preconference Seminar at NHPCO’s 2007 Management and Leadership Conference, Wednesday, April 18, 1:00 – 4:00 pm, Washington, DC…Caring Connections is sponsoring a free half-day Preconference Seminar - “Launching a Community Caregiving Initiative to Increase Access”- to help hospices and coalitions build caregiving partnerships and support teams across neighbors, faith communities, businesses and schools. The seminar will also focus on specific strategies such as community assessment, partnership development and funding.  For more information and to register, go to www.nhpco.org/mlc2007.

NHPCO’s Management and Leadership Conference, April 19-21, 2007, Washington, DC…Advanced registration for NHPCO’s 22^nd Annual Management and Leadership Conference, “Quality: A Bridge to the Future” is now open.  Join top hospice and palliative care experts from around the country as they share their insights about the successful implementation of strategies to improve access. For more information and to register, visit www.nhpco.org/mlc2007.

NHPCO’s Special Topics Conference, July 30 - August 2, 2007, Albuquerque, NM…Early-bird registration for NHPCO’s “Caring for Mind, Body and Spirit: Psychosocial, Bereavement and Spiritual Needs at the End of Life” conference is now open. Interdisciplinary team members will gather to explore mind, body and spirit, seeking new ways to honor the dying and their caregivers.  For more information and to register, visit www.nhpco.org/pbs2007.    

Nebraska Releases End-of-Life Survey Report… The Nebraska Hospice and Palliative Care Partnership (NHPCP) recently released the results of their statewide end-of-life survey which closely followed their original statewide survey from three years ago.  The follow-up survey was conducted last fall to determine Nebraskans’ views on end-of-life issues and to identify ways to improve end-of-life care and conditions in Nebraska.  A full report of the survey results is available at www.nehospice.org.

If you have community engagement resources that you would like to include in “Connections,” please contact Ashley Hammarth at ahammarth@nhpco.org.