CANCELLED - End of Life Care Community Advocate Training

Overview

When: October 12-15, 2023; each day from 10:30am-4:30pm with breaks throughout.

Where: The Prime Produce Apprentice Cooperative, 424 W 54th St, New York, NY 10019.

Too many New Yorkers suffer at the end of life. Over the years we have heard from professionals across diverse fields who recognize a need for more advocacy. They often report feeling under-informed and ill-equipped to support the communities they work with. Sound familiar? Then we invite you to participate in our End of Life Care Community Advocate Training! Space is very limited, so register today!

Originally released as an online, self-study course, in response to demand we are now offering an in-person version. This training, which will take place in-person over 4 days, will prepare you to advocate for the communities you serve when planning for, or navigating, serious illness and end of life medical care. The training will provide a comprehensive overview of advance care planning, palliative care, hospice and end of life care, and other related topics. In addition, all participants will be given access to an exclusive online community forum where you can ask questions, discuss the topics, and access and share resources. We will also hold continuing education sessions throughout the year – only for participants in the training - where we will share information about emerging issues and give space for continued discussion.

The training will include presentations created by experts in the field, facilitated discussion, and practice exercises. There will be plenty of space to share ideas and receive support as you consider and plan how to integrate the training into your work.

Participants will receive:

• 20 hours of comprehensive training
• Access to an online course page where we will share resources and electronic copies of all materials so you can continue to access them after the training
• Exclusive access to an online community forum where you are encouraged to ask questions, discuss the topics, and share ideas
• An invitation to continuing education sessions throughout the year specifically for participants where we will discuss emerging issues and hot topics.

To receive the certificate of completion (and continuing education hours, if you are a licensed NY social worker), you will need to participate each day for the full session. Participation in the community forum and continuing education sessions are optional, but encouraged. Snacks and drinks will be provided each day, and lunch will be provided on the last day. There will be breaks throughout each day.

Below you will find answers to frequently asked questions. Please take a moment to review the FAQs below before registering for the course. If you have a question that is not answered, please email us at education@eolcny.org.

Learning Objectives

After completing this course, you will be able to:

• Describe changes in death, dying, and disease in American society over time.
• Identify common challenges faced when planning for or navigating the end of life.
• Compare New York advance directives.
• Summarize advance care planning goals and approaches.
• Describe New York patient rights pertaining to advance care planning, palliative care, and hospice.
• Examine the role of palliative care when treating patients with serious illness.
• Describe communication methods and strategies for end of life conversations within a medical setting (e.g., goals of care).
• Examine the role of hospice in the care of terminally ill patients.
• Generate ideas and plans for utilizing and integrating the course information and materials into your community work.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Who should take this training?

Do you feel a calling to advocate for the community you serve to improve experiences at the end of life, but currently feel unprepared or under-informed? Do you recognize that our society needs to do more to support individuals when planning for and navigating the end of life? Do you want to learn more about how suffering can be prevented and addressed? Are you curious about what rights patients and families have when accessing and seeking end of life care?

This training is for any individual who works with communities that could use additional support planning for or navigating the end of life. There is no specific skill/knowledge/experience/background that you are expected to have before taking this course. This training is intended to provide comprehensive information so individuals and professionals can better advocate for the communities they serve.

Who should not take this training?

This training covers death, dying, and related subject matter that may be sensitive for some. The training includes film and materials depicting real cases. We recognize that this content may be difficult; please use your discretion and consider whether this course is right for you at this time.

If I change my mind, will I get a refund?

If you cancel registration 21 or more calendar days before the first day of the training, you will receive a refund less the Eventbrite fees (Eventbrite Service Fee: 3.7% + $1.79 per sold ticket & Eventbrite Payment Processing Fee: 2.9% per order). No refunds are available if registration is cancelled 20 days or fewer before the first day of the training, however; you may have the amount of the registration credited towards a future training or our online course.

What if I am interested but cannot register at this time?

Consider taking our online, self-study version of this training at eolcnycourses.org.

Are there scholarships available?

Yes! As a non-profit organization, we strive to keep our programs affordable and accessible. Limited scholarships are available, and will be awarded to eligible individuals on a first-come basis. To learn more about our scholarships and to apply, please click here.

Do you offer discounts to organizations and groups?

Yes! If you would like to offer this course to your team, please click here to fill out the form and we will be in touch.

Is the content NY-specific?

The content, including policy reviews, were designed for individuals in New York, as we are a NY-based organization. Professionals in other states may still find the content useful, but should be aware that the course may not be entirely relevant to their area.

Can I get continuing education credit?

All participants who have completed the full training will receive a certificate of completion noting they have completed this 20-hour training. For social workers: End of Life Choices New York, Inc. is recognized by the New York State Education Department's State Board for Social Work as an approved provider of continuing education for licensed social workers #SW-0464. This training can count as 20 continuing education hours. For all other professionals, please confirm with your credentialing agency whether you can receive continuing education credit for this course.

Instructor

Lillian Mehran, PhD, MPH, CHES is the Senior Outreach & Education Consultant at End of Life Choices New York. She has been an end of life educator and researcher for six years, and has fifteen years of experience in public health, including community outreach and needs assessments, program development and implementation, and community-based research. Her work has served diverse populations including solo seniors, LGBTQIA+ patients, individuals with chronic health conditions, intimate partner violence survivors, and older adults in under-served communities.

Dr. Mehran has worked with a variety of organizations including academic medical centers, colleges, community health centers, advocacy groups, research foundations, and national professional organizations. She has a PhD in Community Health and Health Policy, a Master of Public Health in Community Health Education, and a BA in Psychology and Women’s/Gender Studies. She is also a Certified Health Education Specialist.