Monthly Report – April, 2000

Caring Communities of Kansas

 

News Updates

                                      

  Stories At Work

Over twenty-four Caring Community representatives from 13 communities attended the “Stories At Work” train the trainer session on 4/10.  “Stories At Work” is a professional education tool that was designed in collaboration with the Kansas Humanities Council.  The group gathered at Salina Regional Medical Center.  Representatives will take what they learned back to their communities and arrange “Stories At Work” training sessions.

 

  EPEC Training

Representatives from 11 different communities participated in the EPEC training on April 13^th – 14^th.  Twenty-two physicians and nurses attended together and will work within their locales to improve end-of-life care.

 

  Moyers’ Leadership Video Conference, April 18^th

Eleven sites were established across the state of Kansas for the Moyers’ Leadership Video Conference being held on April 18^th.  Sites included:

                                       Arkansas City                  Liberal                   

                                       Bunker Hill                      Manhattan

                                       Emporia                          Pittsburg

                                       Goodland                        Topeka

                                       Kansas City                     Wichita

                                       Lawrence

 

Over 120 community leaders attended the leadership conference (This number does not include attendance in Kansas City.).  Those who attended reported that the meetings went very well and that the information provided contained a number of good ideas.

 

Communities are encouraged to access the Moyers website at www.thirteen.org/onourownterms or www.pbs.org/onourownterms to download copies of the discussion guide.  The discussion guide is filled with excellent resources.

 

Community Updates

 

  Kansas City

 Ann Allegre reported that the Kansas City Hospice helped coordinate the 4/18 Moyers’ program videoconference.  They invited over 100 people from the Kansas City area, including medical educators, community leaders, palliative care specialists, representatives of medical societies, etc.  The Kansas City Caring Community is coordinating their plans with events planned for the wider metropolitan area around the Moyers’ program.

 

  Lawrence

Emily Taylor, chair of the Lawrence Caring Community, reported that their Moyers’ downlink meeting went well.  She and Dick Schiefelbusch are going to meet with Dr. Rhonda Montgomery, chair of the gerontology department, to discuss the survey of Lawrence.  They are also hopeful that a graduate student will be available to participate.

 

  Manhattan

Dr. Joe Phillip from the Manhattan Caring Community will be offering EPEC training for the Manhattan area.

 

  Newton

Robert Carlton reported that they have formed their Project Council.  They sent Barb Martin (from Senior Services) to the Stories at Work Training on April 10^th.

 

  Wichita

The LIFE Project Community Council in Wichita has another meeting scheduled on April 28^th.  Many of the council members attended the Moyers’ conference.

 

Upcoming Events & News

 

  Ombudsman Training

Training curriculum for end-of-life care has been completed by Debbie Evangelidis for use in the Volunteer Ombudsman training in May.  Caring Community Council leaders will identify subject-experts within their communities to present the curriculum to participants.  The following dates have been identified:  5/3 Kansas City, 5/8 Wichita, 5/9 Hutchinson, 5/15 Salina (tentative), and 5/20 Topeka.  Dodge City and Lawrence may also be identified as orientation sites as well.

 

The ombudsman training for new volunteers consists of 30 hours with 1-½ hours dedicated to end-of-life care.  Volunteer Ombudsman monthly meetings will be utilized to provide end-of-life training to current volunteers who have already gone through orientation.  Please contact Debbie Evangelidis at 785-282-3506 for additional information; she has volunteered to act as liaison between the LIFE Project and the Ombudsman program.

 

  HFA Living With Grief Teleconference, April 26^th

There are now over 20 registered sites in Kansas for the grief teleconference.  Cities registered across the state include Atchison, Beloit, Chanute, El Dorado, Fort Riley, Garden City, Goodland, Hays, Hutchinson, Kansas City, Lawrence, Liberal, Manhattan, Newton, Osawatomie, Overland Park, Pratt, Salina, Topeka, and Wichita.  Go to www.hospicefoundation.org/teleconference/ks.htm or call 1-800-854-3402 for updates.

 

  Idea:  get journalism students involved with your Caring Community.  Let them help you write stories and keep track of ongoing activities.

 

  DON’T forget to turn in timesheets for service in-kind with your monthly report.  

 

  Call or fax any information you would like to share with others across the state.  This newsletter will be sent out the 3^rd week of each month.  Thank you to each person who contributed to this month’s issue!