Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #723FY0102

Hospice Clergy Education Project

Requester:

David Abrams

Organization:

Hospice Foundation America

Project Title:

Hospice Clergy Education Project

Date Submitted:

1/17/2002 12:55:44 PM

Sponsors:

J. Alex Villalobos

Statewide Interest:

This program is designed to reduce reliance on expensive, futile care at end of life for terminally

Recipient:

Hospice Foundation of America

Contact:

David Abrams

777 17 St. #401

Contact Phone:

(305) 538-9272

Miami Beach 33139

Counties:

{Statewide}

Gov't Entity:

Private Organization (Profit/Not for Profit):

Yes

Project Description:

Many individuals with a terminal disease or illness which is no longer responding to aggressive care will continue costly and unnecessary treatments because of� misinformation or perceptions that their faith would not allow palliative care. At the same time, clergy members receive no formal training in advising, assisting and supporting people through end-of-life crises.� Educating faith communities would help in two ways:� 1 - it can assist clergy and other leaders to clarify the perspectives and ethical stances on end of lif decisions;� 2 - it can assist those communities in educating their individuals and groups in times of non-crises.���� The goal of the Hospice Clergy Education Project is to provide bereavement education services to clergy members to enable them better minister to their members when terminal illness strikes.

Measurable Outcome Anticipated:

Grief has demonstrated negative effects on physical and mental health. Faith communities that can engage in ministry to the bereaved utilizing the latest bereavement techniques will mitigate the deleterious physical and mental effects of loss (depression, morbidity, mortality), returning people more rapidly to a healthier condition.� Yet clergy often have had little training and limited knowledge of grief. The Hospice Clergy Education Project will increase knowledge about end-of-life options, increase hospice referrals and influence the length of stay in hospice. Additionally, clergy communities can often provide volunteer services that supplement and enhance care, making people less dependent on more costly, futile aggressive care, thereby reducing the overall costs of the medical system.

Amount requested from the State for this project this year:

$400,000

Total cost of the project:

$400,000

Request has been made to fund:

Operations

What type of match exists for this project?

None

Was this project previously funded by the State?

No

Is future-year funding likely to be requested?

Yes

Amount:

$400,000

Purpose for future year funding:

Recurring Operations

Will this be an annual request?

Yes

Was this project included in an Agency's Budget Request?

No

Was this project included in the Governor's Recommended Budget?

No

Is there a documented need for this project?

Yes

Documentation:

Numerous studies have shown the lack of training available to clergy in the area of grief and loss.

Was this project request heard before a publicly noticed meeting of a body of elected officials (municipal, county, or state)?

Yes

Hearing Body:

Miami-Dade� Delegation

Meeting Date:

10/5/2001