C2C Staff Learns About Advance Care Planning
On July 26, 2022, The Cradle to Career backbone team attended a workshop hosted by the Arizona End of Life Care Partnership (EOLCP) to learn more about Advance Care Planning. The workshop provided an important educational opportunity for the C2C team about the importance of planning for end of life, as well as to learn more about EOLCP.
EOLCP is a community partnership anchored at United Way of Tucson and Southern Arizona whose mission is to enhance the way we live by fundamentally changing the way we talk about death. One of the major goals of EOLCP is to promote Advance Care Planning, the ongoing process of exploring, discussing, and documenting your goals, values, and experiences related to serious illness and end of life to guide future treatment.
The workshop guided C2C staff through the process of advance care planning, including how to choose a healthcare proxy, which documents need to be completed, and how frequently to update them. It was also an opportunity to ask questions and normalize conversations about death and dying.
“After attending the EOLCP End of Life Planning workshop, I felt much more comfortable reflecting on and talking with my loved ones about end-of-life planning, and how it really is an act of love for those you care about,” said Caroline Lewis, the Youth on the Rise Change Network facilitator. “Taking some simple steps now can really make life easier for your family and friends when difficult times arise. I feel more prepared to take those steps now.”
The presentation was also an opportunity to highlight where the work between the two Partnerships intertwines. Through funding from the Vitalyst Health Foundation, EOLCP is working with C2C partner Goodwill METRO to provide bereavement services for Opportunity Youth who have experienced significant loss in their life in collaboration with Tu Nidito Children and Family Services and the Pima County Juvenile Court Center.
“The EOLCP End of Life Planning workshop is something that directly relates to our work with Opportunity Youth,” explained Lewis. “This population, especially during COVID, experienced a large amount of loss and grief. If this grief is not addressed in a healthy way, it can lead to greater degrees of disengagement in school, work, and personal relationships. Giving youth a space to talk about their grief with trusted adults and peers is a key step in recovering.”
For more information about the Arizona End of Life Care Partnership, visit their website at azendoflifecare.org.
Learn more about EOLCP’s work with Goodwill METRO in the video below:
