End of Life Care Alliance of Sonoma County now known as Journey Project Coordinating Council
Mission and Purpose
The End of Life Care Alliance was created in 2000 as a state and nationally-recognized community coalition working in a leadership role to facilitate, advocate and support development of programs, activities and community discussion that improve quality of care at life’s end. The End-of-Life Care Alliance of Sonoma County (EOLCA) was organized specifically to:
- increase community awareness about issues, resources and programs that model compassionate care;
- reintegrate dying with living by creating opportunities for quality conversations which will inspire thoughtful approaches to care at life’s end;
- unify, build upon and strengthen existing community resources; and
- foster coordinated effort, cooperative action, personal and social responsibility.
In 2004 the EOLCA became a program of the Community Network responsible for providing oversight and serving as an advisory board for the Community Network Journey Project. In January 2007 the EOLCA Steering Committee and the Community Network Board of Directors mutually agreed that the name End of Life Care Alliance would be changed to Journey Project Coordinating Council (JPCC); the name EOLCA has been retired.
The following sections will tell you more about who we are are, our background and services, participating organizations and Coordinating Council members. You can find out about our funding and Speakers Bureau, learn about hosting a discussion group, and discover ways you can help support our efforts. You may also correspond with us directly.
Who We Are
We are elder care specialists, gerontologists, hospice workers, nurses, physicians, social workers, spiritual leaders, public interest planners and other community volunteers. The Journey Project Coordinating Council is comprised of dedicated professionals who help to plan, coordinate and oversee work undertaken by the Community Network Journey Project.
Our Latino Advisory Council (LAC) of bi-lingual, bi-cultural professionals serves in the lead for work we are doing to create end of life care training and educational materials for the multi-cultural community. A “Friends” group includes individuals and organizations that support our work who are kept informed via email updates. Active supporters are encouraged to join the JPCC and participate in regularly scheduled meetings. Organizations actively involved in our work are known collectively as the Participating Organizations.
Susan Keller, Journey Project Director, served as EOLCA Coordinator from its inception through EOLCA evolution into the Journey Project Coordinating Council. Susan represents our community as a long-standing active member of the California Coalition for Compassionate Care.
Background and Services
In Spring 2000, hospices in our area convened approximately 100 people to participate in an organizing video conference to help promote the Fall, 2000 Public Television broadcast of Bill Moyers On Our Own Terms series. Subsequent meetings resulted in creation of the “End-of-Life Care Alliance of Sonoma County” with the Community Network facilitating EOLCA development. Participating organizations collaborated to:
- secure the Community Network Journey Project research collection as a publicly accessible resource center
- co-sponsor two Educating Physicians in End of Life Care trainings, a two day training which trained more than 100 area physicians in good end of life care practices
- develop a speakers bureau to help educate and involve the community
- assist the Journey Project with development of a 9 hour End of Life Issues caregiver workshop series for the Sonoma County In Home Supportive Services Public Authority.
From 2000 through 2004, EOLCA members actively participated in the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rallying Points Program, the RWJF Last Acts Program and the Last Acts Partnership.. Steering Committee members routinely attended related conferences and teleconferences on issues such as cultural diversity, pain management, advance care planning, and palliative care. The Community Network Journey Project served in the lead networking information and resources of value in the community.
Funding and Support
From its inception, EOLCA participating organizations donated time and resources vital to the work and existence of the EOLCA and the Journey Project. The Community Network for Appropriate Technologies serves as parent 501©3 nonprofit sponsor and provides professional staff support and the home office for the EOLCA during its entire existence Participating organizations and individuals make contributions as time and resources allow to help sustain our efforts.
In Spring, 2004 the Community Network was awarded funding from the Rallying Points Program to further planning and program development work being done in concert with the End of Life Care Alliance, specifically:
- to develop a Spanish language End of Life Issues workshop series and a plan for cooperative action to expand culturally appropriate end of life care programming to other ethnic groups living in our region;
- to organize and host an invitational “Wellness Through Life’s End” workshop in Fall, 2004 for human service and health care leaders in our region; and
- to assist the Community Network with production of audio and video tapes of the End of Life Issues workshop series.
In Spring, 2006 the the Community Network received a donation from the St. Joseph Health System- Sonoma County Community Benefit Department in support of work being done by Susan Keller, Director of the Community Network Journey Project and EOLCA Coordinator. Funding supported work with the Latino community to plan and establish a Latino caregiver outreach and training program based on the Fall ‘04 Latino Caregiver Training Pilot Project. After extensive community outreach and interaction in support of this effort, _A Plan for Cooperative Action was completed in January 2007 to guide efforts into 2007 and beyond. Funding is now being sought to implement the Plan completed.
Funding awarded to the Community Network from Kaiser Permanente Santa Rosa Community Benefit fund in Summer, 2006 is assisting the Community Network to update and maintain the CaringCommunity.org website and print website cards for distribution by Journey Project participating organizations. Additionally, this funding is enabling Susan Keller to do four “Wellness Through Life’s End” workshops working in concert the Kaiser Health Ed Department and area Senior Centers
Journey Project Coordinating Council(Formerly the EOLCA Steering Committee)
Nancy Unger, M.A. (Coordinating Council Chairperson). Director of Chancellor Place Windsor Assisted Retirement Community, Diamond Certified in 2007; formerly Site Development Director and RCFE Certified Administrator of Avalon at Brush Creek Assisted Living and Memory Care, Santa Rosa; formerly Executive Director of Tamalpais Creek, ARV Assisted Living, Novato (1998-1999). Member, Alzheimer’s Task Force of Sonoma County, Alzheimer’s Association of Sonoma County, California Assisted Living Association. Events Chair for Burbank Activity Center Expansion/Renovation Campaign, 1997/01.
Susan Keller, M.A., M.L.I.S., (Executive Director) Public Interest Planner, Educator,Author: Journey To Life’s End—A Traveler’s Guide; Program Director - Community Network Journey Project 1994 to present. Coordinator, End of Life Care Alliance of Sonoma County 2000 - 2006. Steering Committee member, California Coalition for Compassionate Care, 2001 to present. Consultant, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation Rallying Points Program supporting grassroots coalitions working to improve end of life care.
Nancy Proctor, RN, CHPN. Hospice Nurse. Advocating for improved patient care and optimum quality of life for dying patients and their families in Sonoma County for over 15 years. Many years of continuing education and course work in the field of death and dying, including a recent practicum in England, featuring visits to St. Christopher’s Hospice with Dame Cicely Saunders; and field service and site work at an adult inhome/inpatient and day hospice in Lymington, South Hampton.
Carole van Aelstyn, RN, BSN Hospice nurse working in the Sonoma County and Greater Bay area since 1975. Founding Director of the Alzheimer’s Respite Center in Santa Rosa (1981). Client Support Coordinator, Compassion & Choices; Compassion Board member since 1999.
Nina Arbour. Community Outreach and Volunteer Coordinator Hospice of Petaluma; and Memorial Hospice Santa Rosa; with responsibilities including volunteer training program and grief program coordination. More than 20 years experience working with hospice in the Sonoma County region.
Barbara Aman, (Community Relations Liaison), Sutter Visiting Nurse Association (VNA) & Hospice, the oldest hospice in Sonoma County) Barbara was instrumental in bringng the EPEC Training for Physicians to Sonoma County via the first annual EPEC conference co-sponsored by the EOLCA.
Pam Campbell works professionally as an ombudsman with Senior Advocacy Services/Ombudsman program and is has been interested in end of life care issues and improving end of life care in institutional settings for more than 10 years now.
Meetings
All meetings are open to the community. The Journey Project Coordinating Council meet in Santa Rosa on a regular basis to do planning, program oversight and related business. Meetings also provide an information exchange and professional support group for participants.
Susan Keller facilitates all meetings and minutes are available for participants and others interested.
Speakers Bureau
Speakers are available to speak briefly on issues or to present educational presentations short or long on a variety of topics including but not limited to:
- Wellness Through Life’s End
- Palliative Care and Hospice
- Partnering with your care team
- Advance care planning
- Available community resources
- Making difficult decisions
- Managing pain and suffering
- Preparing for the last hours of life
- Dying at Home
- Grief and loss, before and after
- Informed funeral/memorial choices
- Spiritual care
Contact us to discuss bringing a speaker to your institution or join our efforts.
Facilitated Group Discussion
Individuals are available to help facilitate group discussion concerning end of life care issues and planning for the ending of life. The Journey Project Resource Center contains numerous handouts and handbooks to assist with facilitated discussion. Materials are available at no charge or on loan to those interested to conduct such sessions.
What You Can Do
- Host a presentation, discussion group or workshop
- Co-sponsor a Continuing Education (CE) certified program for health care professionals
- Organize a brown bag lunch session in the workplace
- Make a contribution of time, money or resources
- Open the discussion with family and friends
- Complete an Advance Health Care Directive to guide your care if you are unable
I Want to Help
Please let us know if you would like to help in the following ways (or others we haven’t thought of yet):
- organize a discussion group
- host a presentation
- volunteer
- be on our mailing list
- join the Journey Project Coordinating Council
- join our “Friends” group
And of course, you can help by donating to help support our work.
General Inquiries
Press Inquiries
We welcome inquiries from the press and others about our work and on topics of current interest e.g. innovative models of care; palliative care; pending legislation, related court rulings, etc.
