Health Care Professionals:
A Finished Heart was chosen to supplement clinical continuing education approved by the National Association of Social Workers (NASW) for 1.5 CEUs, presented under the auspices of the Northwest Association of Death Education and Bereavement Support. This workshop included focus on being sensitive to the experience of gay couples during end-of-life care. Health Care Students: A Finished Heart has been chosen to supplement education for university students of nursing and social work. "this powerful piece allowed us to learn from a narrative of experience, gave us insights that we might not otherwise uncover and opened important dialogues" Susan B. Sepples RN, CCRN, PhD, Associate Professor, University of Southern Maine School of Nursing "a real life view of many concepts with which we deal frequently in social work classes: self-determination; loss; love, including same-sex love; relationships; negotiation; death; spirituality; empowerment; self-care; and authenticity." Sandy Butler, PhD, Professor of Social Work, University of Maine, Orono Human Resource Departments and Employee Assistance Programs: A Finished Heart was presented by Prism, the LGBT Employee Resource Group of Multnomah County with LGBTQ and Friends, the Employee Affinity Group for the City of Portland. In addition to supporting diversity and inclusion, read how and why to utilize A Finished Heart to support individuals faced with caregiving death and dying, loss and grief. A Finished Heart reaches out and moves audience members regardless of sexual orientation, supporting employees to validate their feelings and providing an opportunity for them to connect with each other. Congregations seeking to support, affirm and welcome: A Finished Heart has been presented by many congregations because it models compassionate communication for caregivers, inspires discussions on the many facets of love, and builds empathy that opens doors for affirming and welcoming LGBT congregants. If you are involved with a place of worship engaged in the discernment process regarding LGBT participation, A Finished Heart fosters the depth of discussion essential for this journey. The Revered Dr. Glenn H. Turner wrote that A Finished Heart "opens our hearts to a tenderness and compassion which might well serve to awaken us to a deeper sense of openness and presence." Hospice Staff and Volunteers: Hospices were among the first organizations to co-sponsor A Finished Heart, utilizing the performance to support family caregivers, clients, staff and volunteers. "I found Eliott's work to offer insight into the dying process that no training has ever been able to convey," wrote Valerie Jones, LMSW. Thoughts on Voluntary Stopping Eating & Drinking: The choice to end one's life with the aid of a physician when certain conditions are met is legally possible in a handful of U.S. states. One option that some terminally ill individuals choose, regardless of their state of residence, is to stop all foods and fluids -- a practice known as Voluntary Stopping Eating and Drinking (VSED). Due to his cancer, Chris' digestive system stopped working. Attempts to use a feeding tube caused unbearable discomfort that could not be resolved. Chris chose to disconnect this tube. A Finished Heart shares our personal journey, anchored in emotion and relationship, through which to discuss medical, legal, ethical, social and spiritual questions that arise with the practice of VSED. I invite professionals in appropriate fields to contact me if you are interested in collaborating to develop and promote such discussions utilizing A Finished Heart. Building Community Within Social Organizations: A Finished Heart brings audience members to deeply connect with themselves, with each other and with universal experience, as they are immersed in the intimacy of caregiving and dying in an atmosphere of love. Hospice chaplain Mary Peterson describes a tender example of two people connecting during A Finished Heart. A Finished Heart has received enthusiastic praise from individuals, granting organizations and non-profits since 2009. Click here for a list of supporters and presenters. |