Community Budget Issue Requests - Tracking Id #349FY0001 Hospice Clergy Education Project
Requester:		David Abrams			Organization:		Hospice Foundation of America
Project Title:		Hospice Clergy Education Project			Date Submitted:		01/31/2001 1:14:00 PM
Sponsors:		Gaston Cantens
Statewide Interest:		Program will reduce reliance on expensive and futile care at end of life for terminally ill patients
Recipient:		Hospice Foundation of America			Contact:		David Abrams
		777 17th Stret, # 401			Contact Phone:		(305) 538-9272
		Miami Beach 33139
Counties:		{Statewide}
Service Area:		Private Organization
Project Description:
Many individuals with a terinal disease or illness which is no longer responding to aggresive 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 communitiesi would help in two ways: 1. it can assist clergy and other leaders to clarify the perspectives and ethical stances on end of life decisions; 2. it can assist those communities in educating their individuals and groups in times of non-crisis. 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 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
Identify item(s) in the Appropriations Bill to be reduced:
Specific Appropriation #:			534A
Specific Appropriation Title:			Comm. Health Initiative
Amount to be reduced:			$350,000
Fund Source:			General Revenue
Total cost of the project:			$400,000
Request has been made to fund:				Operations
Type of funding match:		Private
					Total In-Kind Amount:		$50,000
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:		Dade Delegation, Miami Dade County
	Meeting Date:		01/17/2001