Community based coalitions have been forming across the state to address end of life issues locally around Nebraska. These coalitions are supported by the Robert Wood Johnson Foundation--funded by Rallying Points program of the national end-of-life coalition, Last Acts Partnership. NCCC is an available consultant through Rallying Points to help build coalitions in Nebraska Communities. More information about Rallying Points is available at www.rallyingpoints.org. To learn more about support available to help you establish a coalition in your community, contact NebraskaHospice@aol.com or call 402/540-3128.
Through January, 2004, the following Nebraska communities have developed or are developing end-of-life coalitions. Contact the individual listed to learn more:
| Ainsworth | Chris Nielsen | cneilsen@huntel.net | 402/387-1822 |
| Cass County | Pat Meierhenry | farmhouse@hli.net | 402/867-2062 |
| Columbus | Lisa Weber Devoll | laweberdevoll@columbushosp.org | 402/562-4496 |
| Custer County | Bonnie Mayo | BonJoMayo@yahoo.com | 308/872-2625 ext. 190 |
| Grand Island | Jennifer Eurek | jeurek@sfmc-gi.org | 308/398-5487 |
| Lincoln | Heather Leschinsky | hleschinsky@ci.lincoln.ne.us | 402/441-8230 |
| Northeast Nebraska | Sally Smith | hellosalgal@aol.com | 712/233-4144 |
| North Platte | Jacque Amweg | amwegj@mail.gprmc.com | 308535-7434 |
| Omaha | Bonnie Brown | bbrown@alegent.org | 402/898-8165 |
| West Point | Phyllis Heimann | pheimann@fcswp.org | 402/372-5929 |
| York County | Aloha Schmid | alohas_tabith@alltel.net | 402/362-7739 |
Ten Steps to a Nebraska community engaged to improve local end of life care and conditions
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Gather a handful of interested people committed to end of life improvements to form the initial core committee.
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Establish and continually expand a database mailing list of community members likely to be interested in addressing end of life issues.
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Register with the national Rallying Points program at www.rallyingpoints.org.
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Complete the Rallying Points questionnaire.
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Select the Rallying Points Certificate for "Mobilizing Your Community to Identify and Address End of Life Issues" of the Nebraska Coalition for Compassionate Care (NCCC).
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Using NCCC materials models, schedule and invite the broader community to a two-hour meal and brainstorming meeting, facilitated by NCCC, to identify local issues and resources. Also, set date for second community meeting and pull more people into the core committee.
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Core committee and NCCC consultant analyze the responses from the brainstorming meeting to identify the top themes, and discusses options for structuring the local effort.
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Hold a second community meeting about a month after the first, also facilitated by NCCC, to invite community members to self-select to address their top priority problem area of the several identified from the brainstorming results by the core committee, and begin direct planning to address those problems within the task groups that emerge.
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To help meet local goals, tap the additional resources available through Rallying Points (two more certificates, a $10,000 Opportunity Award, and national conferences) and through NCCC (a third NCCC-led local event, statewide media coverage, meetings and conferences, coordinated statewide end of life improvement initiatives).
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Celebrate as coalition activities lead to improvements in the quality of life of those at the end of life within the community.
For advice at any step in this process, contact:
Jonathan Krutz, Nebraska Coalition for Compassionate Care, NebraskaHospice@aol.com or 402/540-3128
Joanna Crocker, Midwest Bioethics Center, Regional Rallying Points Consultant
