GC 535
Bereavement Aftercare Programs:
Development and Implementation
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Course information
This course is designed as a resource for those who are interested in establishing - or enhancing an already existing - Aftercare Program for the bereaved. It demonstrates the ever growing need for organized Aftercare Programs, and offers detailed information on how to meet those needs. In addition to Funeral Home based programs, information on establishing programs in other settings, including schools, hospitals and the military is provided. Both ethical and practical issues will be discussed. Students study a wide range of topics related to the development and implementation of a comprehensive and quality bereavement aftercare program.
The text for this course, “When All The Friends Have Gone - A Guide For Aftercare Providers”, is a groundbreaking guide for anyone interested in helping the bereaved on their journey through grief. This course is designed to educate and prepare providers with the tools they need to accompany their clients on that journey. Upon successful completion of this course, students are awarded 30 contact hours of continuing education credits by the American Academy of Grief Counseling. Course Code: GC 530
This course is particularly designed for those who are already or were recently certified by the American Academy of Grief Counseling, and are seeking continuing education to meet re-certification requirements.
Instructor/Course Author:
Kim Phillips Cumiskey, MS, GC-C
Certified Grief Counselor
Email: Elmira905@aol.com
TIME FRAME: You are allotted two years from the date of enrollment, to complete this course. There are no set time-frames, other than the two year allotted time. If you do not complete the course within the two-year time-frame, you will be removed from the course and an "incomplete" will be recorded for you in our records. Also, if you would like to complete the course after this two-year expiration time, you would need to register and pay the course tuition fee again.
TEXTBOOKS: There is one required book for this course:
When All The Friends Have Gone: A Guide For Aftercare Providers. Edited by O. Duane Weeks and Catherine Johnson. Baywood Publishing Co. Inc. Amityville, N.Y. April 2000. ISBN-10: 0895032155; ISBN-13: 978-0895032157
Link to Purchase on Amazon.com: click here
GRADING: You must achieve a passing score of at least 70% to complete this course and receive the 30 hours of awarded continuing education credit. There are no letter grades assigned. You will receive notice of your total % score. Those who score below the minimum of 70% will be contacted by the American Academy of Grief Counseling and options for completing additional course work to achieve a passing score, will be presented.
BOARD APPROVALS: AIHCP is an approved provider of continuing education by the American Institute of Health Care Professionals (The Provider) is approved by the California Board of Registered Nurses, Provider number # CEP 15595 for 30 Contact Hours.
This course, which is approved by the Florida State Board Of Nursing (CE Provider # 50-11975) also has the following Board of Nursing Approvals, for 30 contact hours of CE:
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Arkansas Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the Georgia Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the South Carolina Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the West Virginia Board of Examiners for Professional Registered Nurses. CE Provider # 50-11975.
The American Institute of Health Care Professionals Inc: is a Rule Approved Provider of Continuing Education by the New Mexico Board of Nursing. CE Provider # 50-11975.
Online Classroom Resouces and Tools
* Examination Access: there is link to take you right to the online examination program where you can print out your examination and work with it. All examinations are formatted as "open book" tests. When you are ready, you can access the exam program at anytime and click in your responses to the questions. Full information is provided in the online classrooms.
* Student Resource Center: there is a link for access to a web page "Student Resource Center." The Resource Center provides for easy access to all of our policies/procedures and additional information regarding applying for certification. We also have many links to many outside reference sites, such as online libraries that you may freely access.
* Online Evaluation: there is a link in the classroom where you may access the course evaluation. All students completing a course, must, without exception, complete the course evaluation.
* Faculty Access Information: you will have access to your instructor's online resume/biography, as well as your instructor's specific contact information.
* Additional Learning Materials: some faculty have prepared additional "readings" and /or brief lecture notes to enhance your experience. All of these are available in the online classrooms.
Course Objectives: Upon successful completion of this course, you will be able to:
1. Demonstrate the need for Aftercare and define its essence.
2. Develop a successful program based on the particular needs of those you are serving.
3. Apply ethical standards of Aftercare to your program.
4. Establish goals and maintain boundaries.
5. Differentiate between the different levels (types) of Aftercare.
6. Select training and set standards for personnel.
7. Identify the skills needed to become and Aftercare provider.
8. Address legal concerns and potential liabilities of and Aftercare program.
9. Meet the Aftercare needs of a multi-cultural society.
10. Locate referral agencies to use as a resource for you program and your clients.
11. Formulate a budget for your program.
12. Establish Aftercare support groups.
13. Make referrals when deemed necessary.
14. Formulate Aftercare programs in schools, hospitals and the military.
15. Understand the dynamics of grief.
16. Accompany and assist the griever to reach a healthy reconciliation of their grief.
17. Reach out to an “under-served” bereaved community.
18. Care for yourself in your role as caregiver.
Course content
1. History and function of aftercare programs
2. Goals of an aftercare program
3. Client needs assessments
4. Funeral directors and aftercare programs
5. Ethic issues in developing and implementing aftercare programs
6. Maintaining boundaries in the implementation of aftercare programs
7. Levels and types of aftercare programs
8. Client issues and feelings
9. Suicide aftercare interventions
10. The four types of aftercare programs
11. Informal aftercare programs
12. Standards and training's for aftercare providers
13. Memorial services
14. Legal issues related to aftercare programs
15. Cultural diversity and aftercare programs
16. Working with referring agencies
17. Public relations and aftercare
18. Education and informational elements
19. Support group models
20. Grief/Bereavement education
21. Budgeting for aftercare programs
22. The dynamics of grief
23. Goals for grief reconciliation
24. The under-served bereavement community
25. Self-care for caregivers