Happy New Year!

We hope that you had a relaxing, joyful holiday season and that the year is starting off with a bang for you!  At WASHAA we have an exciting year planned, with more educational programs, training and opportunity to gather.  If you are interested in volunteering for WASHAA, we are looking for people with financial, non-profit experience and those who can help with our web inquiry program.  Please contact us at [email protected].
 
Here's to a healthier 2016,
Robin Shapiro
Chair, WASHAA Board
2016 WASHAA Webinar Series: Feb 4 Movie "Speaking of Dying"

We are fortunate to have Trudy James hosting our next Webinar on February 4, 2016 at 10:00 am PT/1:00 pm ET.  You can watch the trailer for her film here.

Please join us for a viewing and discussion of the highly acclaimed documentary film "Speaking of Dying" www.speakingofdying.com. 
This 30 minute documentary shines a clear, bright light on death through the words and stories of patients, family members and medical providers. It is designed to empower viewers to learn about, and speak more openly about, their own end of life choices and desires. It is also a gentle tool that can be used by professionals to encourage and support meaningful conversations with clients, patients and their own families.

Trudy James, Founder and CEO of Heartwork,  is a seminary graduate and retired hospital chaplain who learned hands-on lessons about death, dying and grief in the early days of the AIDS epidemic in the South. Her ground-breaking work with AIDS was honored in the Clinton White House. Later, she created an AIDS Care Team program in Seattle and served as a chaplain at the Seattle Cancer Care Alliance. When she retired, she spent four years pioneering community-based end of life planning groups and two years producing a film that reflects the heart of those groups.

For just $5, you can register here for the film here: http://gowoa.me/i/7V9. Viewing spots are limited so please register soon!

WASHAA Educational Webinar Series
WASHAA Webinars are still available to view and purchase CEUs for RNs and Social Workers. Visit past webinars here: http://www.washaa.org/past-webinars.html
  • Misdiagnosis & Patient Advocacy with Io Dolka (available for CEU Credit until June 30, 2016)
  • Understanding WA State's "Death with Dignity" Law with Karen Griffith (available for CEU Credit until March 30, 2016)
Volunteer Health Advocate Training Program

The WASHAA Volunteer Health Advocate (VHA) Training Program curriculum is almost complete and should be ready to launch in March 2016.  The program is available to be used by companies, organizations and non-profits who already have a volunteer structure in place.  The training is geared toward volunteers who do not necessarily have a medical background, but can help clients prepare for medical appointments, attend doctor visits and help boost confidence through specific support to people who want to take a more active, participatory role in their health care.  Are you interested in learning more?  Please contact us by asking about the VHA Training Program at: [email protected].
Progress on the National Credential

If you attended our Annual Meeting in November, you heard about the progress of a National Credential for patient advocates.  Last month, The Patient Advocate Certification Board (PAC Board - the group that is working on the credential), announced a new web site location to track their progress: http://pacboard.org/. On this site, you can see the progress of the following developed by this group:
  • Ethical Standards
  • Competencies and Best Practices
  • Definitions
  • Answers to questions regarding public comment on these documents
  • Governance and Regulations for the PACB
Meet Our Partner Members

We would like to recognize WASHAA Partner Members, who are supporting WASHAA and our programs.  Please visit:
 
The Chris Elliott Fund to End Brain Cancer connects brain tumor patients, caregivers and their families immediately to advanced treatments & clinical trials: www.endbraincancer.org
 
Full Life Care is a non-profit organization helping adults of all ages with chronic illnesses, and physical or developmental disabilities: www.fulllifecare.org
 
Wondering how you can support health advocacy in Washington State?  Support us by becoming a Member, Supporter, Partner, Sponsor or Volunteer.  For more information, please visit www.washaa.org.  Want to donate?  It's easy, please consider a donation of $100, $250, or $500 via PayPal.
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SAVE THE DATE!
WASHAA 4TH ANNUAL MEETING |  NOV. 18, 2016 IN SEATTLE, WA
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Washington State Health Advocacy Association
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