Louisiana Organ & Tissue Family Advisory Council
Purpose
The purpose of the Louisiana Organ & Tissue Family Advisory Council (FAC) is to assemble a core group of donor families who will share their experience of donation to improve the donation process and to increase awareness of organ and tissue donation
Goals
- Identify donor families who wish to share their experience of donation to increase donors through public education, hospital development and media events
- Generate direct feedback from donor families to enhance the sensitivity and effectiveness of the organ and tissue recovery process
- Donor Family review of LOPA programs and written materials
- Provide opportunities for donor families to grieve and grow through active involvement with LOPA to increase donation
Rationale
Donor families are recognized as a valuable resource and can enhance a more effective post-donation relationship with LOPA that will benefit both donor families and the organ and tissue recovery process.
- Donor Families are the best source of feedback on the sensitivity of the recovery process to the needs of donor families
- Donor Families who present the positive impact of donation on donor families at hospital development trainings can help reduce resistance by hospital staff to approaching families for donation
- Media request seek donor families who are willing to share their stories
Structure
The Louisiana Organ & Tissue Family Advisory Council will be administered by Donor Family Services (DFS). Each meeting will combine relationship building between donor families and with LOPA, and a business agenda. DFS will act as intermediary with LOPA staff to present items for review by the FAC.
- Membership: 12 – 20 members (all sign confidentiality statements). By invitation, initially. Included are families who consented to organ and tissue donation.
- Term: Two-year initial renewable commitment with four-year limit to time served.
- Structure: Semi-annual meetings. Meetings to be held initially in Lafayette, Metairie, and Shreveport in order to develop a core group in each location. May consider other locations if need indicates.
- Leadership: Donor Family Services Coordinator will provide initial leadership and explore possibility of a chairperson who will eventually come from membership. A chairperson to be appointed to work in conjunction with DFS in setting agendas, preparing minutes, providing progress notes, etc.
- The Council is strictly advisory in that LOPA may not implement suggested services due to fiscal or human resource staffing restrictions. However, LOPA will attempt to endorse a significant portion of the requests from the Council.
Objectives
- Identify and invite interested donor families to participate
- Conduct (semi-annual) meetings in regional offices or by video conference
- Communicate purpose and goals of Council to LOPA management and board of directors
- Generate ideas, provide input and assist with implementation of new services for donor families
- Involve Council in planning Annual Donor Memorial Picnic
- Involve Council in developing relationship with coroners offices and funeral home directors
- Involve Council in developing materials regarding cultural diversity
- Provide input for materials to families--Donation after Cardiac Death
- Coordinate with Community Education Coordinators to increase donor family speakers for public events
- Coordinate with Development Manager to identify and train speakers for hospital development activities
- Review public education program (brochures, handouts, etc.)
Additional Possible Activities
- Review and provide comment on LOPA support of donor families
- Develop peer support program
- Participate in informing families about Donor Family Memorial Quilt
- Review and recommend bereavement literature and resources
- Encourage involvement of new donor families in LOPA activities
- Monitor and offer feedback on LOPA website
For more information about our Louisiana Organ & Tissue Family Advisory Council or to find out how to join, please contact us at familyservices@lopa.org or 1-800-521-GIVE.
