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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.

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Click to return to the LOPA home page Click to learn more about the mission, vision and purpose of LOPA Click to register to be an Organ and Tissue donor
Click to visit an area where hospitals can view personalized reports Click to visit a list of valuable links
Click to view our Donor Memorial Quilt
Click to read about our Heroes Click to learn about ways you can help increase organ donation awareness.
Click to view a list of open positions with LOPA Click to contribute to LOPA Click to learn about how to contribute to LOPA and increase organ donation awareness.

Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency
4441 N. I-10 Service Rd. W. Metairie, LA 70006
1-800-521-GIVE
www.lopa.org info@lopa.org
© Copyright 2008 LOPA Louisiana Organ Procurement Agency