Background Formats can be designed to meet the specific content-needs of the hosting organization. The presentations range from two-hour in-services to half-day, full-day and two-day workshops. The events are offered under the auspices of the non-profit, (501c3) educational and charitable organization, For A World We Choose Foundation (FAWWCF). All proceeds from the presentations--whether received through honorariums, pre-arranged fees and additional voluntary donations--are used by FAWWCF to support our Foundation's ongoing benevolent work. The facilitator/host is Eliot Jay Rosen, LISW, ACSW, LMT, CNC, former Director of Social Work at Hospice Hawaii, Licensed Clinical Social Worker and Producer/Director of the film and Los Angeles Times bestselling book, Experiencing the Soul (Hay House) Content Overview The host organization may select from the below topics as well as suggest other directions for inclusion. We aim to individualize the presentation for the unique needs of your group. Participation is encouraged. (Note: The presentation itself is not as "technical" as the academic-sounding words used below to describe it.) Analysis of roles, functions and interventions of the hospice Interdisciplinary Team in relation to the expressed and unexpressed needs of the patient in the active stages of dying. Improving the effectiveness and enjoyment of the Interdisciplinary Team Meeting itself. Socio-economic trends, the future of the Hospice movement and the emergence of independent Volunteer Service Organization movement serving the dying. Being With Patients, "Leveling" with the patient, how to describe our professional role with patients as an intervention in itself, inviting honesty, discovering core beliefs, use of humor, reading the body for personality, etc. Maximizing "Self As Instrument," being yourself, processing "old programs," increasing spiritual receptivity through lifestyle/dietary changes and ongoing "inner work." Rights-of-the-Dying and Assisted Suicide, value clarification and empowering patients with non-invasive options Psycho-spiritual stages of dying in relation to Kubler-Ross's five psychological stages of dying. Pre-personal, Personal and Transpersonal Personality Theory as a foundation for a new paradigm of improved interdisciplinary hospice practice. Empirical and anecdotal evidence for consciousness being non-local, and the implications for everyday hospice service. The Stages of the "Nearing Death Experience" as a universal characteristic of the natural death process. Differential assessment of ontologically-based true spiritual visions, ordinary dreams, and the various category-types of hallucinations (drug-induced, psychotic, etc.) How to assess appropriate candidates for "11th Hour" spiritual work Examples of practical 11th hour psycho-spiritual interventions Review of important non-ordinary states of consciousness, understanding the meaning and importance of the near-death experience, after-death communications, pre-birth memories, non-hallucinatory visions, spontaneous religious experiences Extraordinary Death Anamolies Which Redefine Consensus Reality How to Differential Assessment of Candidates for active participation in Spiritual Care activities during the death process Enlisting the support, and guidelines to be shared, with the caregiver system, in relation to supporting spiritual care practices. Exploration of certain standard, medical, nursing, chaplaincy, social work and nutritional interventions in relation to a developmental and stage-based theory of spiritual, psychological and physiological processes. Philosophy And Educational Goals 1) How we live our lives,including the status of our physical and mental health, is inextricably linked to our relationship to our own physical mortality. In light of our society's past reluctance to talk openly about the important issues surrounding the natural processes of death, dying, grieving, etc. (even in professional settings), Mr. Rosen's first priority is to fully utilize his professional training and communication skills in service of creating an atmosphere of safety and openness for all participants. Despite the inherent "gravity" of the subject of death, participants report that they are uplifted, educationally-enriched and profoundly transformed by the event. Humor is not off-limits, and all conceptual material is presented in a participant-friendly, accessible way. 2) Our educational philosophy embraces the view that in serving those who are presently undergoing the process of death, (in the various roles of family member, significant other, friend, physician, nurse, chaplain, social worker, home-health aide or hospice volunteer), our understanding of "what death is" dramatically impacts vital pastoral/health-care delivery issues such as defining what constitutes appropriate medical, psychological and spiritual interventions; influencing overall quality of care; individualizing the concept of "death with dignity;" and safeguarding patient rights in the context of a client-driven system. 3) Building on the "medical model," several other conceptual models of death are presented- including historical, trans-cultural, phenomenological and the trans-personal perspectives. Supportive scientific and anecdotal evidence for the continuation of consciousness after physical death is presented. 4) Participants are encouraged to explore their beliefs and fears surrounding death, develop their own personal practical philosophy of death and dying, and integrate cognitive understanding with an experiential knowing by way of specific death preparation technologies. 5) In an easy-to-understand way, participants are presented a supportive foundation of key concepts which are drawn from the philosophy of science (societal paradigm shifts, materialism versus hyperspace); epistemology (the critical dynamic between belief versus knowing); thanatological phenomenology (the study of the experience of people in the process of dying); parapsychology (voluntary and involuntary death; the essential unity of the near-death experience, transcendent states of consciousness and the process of death itself); spirituality/religion (post-mortem possibilities as expressed in time-honored traditions) among others. 6) Undergoing inner psychological transformation supports our own preparedness for death as well as increases our effectiveness in helping clients through the oftentimes difficult process of death and dying. To the extent that we ourselves embrace our own mortality and minimize our own fear of death, only then can we really serve the needs of people who are working through their fear of death. In the tradition of psychologist Carl Roger's concept of "unconditional positive regard," Mahatma Gandhi's dictum "my life is my message" and Dr. Abraham Maslow's utilization of "self as instrument," the quality of our presence "at bedside"- our sensitivity, our authenticity, our openness- is inextricably connected to our "working through" our own issues. Participants explore ways to integrate these interdependent/complementary models of death by way of developing an ongoing experiential personal practice-on physical, emotional, conceptual and spiritual levels of our being. 7) Audio-Video Aids- For A World We Choose Foundation showcases recently-filmed footage in most all of our presentations. This rare footage is greatly enjoyed by our audiences and is projected on a screen or wall using advanced crystal-laser projector technology. Audiences view excerpts from the 56-minute film, Conscious Dying: Preparing NOW For A Healing Passage and Experiencing the Soul. These award-winning films features broadcast-quality footage which was directed/produced/interviewed by Eliot Jay Rosen himself. Included in the films are such notables as the Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, Dr. Raymond Moody, Stephen Levine, Ram Dass, the Dalai Lama of Tibet, Dr. Jean Houston, Betty Eadie, Dr. Jerry Jampolsky, Diane Circinione, Dr. Kenneth Ring, Dr. Joan Borysenko, Dr. Michael Grosso, Dannion Brinkley, Astronaut Edgar Mitchell, Dr. Charles Tart, Dr. Willis Harman as well as near-death returnees and inspiring people in the process of dying. World-renown pioneering psychiatrist Dr. Elisabeth Kubler-Ross endorses the Conscious Dying: Preparing NOW For A Healing Passage by saying that the film is "a worthwhile commentary by dying patients, thanatologists and others interested in the process of death and grief. This touching collection of experiences by dying patients and people who have had near-death experiences will help those who are still afraid of death and dying." A prominent theme in the film is that inner healing is always possible as long as there is breath, even though physical cure may be impossible- for both the person in the process of dying as well as family members and friends. After the film, audience Q&A's and group discussion follow. We discuss practical ways to prepare NOW for a more healing passage- physically, mentally, emotionally and spiritually. Participants invariably report that these lively sharings are remarkably rewarding and inspiring. Though life is as short as it is precious, we can create added richness and meaning in our lives, and deepen our everyday experience of life, by embracing life in its fullness, including the natural process of dying and death. Interested organizations and individuals are encouraged to contact us to discuss these and other exciting possibilities. We are dedicated to creating the educational/transformational experience suited to your needs. Please contact us in any one of the following ways: email us at: eliotrosen@hotmail.com phone: (808) 965-1279 or toll free: (877) 965-1279