Welcome to the Advance Care Planning (ACP) curriculum “Think About It, Talk About It, Write It Down and Share It”, developed by the Hospice and Palliative Care Association of New York State with generous support from the Mother Cabrini Health Foundation. This comprehensive program is designed to empower individuals, caregivers, faith leaders, and healthcare professionals with the knowledge, education, and tools necessary to confidently initiate and support advance care planning.

We extend our heartfelt gratitude to Hospice and Palliative Care Buffalo and Hudson Valley Hospice for their efforts in bringing together members of local faith communities. Special thanks to Pastor Corey L. Kennard, a healthcare activist from Detroit, Michigan, for facilitating discussions inspired by Elizabeth Coplan’s short video, Honoring Choices. These discussions have been invaluable in shaping this curriculum from a faith-based perspective, while also highlighting critical health equity and social justice issues that can influence an individual's healthcare decisions.

Our curriculum is structured into seven concise chapters, each focusing on a crucial aspect of ACP:

What is ACP? – An introduction to the concept and importance of advance care planning.

Think About It – Guidance on reflecting upon personal values, goals, and preferences for future healthcare.

Talk About It – Strategies for initiating conversations about ACP with loved ones and healthcare providers.

Write It Down – Practical steps for documenting your wishes in an advance directive.

Share It – How to effectively communicate your documented wishes with key individuals and institutions.

Understanding Options for Care – An overview of the different care options available to meet your needs and preferences.

Palliative Care and Hospice – Detailed information on the roles of palliative care and hospice in supporting quality of life.

In addition to the chapters, our curriculum includes a pre and post-assessment to measure knowledge gained, a course evaluation to gather feedback, a completion certificate, and a variety of downloadable attachments and PowerPoint presentations to aid in your learning process.

The goal of this program is to equip you with the confidence and tools to begin your own advance care planning journey or to support others in theirs. We are committed to fostering a community where thoughtful, informed conversations about future healthcare are the norm, ensuring that everyone's wishes are known and respected.

To register, click on the registration link. You will receive an email from our streaming partners at Iroquois Health/Health Stream with a username and temporary password.

This training course takes approximately two hours to complete. It can be stopped and restarted between chapters for ease of use. You will receive an ACP Training Certificate of Completion at the end of the session.

Thank you for joining us in this vital endeavor. Together, we can make a meaningful difference in the lives of individuals and families through advance care planning.