ADEC Professional Development Courses

ADEC Professional Development Courses - Deadline January 15, 2010
2011-2013 Introduction to Thanatology: Dying, Death and Bereavement

ADEC is seeking a dynamic, experienced individual or individuals to serve as instructor to ADEC's 2011-2013 Introduction to Thanatology: Dying, Death and Bereavement professional development course. This course will be offered prior to the ADEC Annual Conference on the following dates and locations over the next three years:

Course dates for Miami, Florida USA – June 21-22, 2011
Course dates for Atlanta, Georgia USA – March 27-28, 2012
Dates for 2013 have not been established yet.

In addition, ADEC is exploring opportunities to deliver its professional development courses at additional dates and locations to be determined and welcomes applicants for teaching the introductory course who would be available to consider such opportunities. 

Your application will be reviewed by the committee; finalists for the position will then be asked to meet with the Professional Development Committee in Kansas City, Missouri, USA for an interview. Date and Time will be announced at a later date. 

All professional development course instructors will receive a stipend for teaching. To submit an application for consideration as an instructor for the Introduction to Thanatology: Dying, Death and Bereavement, Click Here.

Course Description:
This course gives an overview and summary of the field of Thanatology based upon the Body of Knowledge published by ADEC. It explores the social, cultural, psychological, legal/ethical, and spiritual issues raised by illness, dying, death, and bereavement. All information is relevant to everyday life and most specifically to those practitioners providing support to the dying and bereaved.  The course will explore the meaning of death and examine personal attitudes and fears, in order to understand the grieving process and basic grief support throughout the life span.

Course Objectives:
At the completion of the course, the participant will be able to:

1.      Identify the six categories and twelve indicators which form the Body of Knowledge as   
         delineated in the Handbook of Thanatology (Balk, 2007).
2.      Describe historical, contemporary and cross-cultural perspectives of death and dying.
3.      Explain the social, cultural, psychological and spiritual aspects of death, dying and
         bereavement, including ceremonies and rituals.
4.      Describe the understandings of the death experience related to a life span development.
5.      Identify legal/ethical/technological issues pertinent to the death experience.
6.      Describe the various models of the grief experience.
7.      Identify ways in which caring people may assist the dying and bereaved with basic grief
         support.
8.      Describe how research guides clinical practice and the importance of bridging the gap
         between clinicians and researchers.
9.      Explore personal beliefs and feelings related to the death experience.
10.    Differentiate between formal and informal death education.