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Unconsciously biased

Thursday, May 2, 2019

As reported by Joe Vanden Plas of In Business Magazine

Implicit bias does not make you a bad person or organization, but there is no longer an excuse for not taking steps to mitigate it.

Believe it or not, and like it or not, possessing implicit (unconscious) bias is part of being a human being. Diversity managers say it’s just the way the human brain works, so even if we view ourselves as tolerant people, we still are fallible in this manner.

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End-of-Life Care Advocate Dr. Ira Byock to Speak in Madison April 30

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

Dr. Ira Byock, a leading palliative care physician, author and public advocate for improving care through the end of life, will present “What Mortality Can Teach Us About Living,” in Madison on April 30. His visit co-hosted by Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care and University of Wisconsin Palliative Care.

Byock is author of “The Best Care Possible,” “The Four Things That Matter Most,” and “Dying Well.” The free presentation is open to the public and will take place Tuesday, April 30, at 6:15 p.m., at the Madison Public Library – Sequoya Branch, 4340 Tokay Blvd., Madison.

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Agrace Hosts Free Summer Camp for Kids Coping with Grief

Wednesday, April 24, 2019

As reported by Baraboo News Republic

Children in southern Wisconsin who have experienced the death of a loved one can find help coping with grief at three free, half-day summer camps hosted by grief specialists from Agrace HospiceCare.

Children five years old or older who are grieving the death of a person are invited to attend one or more camp sessions. The camp is open to any grieving child; they do not need to live near Baraboo or be related to an Agrace HospiceCare patient.

The three half-day sessions run from 9 a.m. to noon at the Baraboo Civic Center, 124 2nd Street in Baraboo. Sessions for children only will be held Tuesday, June 25, and Thursday, July 11. A session on Saturday, August 3, is for both children and their parents or guardians. Participants can choose among the dates; if space permits, it may be possible to attend more than one session. There is no cost to attend, but attendees must pre-register by calling (608) 327-7118 or visiting agrace.org/supportgroup.

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Agrace Thrift Store to Celebrate Achieving Dementia-friendly Status at April 18 Ceremony

Thursday, April 11, 2019

Thanks to special staff training, the Agrace Thrift Store on Madison’s West Side is being recognized as “dementia-friendly” by the Aging & Disability Resource Center (ADRC) of Dane County.

On Thursday, April 18, at 10:30 a.m., Agrace Thrift Store–West staff, volunteers and supporters will host a ceremony celebrating the store’s new “dementia-friendly” status. The community is invited to dress in purple for dementia awareness and visit the store at 118 Junction Road, Madison, for a ribbon-cutting presentation.

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Agrace’s González Joins National Hospice Diversity Council

Thursday, January 31, 2019

Brenda González, diversity manager for Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, has been selected to serve on the Diversity Advisory Council of the National Hospice and Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO).

Since 2016, González has led Agrace’s efforts to improve access to hospice and palliative care among multicultural and underserved patients. She also helps ensure that Agrace’s staff and volunteer workforce reflects the diversity of the communities it serves. She coordinates medical interpreter services for Agrace patients and their families who need language assistance, guides Agrace’s Advancing Equity & Inclusion Committee and leads opportunities for local students of color to learn about career opportunities with Agrace.

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Agrace Brings Hospice Care to Platteville Area; Volunteers Sought

Thursday, January 17, 2019

PLATTEVILLE, Wis. — People who are in the final months of life in eastern Grant, Lafayette and western Iowa counties now have greater access to high-quality home hospice care. Agrace HospiceCare, the largest nonprofit hospice based in Wisconsin, has expanded its service area locally and opened an office in Platteville at 1015 N. Elm Street.

Agrace started in Madison, where it has offered end-of-life care for 40 years. In the past six years Agrace has steadily extended its services into Wisconsin counties where there is limited access to local in-home end-of-life care. The agency also has offices in Baraboo and Rockford, Ill., and hospice inpatient units in Madison and Janesville.

Adding more of southwest Wisconsin to its service area is a decision passionately supported by Agrace staff who grew up in or now live in these areas, including Kristy Scoville, a registered nurse and clinical team manager from Blanchardville. “This expansion is important to me because this is the area where I grew up. I have family and friends in this area and would love for them to have the choice of excellent care at the end of life,” Scoville said.

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Agrace Receives Dorothy Height Award for Diversity in the Workplace

Monday, November 26, 2018

Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care has been named recipient of the 2018 YWCA Rock County Dorothy Height Award for Diversity in the Workplace. The award was presented to Agrace’s Tami Kellerman, Brenda Gonzalez and past Foundation Board Member Linda Krohn at the fourth Annual YWCA Rock County Racial Justice Conference “Building Bridges to Eliminate Racism” on November 8.

The Dorothy Height Award for Diversity in the Workplace recognizes a business within Rock County that demonstrates that it recognizes the strengths provided by racial diversity. The business must also exhibit a sustained commitment in the pursuit of cultural diversity, inclusion and retention in the workplace.

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Hospice Patient Sees Packer Game in Wish Come True

Monday, November 19, 2018

Francis Thompson, an 86-year-old Prairie du Sac resident and life-long Green Bay Packers fan, had a wish come true October 15 when he was able to attend the Packers’ Monday Night Football game at Lambeau Field. Francis’ wish was made possible by his Baraboo-based nurse, CNA and social worker from Agrace HospiceCare.

“After a lifetime of watching the Packers play, this was Francis’ first time seeing them play in person,” said Tina Hohn, Thompson’s nurse case manager with Agrace. “Francis talks about it every time I see him. He says, ‘I still can’t believe I made it to the game!’”

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Editorial: Step up to help Agrace meet matching grant

Friday, October 5, 2018

Agrace Hospice & Palliative Care, the area nonprofit that regularly is praised for the quality of its end of life services to thousands of local people, needs your help.

Back in August, a group of donors in honor of Agrace’s 40th anniversary combined to pledge $400,000 to the nonprofit’s campaign to raise money for its “Care for All” endowment.

Just one catch: The donations required Agrace to raise a matching $400,000 by Oct. 14.

Unfortunately, the campaign is in danger of falling short of the match. While Agrace has been able to raise $250,000, it needs some good donations in the coming week to reach the match.

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