Elisabeth Kubler-Ross foundation
The Elisabeth Kubler-Ross foundation is one of our strong associates in this mission, not only the current President and Board Members but supporting of in the spirit of Elisabeth Kübler-Ross herself who in 1984-85 advocated for dignity in the dying process of prisoners . We look forward to our continued shared work together both locally and internationally. ekrfoundation.org
We Thank Mission Hospice for their support and passion in this mission!
“Mission Hospice serves patients and families in the San Mateo and Santa Clara County area with quality, compassionate end-of-life care and education. Founded in 1979, this local, independent nonprofit has supported thousands of patients and their families through illness and bereavement.”
In 2018, former CEO Lisa Deal, RN, MPH, ScD, presented at the National Partnership for Hospice Innovation summit, with the hope that a national standard of care can be developed for those dying in prison, and that prison hospice volunteers will receive the training they need to support their fellow inmates.
The Shanti Project (Shanti)
In 2018, Human Prison Hospice Project began partnering with Shanti Project (Shanti) as co-facilitators of the Brothers’ Keeper program at San Quentin State Prison. Shanti is a pioneering nonprofit that builds human connections to reduce isolation and improve quality of life for San Franciscans. Shanti believes that meaningful relationships are essential for navigating life’s most difficult challenges. Every day, Shanti combats the human suffering that can accompany isolation or illness through the power of personal connection. To learn more about Shanti, please visit https://www.shanti.org.
David Jordan serves as Shanti’s ambassador in San Quentin as the main facilitator of the Brothers’ Keeper program . In 2009, David joined Shanti as a Client Advocate and Care Navigator with Shanti’s HIV Services program. Since then, he transitioned to Program Manager of the San Francisco HIV Community Planning Council. With over 15 years of experience in the non-profit sector, David has demonstrated expertise and commitment to advocacy and education, specifically serving elders, youth, and people living with HIV. Brothers Keepers is a group of prisoners in San Quentin trained in peer crisis counseling. The group was formed in 2005 by prisoners and facilitated by Marcia Blackstock and Diane Beynon then heads of Bay Area Women Against Rape. The prisoners (one of those spear heading the endeavor was Marvin Mutch who was incarcerated at that time) formed the group after a beloved fellow prisoner hung himself in his cell after a seemingly routine breakfast. The group was formed to help prevent death by suicide in prison. They are thoroughly vetted through an application and interview process conducted by members of Brothers Keepers and require a 100% approval by the current members in order to be accepted into the training. After graduation they meet twice a month for case conferences and ongoing trainings. After they are more settled into their roles as Brothers Keepers Humane Prison Hospice Project takes them through an 8 week Compassionate End of Life Care training, something the Brothers Keepers have requested for years; the Brothers Keepers know people are aging and dying around them, and the soul of the Brothers Keepers is to serve and comfort.
Ninth Convening of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Open-Ended Working Group on Aging
Thanks to Advisory Board Member, Katherine Pettus’ guidance, Humane Prison Hospice Project is first to represent aging prison population, here at the United Nations’ Ninth Convening of the Department of Economic and Social Affairs’ Open-Ended Working Group on Aging
Katherine Pettus, with Co-Founders, Sandra Fish, Marvin Mutch
—July 2018.