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June 18: Emergency Preparedness and Response Training Opportunity: Coping with Grief and Loss during Depopulation and Euthanasia

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TIME CHANGE: 3 pm EST June 18

Purpose/Objective: We will discuss how to connect with animal owners to help them cope with grief and loss during euthanasia and depopulation events.

The human element is a significant concern in emergency response because depopulation/euthanasia can exert long-lasting emotional and financial costs on animal caregivers and owners. During times of high stress and emotions, owners value a professional who is knowledgeable, competent, AND relatable—listens to them, acknowledges their insight, is flexible, and compassionate (demonstrates empathy).

This webinar will begin with a case study of the human dimensions of the 2001 FMD Outbreak in the UK from Dr. Doris Olander, DVM USDA APHIS-VS (Madison, WI) who was involved in the response. It will be followed with brief presentations from three other panel members on techniques for helping owners deal with grief and loss; knowing how to de-escalate a situation; and monitoring emergency personnel for emotional burnout and psychological distress. The presentations will be followed by a Q&A with panel members.

Panel Members:

  1. Dr. Doris Olander, DVM with USDA APHIS Veterinary Services.
  2. Dr. Phyllis Erdman, Professor in Counselling Psychology at Washington State University and author of a soon-to-be-published book on helping animal owners cope with grief and loss (Fall, 2019).
  3. Dr. Elizabeth Strand, Clinical Associate Professor in the Colleges of Social Work and Veterinary Medicine at the University of Tennessee-Knoxville who is launching a new certificate program in veterinary social work for animal health professionals this summer.
  4. Florence Soares-Dabalos, grief counselor at UC Davis who works with veterinary faculty on helping animal owners cope with grief and loss.

Webinar: June 18, 2019 3 PM EST

Participant Webinar Instructions

The webinar begins at 3:00 PM Eastern Time on June 18, 2019; you may join the conference 10 minutes prior.

Step 1: Dial into the conference.
Dial-in: 1-877-369-5243 or 1-617-668-3633
Access Code: 0878236##
Need an international dial-in number? Need an international dial-in number?

Step 2: Join the conference on your computer. Entry Link: https://ems8.intellor.com/login/815723 When you access the entry link above, you will be provided a choice – to install the WebEx plug-in for your preferred browser or to join the web conference using a temporary path. Either option is acceptable. Need technical assistance? Call the AT&T Help Desk at 1-888-796-6118 or 1-847-562-7015.

This webinar is open to APHIS personnel and external stakeholders. The webinar recording will be available one week from the date of delivery at the following link: https://www.aphis.usda.gov/aphis/ourfocus/animalhealth/training-and-development/video-gallery