AFCCA Advocacy Updates August 23 – AZDHS Special Licensing

Thursday, August 17, representatives from AFCCA and AZ Capitol Consulting met with Tom Salow (Assistant Director of Licensing), Megan McMinn (Office Chief, Office of Special Licensing), Carly Fleege (Policy Advisor) and Natasha Culbertson at the AZDHS Bureau of Special Licensing. Overall we thought the meeting went well. For those who are not aware, Natasha Culbertson did transfer over to the Department. Marissa did as well, but has since left. So there are still people who …

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AFCCA Supports the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act

As you may know, the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act, which would bring necessary minimum federal standards to the largely unregulated process of whole body donation, has been reintroduced in the 118th Congress. NFDA’s one-pager one the bill is attached. Read the bill text here: https://www.congress.gov/bill/118th-congress/house-bill/4275/text?s=1&r=1&q={“search”%3A%5B”HR+4275″%5D} Many times when talking with Congressional offices, they ask if the State Associations also support the legislation.  NFDA plans to send a profession-wide letter to the sponsors of …

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2023 AFCCA 13th Annual Conference Recap

Thank you to all who attended and made it the success that it was. This year’s theme was to “Agents of Transformation.” Being an agent of transformation in the deathcare profession is a profound and purposeful role. It is important to understand the significance of guiding and supporting individuals and families through the difficult and often overwhelming process of end-of-life arrangements. AFCCA and its members strive to challenge the traditional norms and create a more …

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NFDA Celebrates Members for Excellence in Service to Families and Communities

2023 Pursuit of Excellence Award honorees will be recognized during the NFDA International Convention & Expo The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) is delighted to announce the funeral businesses that earned a 2023 Pursuit of Excellence Award. For more than 40 years, NFDA has presented this award to firms that have demonstrated a commitment to raising the bar on funeral service excellence by adhering to strict ethical and professional standards and providing outstanding service to …

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Contradiction in OSHA’s Crane and Derricks Construction Standard

The National Concrete Burial Vault Association brought to our attention of an error in the online (only) version of the “OSHA’s Crane and Derricks Construction Standard” that states that the movement/placement of burial vaults is a construction activity, when in fact there was a 2013 ruling that placing burial vaults is NOT a construction activity. Why This Matters The ruling in 2013 has equated a savings of thousands of dollars per burial vault company EACH …

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AFCCA Membership and Supplier Partners Dues Increase

As announced at the AFCCA Annual Conference Member’s Meeting, the AFCCA Board of Directors voted during the March 9 meeting to increase membership dues effective January 1, 2024. AFCCA’s expenses have increased dramatically over the past few years. In the past five years, we have had a 45% increase in expenses. This is due to increases in prices of services we utilize, the cost of running events such as the conference, and wage increases for contractors. …

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Congress Takes Significant Step to Regulate Body Brokers

The Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act would protect the dignity of donors and offer peace of mind to families. With the introduction of the Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act (S. 2191/H.R. 4275), Congress took a vital step toward bringing necessary minimum standards to the largely unregulated process of whole body donation. The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) thanks Sens. Chris Murphy (D-CT) and Thom Tillis (R-NC) and Reps. Gus Bilirakis (R-FL) and Lizzie …

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The ROI of Funeral Aftercare: What are the benefits?

BY INTERNATIONAL GRIEF INSTITUTE When a 15-year-old girl died in a car crash in 2009, her family logically turned to the funeral home to help. After all, the funeral home is where every grief journey starts. Yet, aside from a small collection of old books, the fourth-generation funeral home, the largest in the county, offered nothing. The family was shocked. It was as if they had walked through an inferno, suffered third degree burns, remained …

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Choose Your Own Adventure at the 2023 NFDA International Convention & Expo in Las Vegas

Embalming and slots? Business skills and the great outdoors? Las Vegas is known for having it all and, no matter what your interests, you can choose your own adventure at the 2023 National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) International Convention & Expo. Taking place September 10-13 (one month earlier than usual) in Las Vegas, Nevada, attendees can customize their NFDA Convention experience by choosing adventures to help them learn, grow, connect and return home refreshed, ready …

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Consumer Scam Alert

According to several NFDA members, scammers are at it again, this time targeting families you may have served recently. Using recently published obituaries, the scammer, posing as a member of you staff, calls families and tells them they owe another sum of money for the service or for graveside liability insurance. These scammers are even going as far as changing their caller ID listing to match or look similar to your Funeral Home Name when …

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