Why Become an Advance Care Planning Facilitator?

Help People Make Their Wishes Known. Empower Families. Strengthen Communities.

Advance Care Planning (ACP) is a gift we can give each other.

It’s the process of helping people think through and document what kind of health care they would want if they could no longer speak for themselves. As a certified advance care planning facilitator, you guide individuals alongside their friends and families through these deeply personal decisions with compassion and clarity.

Here’s why your role matters:

Provide Clarity During Crisis

When medical emergencies happen, medical or mental health, friends and families are often left guessing about their loved one’s wishes. Facilitators ensure that people’s voices are heard—especially when they can’t speak for themselves.

Support Conversations

These decisions are often complex and nuanced. Your guidance helps people talk openly and honestly with their friends and families, reducing stress, guilt, and conflict during difficult times.

Advocate for Dignity and Autonomy

Everyone deserves to have their values and choices respected. As a facilitator, you help individuals maintain control over their health care, even when they can’t advocate for themselves.

Create a Culture of Preparedness

Facilitators play a key role in normalizing advance care planning in communities across Virginia. You help others take a proactive step toward peace of mind.

Gain Meaningful Skills

Whether you’re a health professional, social worker, faith leader, peer, or community volunteer, becoming an ACP facilitator builds valuable communication, empathy, and planning skills.

Who Can Become an Advance Care Planning Facilitator?

You Don’t Need to Be a Lawyer to Help with Advance Directives

In Virginia, trained professionals and volunteers can legally help people complete and sign advance directives—without being lawyers.

This means that:

How To Become an Advance Care Planning Facilitator?

Ready to Make a Difference?

Learn more about training opportunities, state certification programs, and how you can join the network of facilitators supporting Virginians in making informed, compassionate choices about their future health care.

Becoming a Facilitator in Virginia

Roles & Responsibilities for Advance Care Planning Facilitators

It is of utmost importance that all certified facilitators maintain ethical standards in their practice. These guidelines promote trust, respect, and high-quality support for individuals and their supporters in making important healthcare decisions:

Respect for Autonomy

Informed Decision-Making

Ensure individuals understand the purpose and implications of advance care planning and advance directives.
Ensure individuals understand the purpose and implications of their decisions to include or not include information in their plans.
Present information clearly, using accessible language and tools appropriate to their needs and literacy levels.

Confidentiality

Cultural Humility

Neutrality and Non-Coercion

Clarity and Accuracy

Compassionate Presence

Collaboration and Communication

Commitment to Competence

Advocacy and Empowerment

Ethics for Advance Care Planning Facilitators

Respect Each Person’s Choices

Everyone has the right to make their own health care decisions. As a facilitator, your role is to listen and support them—never to push them in one direction or tell them what to do. The choices should be theirs alone.

Help People Understand their Options

ACP can feel confusing. Your job is to explain things in a simple way so people understand what an advance directive is and what it means. They should be able to ask questions and feel confident about the decisions they make.

Keep Information Private

People may share very personal thoughts and wishes with you. It’s important to keep this information private and safe. Don’t share anything they tell you unless they say it’s okay or the law requires it.

Respect Different Backgrounds and Beliefs

Everyone is different. Some people may have strong cultural or religious beliefs about health, family, or end-of-life care. Be open-minded and respectful, and don’t make assumptions. Let them guide the conversation in a way that feels right for them.

Stay Neutral and Don’t Give Legal Advice

Your job is to help—not to tell people what decisions to make or give legal opinions. It’s okay to read the form out loud, talk through their wishes, or help them fill it out—but don’t tell them what’s legally best for them. If someone needs legal help, connect them to the right person.

Be Kind and Clear

This process can be emotional. Be patient, speak clearly, and give people the time they need. Use simple language and make sure they really understand what they’re choosing.

Work Together and Help People Talk

Many times, people need to talk with family or health care providers to make a plan that works for everyone. You can help start those conversations and make sure the plan is written down and shared.

Keep Learning

Laws and health care rules can change. Keep your knowledge and skills up to date so you can give the best support possible. Training and practice will help you feel confident and ready.

Support and Empower Others

Your role is to help people speak up for what matters most to them. Everyone deserves a chance to plan ahead—no matter their background, income, or health status. Help them feel informed, heard, and in control.