1. S U E R A F F E R T Y , L M S W
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Provides and coordinates bereavement services for families and significant others of VNA
Hospice patients in Dallas County. Coordinates and facilitates bereavement support groups,
workshops, luncheons, and a yearly memorial service for hospice families and bereaved adults in
Dallas County. Assists with integrating grief counseling and support into the work of the
Hospice Interdisciplinary Team. Provides social work services nights and weekends as part of
the on-call team at VNA.
WORK EXPERIENCE
 Participates in interdisciplinary team conferences to assist in assessing needs of the bereaved
 Provides bereavement assessments, support, counseling, and resources for bereaved family
members or significant others during the 13 month period following the patient’s death.
 Assures assessments are clearly documented and appropriate interventions planned and
implemented according to bereavement plan of care
 Ensures that all approved bereavement support letters and literature are sent in a timely
fashion
 Coordinates and facilitates bereavement support groups, workshops, luncheons, and a yearly
memorial service for hospice families and bereaved adults in Dallas County
 Provides referrals for community bereavement support services and other resources
 Contributes articles, edits, and oversees production of VNA’s quarterly bereavement
newsletter, Sharing the Journey
 Provides supervision and training for hospice bereavement volunteers
 Provides consultation, support, and resources to staff, patients and families on bereavement
issues as requested
 Serves as a resource to callers from the community referred by 211 and other organizations;
provides bereavement information and referrals.
 Provides information to other departments within VNA to promote hospice bereavement
services.
 Provides social work visits and support for nights and weekends as part of the on-call
rotation with the social work team
EDUCATION
1997-2000
 University of Texas at Arlington, School of Social Work
 Master’s of Social Work, GPA 4.0/4.0
1972-1976
 Bowling Green State University, Bowling Green, Ohio
 Bachelor of Music in Education GPA 3.73/4.0

2. CAREER CHRONOLOGY
3-2002 to Present
VNA Hospice Dallas, TX
Bereavement Coordinator and Social Worker
7-2001 to 2-2002
VNA Children’s Home Health and Hospice Social Worker
Provided support and resources to families with children on hospice and home health service,
provided resources and support to teenage mothers and mothers of multiples
9-1997 to 6-2000
Field placements while earning Master of Social Work degree:
Vitas Hospice: Assisted with social work and bereavement program
State Senator Mike Moncrief’s office: Outreach and constituent assistance
VNA: Assisted with grant writing and proposals, community outreach, hospice bereavement
program
1983 to 1997
Homemaker, mother, and home educator for three children, including teaching kindergarten
through seventh grade. Owned, managed, and renovated rental duplex.
1976 to 1983
Various positions: accounts receivable clerk for Asel Art in Dallas; fee payments cashier,
collections cashier, bad check collections, and accounts receivable clerk for Bowling Green State
University, Bowling Green, Ohio; waitress and service coordinator for Dutch Pantry restaurant,
Bowling Green, Ohio.
CAREER RELATED ACTIVITIES
 Steering Committee, Bereavement Coordinators Association, Dallas, 2006 to present
 Volunteer facilitator for GriefShare and Love Never Dies grief support programs, Gateway
Church, Southlake, TX, 2012-present
 Represented VNA as part of a panel discussion about bereavement on CounselingWorks Now
radio program on KWRD, August 2012
 Presented at TNMHO Bereavement Coordinator Fly-In, September 2011
 Promoted VNA and talked about bereavement services, WRR Classic Café, Nov. 2011
 Dallas NASW Social Work Student of the Year, 2000
 Stephen Minister, Plymouth Park United Methodist Church, Irving, TX, 1995-1996
CONTACT INFORMATION
Sue Rafferty, LMSW
Office: VNA, 1600 Viceroy, Suite 400, Dallas, TX 75235
Office phone: 214-689-2922 Work cell: 972-215-6128
Home: 3605 Encanto Circle, Irving, TX 75062
Personal cell: 469-438-8605