Lt. Jim Byers, Tissue Recipient & Donor Dad
Community Partners
A team of dedicated and compassionate individuals work together to help ensure that each organ or tissue donation reaches those in need. Each of our professional partners plays a crucial role in the donation process. Their expertise and expediency help pave the way for others to receive the Gift of Life.
Schools, Driver’s Edu. & Colleges
For more information, please visit:
https://donatelifecalifornia.org/education/educator-resources/
Department of Motor Vehicles
For more information, please visit:
https://www.dmv.ca.gov/portal/dmv
Hospitals
Sierra Donor Services partners with all hospitals in our Service area. We serve the communities in the following counties Amador, Calaveras, Colusa, El Dorado, Nevada, Placer, Sacramento, Sierra, Sutter, Yolo, Yuba, and the city of Santa Rosa. The hospital’s primary goal is to save their patients’ lives. It is only when all lifesaving efforts have been exhausted or death has been declared that the hospital notifies SDS. Collaboration with our hospitals ensures continued support of the families who rely on us.
Funeral Homes
“Sierra Donor Services and its funeral home partners are here to serve the community. They work together to ensure the desire to give life through donation is carried out with respect and dignity for both donors and donor families.”
Jack Adams, CFSP, MBIE
Funeral Services Pioneer
Sierra Donor Services works in close partnership with funeral homes to serve families and honor the decision to donate. SDS ensures the wish to give and improve life, along with the desire for a meaningful funeral, will be fulfilled. SDS is available to provide education to funeral homes about organ and tissue donation and to assist on a case-by-case basis. SDS has a staff position dedicated specifically to supporting funeral homes in meeting the needs of donor families.
Funeral Home professionals may contact our support staff (Christopher Donhost, Funeral Services Liaison), a licensed funeral director and embalmer, for additional information about our services.
Together, we help save and improve lives through organ and tissue donation.
RESOURCES
Best Practices for Cooperation Among Tissue Banks and Funeral Service Professionals
The National Funeral Directors Association (NFDA) recently updated guidelines to strengthen the relationship between donation professionals and funeral directors as they work together to honor the wishes of the donor and serve families. Sierra Donor Services’ close partnership with funeral homes ensures the highest professional standards are met.
If you would like more information, please use these links to additional donation-related web sites and resources.
- Academy of Professional Funeral Service Practice
- AlloSource
- American Society of Embalmers
- Association for Death Education and Counseling
- Association of Organ Procurement Organizations
- California Funeral Directors Association
- Center for Loss and Life Transition
- The Compassionate Friends Grief Support
- Cremation Association of North America
- CryoLife Inc.
- National Association of Medical Examiners
- National Funeral Directors & Morticians Association
- National Funeral Directors Association
Our Funeral Services Liaison and other staff members are ready to assist and support you in your donation efforts. If you have questions or need assistance, please contact Chris Donhost.
Chris Donhost
Funeral Services Liaison
916.678.6015