The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards

?Interested in shaping the future of the National Board Exam? Join us! ?The Conference will be hosting two NBE Item Writing Workshops this summer. We are looking for licensed funeral directors and embalmers who have passed the NBE-Arts & NBE-Sciences to apply. ??No experience in exam development is required as training and mentorship is provided. Space is limited and participants will be chosen to represent the diversity of funeral service licensees across the country. ???Participation may also be recognized for continuing education within your state. ??Apply here: https://lnkd.in/dQB24s_r #funeralservice #regulation #nbe

I just got back from the 121st Annual Meeting of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards, where I spent time with funeral industry regulators discussing the challenges and future of funeral service. One thing stood out—many in the industry aren’t familiar with death doulas or how we can work together to create more meaningful experiences for families. These conversations reinforced something I’ve known for a long time: when funeral providers and death doulas collaborate, families benefit. We support people at different points in the end-of-life journey, but our work naturally fits together. By working in partnership, we can help families feel more prepared, less overwhelmed, and more confident that their loved one’s wishes are honored. In my latest blog post, I explore practical ways we can strengthen these partnerships—from referrals to joint education efforts to community workshops. If we truly want to serve families well, it starts with connection and collaboration. Read more here: https://lnkd.in/g8Js8A3H

This last week I had the opportunity to participate in the 121st Annual meeting of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards. It was an honor for me to attend as part of the Exam Development team AKA National Board Exam Committee. There were some really great presentations made and I’d like to briefly share some bullet points of some takeaways I had from my attendance. 1. When discussing regulation of the funeral profession, we must be able to look the public in the face and tell them that minimum competency has been met or you may be failing the public you’ve been called to protect 2. When a “Standardization of Deviance” is allowed, there is a slow progression away from norms, and professional standards slowly fades away, which leads to improper conduct becoming the norm. 3. ” Laws will only keep honest people honest”, but regulating the funeral profession allows for the dishonest, or “Bad Actors,” to be penalized when they choose to deviate from the regulations of the profession. 4. Society at large is asking for a frictionless experience when achieving licensure, but that doesn’t allow for licensure candidates to prove they are competent. 5. One path to help with the labor shortage in the funeral profession is talking to young people about the profession and being visible. Young people won’t seek out the funeral profession if it is never presented to them as an option. 6. To help with the labor shortage, we must also balance accessibility to licensing with the safeguards put in place to protect the public. 7. DMORT is often dispatched when disasters take place. The size of what is constituted a “disaster” is determined by the number of local first responders and last responders that are located in the area. A disaster could range from 17 to thousands of fatalities. 8. Small housekeeping items such as identification tags being placed on decedents and inside the casket allows for quick and easy identification when caskets are displaced during floods and natural disasters. 9. Each state in the United States needs to review its laws regarding the donation of tissue, bone, and full bodies. If there aren’t laws prohibiting the “sale” of human remains, body brokers will find ways of selling remains to the highest bidder without family members' knowledge. The Consensual Donation and Research Integrity Act, which is currently a bill sitting on Capitol Hill, could help give those that choose full body donation much more peace of mind. 10. Donation is a life-saving opportunity, and the public should be aware of the opportunity for each decedent to donate lifesaving bones and tissue. I’d like to thank Dalene Paull, the Board of Directors of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards and The Conference Staff for all that that do to put these annual meetings together. You are appreciated!!!

Thank you to The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards for honoring the Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies with the President’s Award! Up until last year, Colorado was the only state that didn’t have a law to require state licensure of funeral home professionals. ?? While this was not on my career bingo card - I am so thankful to play a part in protecting people in their most vulnerable moments. #consumerprotection

? That’s a wrap! ?? Thank you to all who attended the ICFSEB 121st Annual Meeting. Our organization’s success is a direct result of your participation. ??? We encourage you to educate your fellow board members on the work that The Conference does and the support we provide for regulatory boards. ?? We hope to see you next year in Louisville, Kentucky, for continued conversations regarding regulation in funeral service. #funeralservice #regulation #icfseb

We're saluting the success of another valuable member of Team TDCI! Tennessee Board of Funeral Directors & Embalmers Executive Director Robert Gribble was recognized on Wednesday, February 26th at the annual meeting of The International Conference of Funeral Service Examining Boards (ICFSEB) in Palm Springs, Ca. Mr. Gribble has served for the past six years as a board member of ICFSEB, representing Arkansas, Missouri, Illinois, Kentucky, and Tennessee, and was honored particularly for his work on the professional policy and finance committees. The organization is primarily known for providing national board examinations that individuals must pass to become licensed funeral directors and embalmers. The organization offers regulatory support to member boards and agencies that involves helping to maintain standards and best practices within the funeral service profession. Additionally, it promotes professionalism and competency within the funeral service field. Pictured are Dalene Paull (Executive Director of The Conference), Robert Gribble, and Marty Rieken (President of The Conference). Congratulations, Mr. Gribble! #Tennessee #licensedprofessionals

?? Day 2 Rewind! ??The Conference extends its utmost gratitude to Danielle McCarthy, Patty Salazar, Sam Delp, and Rep. Matt Soper from who opened the day with a fantastic presentation on the state’s regulatory journey and the impacts of unlicensed practice. ?? The Colorado Department of Regulatory Agencies received the President’s Award for their vital work in reforming funeral service legislation in Colorado. ?? We added another name to the Red Name Tag Club! Congrats to Arkansas’ Amy Goode whose five consecutive years of meetingattendance earned her a specialized Conference name tag! 3?? ICFSEB Executive Director Dalene Paull gave a heartfelt goodbye to THREE board members — Robert Gribble, Rodney McFarland Sr., & Charles Perine. The membership elected three new members and re-elected Gina Sanchez and Kortney Adams to its Board of Directors. Congratulations to Rondal DeMale Bowden, Chris Howard, and Matalie Mickens! We look forward to your contributions. ?? Our final congratulatory announcement goes to Karen Carruthers who was elected to serve as ICFSEB President! Thank you to immediate Past President Marty Rieken for a wonderful year of devoted leadership. ?Stay tuned for Day 3! #icfseb #funeralservice #regulation

?? and we’re off! ?? Thank you Conference Legal Counsel Dale Atkinson for leading off the 121st ICFSEB Annual Meeting! ??? So many great ideas and thoughts being shared in Regulatory Board Service 101 today! #ICFSEB #TheConference #Regulation #regulators

??Speaker Spotlight?? ?? The Conference is pleased to announce that one of our very own board members will be presenting on the regulation of anatomical donation during the ICFSEB 121st Annual Meeting! ?? Lacyn Barton, ICFSEB District 2 Director, is a licensed funeral director and embalmer who has dedicated herself to funeral service for more than 22 years. She has been a Funeral Service Licensee in Virginia for 9 years and currently serves as President of the Virginia Board of Funeral Directors and Embalmers. ??? Garan Shaw is an advocate for responsible human tissue and organ donation, with a personal journey that has shaped his commitment to these critical issues. As a co-presenter, he will share his powerful story and offer insights into the significance of human tissue and organ donation, addressing both the ethical and emotional aspects of this vital topic. ??Joins us in Palm Springs to listen to this presentation and more! Register here: https://lnkd.in/gTq_VTTe

??Speaker Spotlight?? ?? John is a member of the federal Disaster Mortuary Operational Response Team and serves as the deputy commander of the Region III team. He has been deployed in different roles to many national and international incidents, including the aftermaths of the September 11th attacks, Hurricane Katrina, and the Haiti earthquake. ?? The Conference is very excited to have him share his wisdom with our membership in Palm Springs, CA. Come join us! ?? You can still sign up for the ICFSEB 121st Annual Meeting today! Visit our website for more info: https://lnkd.in/gTq_VTTe