| Spotlight |
 |
|
Learn more about our featured bereavement
center Margaret Ann's Place by reading our Spotlight
article in this
newsletter. |
| "Safe Box " Activity |
|
Children
often find death by suicide confusing. As with any loss,
children may feel like their whole world is crashing
down on them. To help them feel safe and secure,
consider creating a "safe box." This activity is
appropriate for children ages 4 years and up and can
also be modified to create a "safe
place."
Materials:
- Small-medium
sized box, such as a shoe box
-
Decorative paper or wrapping paper
-
Magazines appropriate for collage
-
School-glue or glue-stick
- Sculpey
clay
Instructions:
Talk with
children about common feelings related to death and
suicide. Encourage children to use paper or magazine
cut-outs to decorate their box with comforting images
that symbolize safety and security and will help to
reduce feelings of worry. Introduce a
discussion about worries and fears related to death,
suicide and the grief process. Encourage children to
create an image that is comforting to them with Sculpey
clay to help empower them when they may feel worried or
afraid. Have children add special objects, toys,
keepsakes and photographs to their box that they find
comforting and enjoy looking at or playing
with.
Special Note: Remember
that children dealing with suicide may be at risk for
complicated grief which may lead to post-traumatic
stress disorder (PTSD) or suicide attempts. Always make
a referral to a trained professional who specializes in
traumatic grief if you suspect a child is in danger. For
more information about warning signs in grieving
children, contact us at Info@hopingskills.com.
|
| Reaching Out to the
Community |
|
|
Do you want to work with grieving children
in funeral homes? Click here
to learn more about our Outreach Program for the Community
& Funeral Homes.
Hoping Skills Company has the only
program, complete with a 154 page program manual that
instructs child life specialists, counselors,
social workers and therapists how to branch
out into funeral homes and how to prepare, support and
educate children and families for wakes, funerals
or memorial
services. |
| U.S.
Grief Centers and Bereavement Programs
We have compliled the most comprehensive
resource list of over 600 national grief centers and
bereavement programs. Click here to
view our list! |
|
|
|
|
| Top Pick Grief
Resource |
 |
|
Looking for a small,
cost-effective grief resource? This pocket-sized booklet
offers support, guidance and solace to individuals who
are grieving the loss of a loved one or friend.
With over 500,000 copies sold and
distributed to hospice programs, hospitals and those who
are grieving, this 24-page resource is a terrific gift
or give-away at only $2.50.
|
|
Are
You Looking for Funding for Bereavement
Supplies?
Consider contacting your local
Kiwanis
Club or Lyons
Club. If you work in a hospital, you may want
to inquire about funding through
your development office or women's auxiliary
for funding. At Hoping Skills Company we are always
interested in finding creative ways to meet the needs of
grieving children and families. If you are having
trouble securing funding for our bereavement
supplies, contact us. We would be happy to strategize
with you!
Do
you have ideas for funding? Let us know so that we can
share your great ideas with
others!
|
|
|
|
| |
|
Hello Newsletter
Subscriber,
At Hoping Skills Company we strive
to reach every grieving child and adult to assist them
through the journey of grief. It is our hope that these
newsletters will help connect professionals who work in
bereavement programs to other professionals working
in the field of grief and bereavement. By sharing
ideas, resources and stories we believe that we can
best support grieving children and
families. |
| Coping with Traumatic
Loss |
 |
|
Families
dealing with a traumatic loss often experience a
multitude of grief reactions early in the grief process.
Dealing with a loss that is often sudden and
unanticipated brings an overwhelming sense of shock and
disbelief as well as a sense of vulnerability and
insecurity. Although each family member will grieve in
his own unique way, adults can expect that children may
be scared, worried, or very concerned about the future.
While these reactions are certainly normal, a child will
require reassurance that this type of loss is extremely
rare. Below are some additional ways to help a child
cope:
-
Discuss events in easy to understand,
age-appropriate terms. Although less may be more, be
sure to tell the truth otherwise children may become
confused.
-
Encourage adults to show their own emotions and
to model appropriate responses. It's important for
adults to model safe expressions of feelings and allow
children to see that they can still function during
and after stressful/upsetting situations.
-
Inquire about how a child is feeling but do not
perseverate. Clarify misconceptions surrounding the
loss by asking a child what he knows about the
situation and what he may be thinking. When a child is
ready to talk, be sure to give your full attention and
listen carefully.
-
Maintain regular schedules and routines.
Recognize that other stressors and losses can make a
traumatic loss even more difficult to deal with.
-
Involve children in rituals and ceremonies that
allow them the opportunity say goodbye and commemorate
the person who died.
-
Encourage children to draw pictures or write
letters to express themselves.
-
Help a child memorialize a loved one through
storytelling, playing, creating art activities and
collecting keepsakes.
-
Give children the message
that the world is still a safe and fun place. Reassure
them about the future in hopeful ways. Let them plan
activities and special family
time.
-
Most importantly, encourage
adults to talk about their fears, take time to nurture
themselves, eat healthy and get plenty of
rest. |
 |
Help
for Communities Dealing with Suicide
|
Violent and traumatic death is
difficult to deal with at any age. In
Southeastern Wisconsin Margaret Ann's Place helps
to make sure that grieving children and families get the
support they need. With over 10 teenage suicides in
the past school year and an additional staggering amount
of adult related suicides, Program Director Ginger Heigl
reports that children and families in Kenosha
County are in desperate need of grief support,
educational resources and counseling referrals.
Margaret Ann's Place- Wisconsin's Center of Hope
for Grieving Children, is a community-based nonprofit
organization providing free grief support services to
grieving children and their families in four counties in
southeastern Wisconsin. Margaret Ann's Place recognizes
the value of peer support groups and provides
programming to children between the ages of 3 and
18 years of age throughout the Milwaukee, Waukesha,
Rancine and Kenosha counties. Staff members and
volunteers also provide workshops and consultations to
schools and telephone support.
Margaret Ann's Place recognizes that people
often need additional support. "Families really
appreciate our weekly electronic reminders in addition
to the educational, resourceful and inspirational
information we provide in our emails," said
Heigl. Margaret Ann's Place also provides free
grief related books for children, teens, young adults
and parents/caregivers, whether a family participates in
their support groups or not. "Unfortunately, we have
several families dealing with homicide. So we have
workbooks, literature and support groups to meet their
specific special needs related to coping with such a
violent death," said Heigl.
Serving over 200 children and 150 adults a
year, Margaret Ann'e Place, "does not seek to rescue
children and family but promises to be by their
side". For more information, contact Ginger Heigl
at Margaret Ann's Place by calling 866-455-HOPE.
|
|
| 15
Years Later: A Parent's Perspective
|
 The other
day I found a book I bought before my son Zachary was
born entitled, "Welcoming Your Second Baby". It actually
made me laugh but then it made me sigh. Interestingly
enough it didn't sting. Instead I felt a sense of
acceptance deep within my soul.
In
the past 15 years I have learned how individual
the journey of grief really is. As desperate as I
was to map out that journey towards healing, after my
son died, I realize now how true the saying is,
"It's not about the destination, it's about the
journey". With that said, I am so grateful
for the fellow travelers I have met along my
journey. From other bereaved individuals I have
learned that the path is similar, yet the terrain is
indeed different. I truly believe the losses that
connect us are also the invisible strands that
define us as individuals.
After 15 years I now
know that my grief does not own me. It is a part of
me, but it no way consumes me. On Zachary's 15th
birthday I have planned a trip to Arizona. A dear friend
has invited me to participate in a Huichol Indian tribe
tradition in which an altar is built to offer prayers
and blessings. It is there that I will leave a memento
from Zachary's short, but inspirational life. Just
another stop on my journey.
Linda Crawford,
Co-founder of Hoping Skills Company, LLC.
This newsletter is written and
distributed by Hoping Skills Company,
LLC.
Copyright © 2008, Hoping Skills
Company,
LLC. |
|
|
| |
