Griefcare Place Inc

Programs: Adult support groups to provide a safe place where grievers gather together, under the guidance of trained facilitators, to educate, encourage and uplift one another through the grieving and healing process. This year over 1,700 attendee hours were held, 145 group support meetings were scheduled with an additional 232 varied sessions presented. Approximately 358 grievers attended group sessions led by trained facilitators. Needs related to specific types of death were met as widowed women, widowed men, bereaved parents, after suicide, moving ahead, other adult losses and children's groups met with peers for sharing and encouragement. Because the sessions all have a progressive focus, attendees are led on a "grief journey- and supported from heartache to healing. Each person is unique, so no one is given a definite time limit, although each has healing as a goal

specialty groups workshops, leader training, masters' degree practicum programming and speakers' bureaus serve to educate those who wish to support the bereaved in the community and within their circle of clients, co-workers, students, etc. 36 attended workshops; leader training produced 9 potential leaders, several for service in churches and other outside groups; 60 grievers were involved in a local church ministry. The community at large is invited to join regular attendees for two special holiday sessions. Many suggestions and tips are given along with multiple hand-out/take home materials, work- sheets, information and other helps for ideas that may make holidays more bearable. "helpful hints for holiday hurts" is presented prior to thanksgiving and prior to christmas.

children six-week group sessions are scheduled three times per year with 10-15 students, ages 6-12, attending, and a 3-day summer kids' camp is held, also, with 10-22 children. Each of the sessions begins and ends by including parents/guardians in workshops that provide adults with information "how to help your grieving child- and with materials that are age specific. At the end of the year a session is held for the purpose of providing support and activity throughout the holiday season. A licensed therapist leads every children's session.

the clinical advisory board, made up of all clinicians, oversees policies related to program sessions, suggests ideas about topics, provides leadership for any ceu offerings, works with the psychology dept. At a local university and provides supervision for practicum students, fills community speaking requests, and provides leader training. This board is a critical piece of the entire program portion of the griefcare place. Because the current dsm now recognizes grief as a specific diagnosis, professional input is even more important than before. Individual counseling is available for those who need or want a therapy program that supplements group offerings. This counseling is provided by a therapist, one who is a member of our clinical advisory board, in collaboration with a local, private counseling center. The griefcare place maintains a library with many printed and av resources. It contains not only materials borrowed by attendees and other community grievers, but contains a section with information for those who want to help the bereaved. In addition to support, groups provide information with take-home, hand-out materials to educate the attendees about the normal grieving/healing process. Community education about grief is done through our speaker's bureau which is available to schools, churches, organizations, the workplace, extended care facilities, etc. A more formal education is done with our practicum program for university students.