2011 HCI Annual Report - Hospice Caring

The statistics are staggering.
According to a literature review by Columbia
University, 70% of primary schools have
bereaved students and 85% of secondary
schools report post-bereavement problems.
The same report states that 83% of bereaved
children who do receive support return to
normal functioning in their schoolwork,
psychology, and emotions in a little more than
a year. Our award-winning Good Grief Clubs
help.
A counselor shared this story with us:
“One of the eighth grade girls was behaving
very badly. She was, among other things,
stealing food from the cafeteria even though
she had money in her pocket. When she tried
to talk about her grief with her family, they told
her to ‘get over it.’ After participating in the
Good Grief Club, not only did her behavior
improve dramatically, but also she took on a
leadership role in school.”
One very proud volunteer told us the
following: “A middle-school girl looked
very tense at the beginning of our first
meeting, but once she shared about her
dad’s death, there was no stopping her.
She became a leader and encourager in
the group. Her mom called the counselor
right after the first meeting to say what
a remarkable change she saw in her
daughter because this was the first time
the girl was opening up at home about
her feelings. Now in high school, the
girl recently told her counselor that the
Good Grief Club helped her more than
anything she’s ever done!”
cHilDrEn’S BErEAVEMEnT PrOGrAM
SErVicES
Volunteer Good Grief club facilitators in the Hospice caring resource room.
Our award-winning Good Grief Clubs
“ –
The group helped me feel
better and now I think of the
good things about my Dad.
9-year-old Good Grief club member
“
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