Grieving youth learn coping skills through St. Francis Hospice program

INDIANAPOLIS -- Death is a part of the life cycle, and it’s especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of it, particularly when they lose a loved one.

That’s why St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said bereavement coordinator Karla Riggs Norton. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

St. Francis Hospice will offer its Spring Caterpillar Kids program beginning Wednesday, April 7, and ending May 12. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m., meeting each Wednesday.

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing opportunities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

Registration is required. To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call 317-865-2092 or toll-free at 800-390-9915.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

Summer camp offers grieving kids ways to share feelings, cope with loss

INDIANAPOLIS – The loss of a loved one brings a mixed bag of emotions to anyone, but it can be a particular burden for youngsters who are trying to sort out their feelings.

Yet there’s a place in central Indiana that helps young people deal with their grief and share their feelings with others in similar situations. That’s why St. Francis Hospice is an supporter and active participant at Camp Healing Tree, which offers a special weekend opportunity for children and teens.

The camp is accepting applicants for its Aug. 21-23 session. Trained and screened volunteers from St. Francis and other area hospices are on hand to work with participants on an individual or group basis.

"The camp is designed as a support environment in which to gently teach coping skills and build self-esteem and support," said Roberta White, St. Francis Hospice coordinator. "Although the camp focuses on grief support, there also are many social and fun activities for the campers, such as swimming, arts, crafts, games, to name but a few."

Located on Indianapolis’ west side at Jameson Camp, Camp Healing Tree begins at 6:30 p.m., Friday, Aug. 21, and concludes with a memorial services for participants and their families at 11 a.m., Sunday, Aug. 23.

Because of limited availability, only first-time campers are being accepted for this year’s session.

For more information, contact Roberta White at 317-865-2092. Direct registration for Camp Healing Tree can be made by calling 317-388-2267, or visiting www.camphealingtree.org.

St. Francis is local host for national teleconference on kids’ grief

INDIANAPOLIS – The St. Francis Palliative Medicine program will be the local host of a national teleconference focused on ways to help youngsters cope with grief and loss.

The Hospice Foundation of America’s 15th annual Living With Grief® Children and Adolescents is a live satellite and Webcast sponsored by the Foundation for End-of-Life Care. The conference’s emphasis is on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and the ways parents, hospice and other medical professionals, social workers, counselors, clergy and funeral directors can support them.

The program will be moderated by Frank Sesno, professor of media and public affairs at the George Washington University and a special correspondent with CNN.

Locally, the conference will be from 1:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m., Wednesday, April 16. It will be broadcast at the St. Francis Hospital auditorium, 1600 Albany St., Beech Grove.

The program is free and the book, “Living With Grief: Children and Adolescents,” will be available for sale to conference participants.

To register or learn more about the conference, call 317-783-8930.

More information about the St. Francis Palliative Medicine program is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=322.

St. Francis Hospice also will offer Spring Caterpillar Kids – a bereavement program for children ages 5-12 – beginning March 12. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 p.m. to 6 p.m. and run three consecutive Wednesdays with a one-week break, then resume for three additional sessions.

To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call Roberta White at 317-865-2092 or toll-free at 800-390-9915.

Support program helps kids handle grief in loss of loved one

INDIANAPOLIS – Consider the caterpillar: It builds a cocoon and remains safe until it transforms and emerges into a new life, one that takes flight.

Death is a part of the life cycle, and it’s especially difficult for children to grasp and make sense out of it, particularly when they lose a loved one. And that’s why St. Francis Hospice offers Caterpillar Kids, a support program that offers learning experiences for children ages 5 to 12.

St. Francis Hospice will offer its Spring Caterpillar Kids program beginning March 12. The workshops, which are free, are from 4:30 to 6 p.m. and run three consecutive Wednesdays with a one-week break, then resume for three additional sessions.

Meetings are at Christ United Methodist Church, 8540 U.S. 31 South, one mile north of Greenwood Park Mall.

“Children do grieve and they may express it differently than adults, but their feelings are as genuine and essential in healing,” said Barbara Weatherspoon, hospice social worker. “Caterpillar Kids brings children together in a safe, nurturing environment where they receive information about grief and learn healthy ways to cope with the death of a loved one.”

Led by staff trained in bereavement support for children, youngsters participate in storytelling, art projects, games and other sharing opportunities. Parents also are invited to participate in a concurrent session to assist them in supporting their children.

Registration is required. To register or for more information about Caterpillar Kids, call Roberta White at 317-865-2092 or toll-free at 800-390-9915.

More information about St. Francis Hospice is at www.stfrancishospitals.org/DesktopDefault.aspx?tabid=280.

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