Working With Those Who Support the Bereaved

Grief Resources

In the United States every year, 8 million people experience the death of someone in their immediate family. Often those who are grieving feel most comfortable receiving support in the surroundings of their local community, whether it is at church, school or work.

Hospice of Lancaster County’s PATHways Center for Grief & Loss offers courses, resources and materials to help those who support the bereaved. These individuals include: teachers, counselors, social workers, clergy, health care workers, faith communities, small-group leaders, and community support or self-help facilitators.

A Teacher's Guide to the Grieving Student

This small and concise booklet is a useful tool for all school personnel. Included are: common reactions to grief according to developmental stages, specific types of losses, terrorism and other acts of violence, guidelines and specific suggestions, bibliography and other grief resource options. Click here for an order form.

Lending Library

Books, magazines, professional grief journals, videos and audiotapes on a wide variety of grief-related topics are available. These materials are helpful to both the bereaved and those seeking to support them. Some materials are available in Spanish. The library is open between the hours of 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Monday through Friday. Please call (717) 391-2413 or (717)733-0699 for more information.

Workshops and Courses

Educational opportunities have been designed to address a variety of needs. Types of topics include:

Facilitating grief support groups
Coping with the holidays
Helping children cope with illness and loss
Loss in the nursing home
Understanding grieving teens
Care for the caregiver
Bereavement needs for developmentally-delayed individuals
School crisis response
When death impacts your school
Workplace grief
Supporting the bereaved
Living with serious illness

Good Grief Clubs

Using a “train the trainer” model, PATHways Center counselors can provide a curriculum and co-facilitate a seven-week grief group in your school. Call the PATHways Center for more information.

Facilitating Grief Support Groups: The People, The Path and The Process

A course for those interested, or just starting out, in providing grief support groups. Call (717) 391-2413 or (717) 733-0699 for more information.

Facilitating Grief Support Groups Part II: Continuing the Process.

This series is for those who have already been involved in leading grief groups and are looking to grow in their knowledge of the group process and to enhance facilitator skills. The course will include small group experience, lecture, role play, and group discussion. Call 391-2413 for more information.

Expecting the Unexpected: Preparing for and Responding to Crisis, Loss, Grief and Trauma in Your School

PATHways Center for Grief & Loss offers this course to help teachers and counselors to be more prepared to assist students coping with loss, grief and trauma. The course includes readings and an in-depth focus on these issues. Additionally, the course will cover resources to draw from and specific techniques to consider either in the classroom or the counseling setting. This course is for teachers, counselors, learning support or substitute staff, or anyone who comes into contact with students affected by loss and trauma. Included in the course is a manual for those interested in leading a grief group as a complimentary copy of Hospice of Lancaster County's newly revised publication, "A Teacher's Guide to the Grieving Student." Prior to the first class, participants are required to have read the book, Raising Our Children to be Resilient: A Guide to Helping Children Cope With Trauma in Today's World by Linda Goldman, ISBN #04159496086.

To register, visit the IU 13 Web site at www.iu13.org, select "Staff Development" and click on "Continuing Professional Education (CPE) Courses for Credit," or call the IU 13 at (717) 519-1087.

Consultation

The PATHways Center staff is available to provide resources and direction for those who may be facing unique situations. Most PATHways programs are available at no cost due to the generous support of our community. Certain seminars or courses do require a fee. Please contact us at (717) 391-2413 or (717) 733-0699 for more information or individual attention to your need.

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