1. “Bereaved, helping the bereaved to learn to live with grief. We can help the healing begin.”
INTRODUCTION
Bereaved Families of Ontario- Durham Region (BFO) is a non-profit organization. This organization works
with families of bereaved parents, teens and adults. They provide the support progamme for the
parents and young adults so that they can learn to adjust and cope up with the situations every day.
MANDATE
The primary mandate of this organization is to help or support families who have lost their children. It
runs the programme for self help, mutual aid support services and on death of child. It was started in
1978 by four bereaved mother with the help of Chaplaincy Department of hospital for sick children. In
July 1984 the organization became a provincial body with the help of Trillium Foundation.
“Bereaved, helping the bereaved to learn to live with grief. We can help the healing begin.”
PROGRAMME AND SERVICES
Programmes
Closed infant loss group( 1 to 3 per year)
Closed mothers group( 1 to 2 per year)
Closed couples group (as needed)
Closed mixed group (as needed)
Closed fathers’ group (as needed)
Siblings drop-in and one-on-one (as needed)
Reconnect group/infant loss-6 yearly odd month
Reconnect group/older children loss-6 yearly even months
Drop ins-5 monthly
Family support night

2. Services
One on One support - Talking or meeting one facilitator by bereaved parents and telling them about
their conditions. This one to one support is available only when the situation cannot be shared in
groups. This service is available only by requesting for an appointment.
Telephone – A bereaved person can call this organization anytime they want so that they can to share
their feelings and situations and can ask for solutions.
Small group session – The meeting is held in groups by trained facilitator for 2 hours. The groups include
bereaved parents who lost their child before birth, after birth or from childhood to adulthood.
Support group – Family support nights are held throughout the year and the topics covered are like time
affects the grief journey, summer family care, sibling loss or extended family member loss etc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham Region e-mail - admin@bfodurham.net
1050 Simcoe Street North Charitable registration- 861619880RR0001
Oshawa, Ontario L1G4W5
Telephone – 905-579-4293
Toll Free – 800-387-4870
Fax – 905-579-7403
Website
http://www.bfodurham.net/
http://widowed.ca/bereaved-families-of-ontario-durham-region/