- Canuck Place Children's Hospice provides bereavement services to over 200 families who have lost a child, with a significant increase in new referrals in recent years - Families come from across British Columbia, with about a third each from Vancouver Coastal Health, Fraser Health, and other health authorities - Bereavement services include counseling, support groups, an annual dinner and butterfly release event, a family bereavement retreat, and a summer program for families - Feedback from families shows the value they find in opportunities to connect with other bereaved families in different settings outside of typical counseling rooms

1. Canuck Place Bereavement Services
Kerry M Keats, MSW, LCSW
Bereavement Services Coordinator
Canuck Place Children’s Hospice
June 22, 2012

2. Bereavement Services
 Currently there are over 200 Bereaved Families who are
a part of the Active Canuck Place Bereavement
Program
 In 2010 there were 51 new referrals
 2011- May 2012 There were 98 new referrals. 34 Of
these have occurred in the past 5 months
* Families are on the Active Bereaved list for aprox 4
years.

3. Where are the families From
For the past two years:
 1/3 Vancouver Coastal Health
 1/3 Fraser Health
 1/3 all other Health Authorities

4. Who Refers Families to us
 Families who’s child is on the Canuck Place
Program receives bereavement as a form of
continuity of care
 BCCH/ BC Women’s
 Community Hospitals, physicians, care providers
 Parents/family members self refer
 RCMP, Victim Services, Schools

5. What services are provided
 Consultation and support
 Assessment of bereavement needs of parents
and sibling.
 Individual, Couple and Family Counseling
 Community Referrals

6. Bereavement Support Groups
 Parent Bereavement Group: Canuck Place
 Concurrent Sibling Support Group
 Abbotsford Parent Bereavement Support Begins
September 2012
 Kelowna Parent/Sibling Groups Provided 2x
per year
 Groups in Vancouver are held every other
Tuesday Evening. Summer once per month

7. Annual Dinner/Butterfly Release

11. Remembering Our Children

13. Bereavement Retreat/Camp Latona

17. 55 Family Members, Staff and Volunteers Attended

19. Over 50% of these families do not attend
regular ongoing support groups

22. Retreat Survey

“It was a unique event and it was great to spend time with
other bereaved families in a setting other than a
"conference" room and connect in a more relaxed and
natural setting”
 “Thank you so much for making this retreat program
happen. We had so much fun by simply going somewhere
far from our daily like distance. Also meeting staff and other
families is a good thing and the program gave us such
opportunity. Again, thank you very much for you hard work
to organize this event!”

23.  “it was emotionally and physically exhausting but in a
positive way. Thank you”
 “We always welcome to the ideas presented to us, and we
are where we are at emotionally, as a result of the amazing
support we received during our child's illness”
 “although i have not met any of the other parents before I
found a level of comfort being with families that are going
through a similar situation
 “hope to get more retreat this summer, it is very nice
experienced to our whole family, and making special stuff
for our daughter who passed away. Thank you and God
bless you all”

24. Recreation Activities

25. Precious Pictures

26. Summer in the City
Over 70 bereaved family members, including
siblings will attend Summer in The City 2012

27. Thank You