Reference Materials for the Ambiguous Loss (Dr. Pauline Boss) training for BFOSCR Support Facilitators regarding supporting Families with Missing Loved Ones (Missing Persons) by Maureen Trask on Mar. 6, 2021.

1. Presentation Reference Materials, March 6, 2021
Ambiguous Loss - Supporting Families with Missing Loved Ones (Missing Persons)
By: Maureen Trask March 6, 2021 Page 1 of 3
Presentation for: Grief Support Facilitator Workshop Training, BFO South Central Region
Presenter Contact Information: Maureen Trask trasker@rogers.com Puslinch, Ontario Canada
Definitions: Missing person - Wikipedia
Ambiguous loss - Wikipedia
Closure (psychology) - Wikipedia
Reference Materials:
Ambiguous Loss Website by Pauline Boss
Ambiguous Loss - Learning to Live with Unresolved Grief by Pauline Boss, Harvard Univ. Press, 1999
Ambiguous loss in families of the missing, Pauline Boss, Lancet Supplement, 360, 2002
Loss, Trauma, and Resilience - Therapeutic Work with Ambiguous Loss, Pauline Boss, Norton & Co., 2006
The trauma and complicated grief of ambiguous loss, Pauline Boss, Pastoral Psychology, 59(2), 137-145.
doi: 10.1007/s11089-009-0264-0, 2009
Open to Hope Video: Dr. Pauline Boss and Dr. Gloria Horsley discuss Ambiguous Loss at the annual ADEC
(Association of Death Education and Counseling) conference, Dec. 2011
The Myth of Closure Transcript, Dr. Pauline Boss, June 23, 2016
Supporting those who are left behind, AFP Australian Federal Police Nat. Missing Persons Framework, 2008
Living in Limbo: 5 Years On, Missing People UK, 2013
Missing Persons - Recommendations report by Maureen Trask, Jan. 20, 2020
Writings Related to the Missing:
When Someone you Love Goes Missing Poem by Tom M. Brown, Dublin, Ireland
Missing a Loved One – A Parent’s Perspective by Maureen Trask, Apr. 2012
Tips for Supporting those Coping with the disappearance of a missing loved one by Cindy S., May 2012
Both are shown on CCIMA-Missing Persons Information, under Resources
Ambiguous Loss – Seeking Your Help in BON Newsletter Winter Jan. 2013, page 16-17 by Maureen Trask
Missing Person Myths Missing Persons Week, SK
Do You Know the Facts About Missing Persons Quiz, Sept. 19, 2017

2. Presentation Reference Materials, March 6, 2021
Ambiguous Loss - Supporting Families with Missing Loved Ones (Missing Persons)
By: Maureen Trask March 6, 2021 Page 2 of 3
Living in Limbo, Missing People UK, published by Missing People, 2008 and
Living in Limbo: Five Years On, published by Missing People, Sept. 2013
Both documents are available on Missing People UK Website under Research and Information
Best practice principles for counselling the families & Friends of missing persons FFMP, NSW, Australia 2003
Missing People: A Guide for family members and service providers, FFMP Unit, NSW Dept of Justice 2014
Missing Persons Guide, MPAN-Missing Persons Advocacy Network, Jan. 2016
Missing - Information in Canada:
Canada’s Missing and Unidentified (Children, Adults, and Unidentified with Annual Statistics), public site,
Canada Gov. for the NCMPUR of the RCMP
Canadian Centre for Information on Missing Adults (CCIMA), website by Victims of CRCVC and OMA,
Ottawa Ontario, Canada
Canadian Resource Centre for Victims of Crime (CRCVC), Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
Missing Children’s Society of Canada (MCSC), Calgary, Alberta, Canada
Families of Missing Adults: Finding Help, Lusia Dion, Dept. of Justice Victim Fund, Canada, Apr. 2010
Ontario Native Women’s Association (ONWA) - Missing Persons Toolkit, Aug. 2014
Ontario’s Missing Adults (OMA) by Lucia Dion, Ottawa, Ontario, Canada
FB Page: Ontario's Missing Adults | Facebook
Saskatchewan Government Provincial Partnership Committee on Missing Persons, Rev. March 3, 2014
Agency Response Guide to Missing Person Situations in Saskatchewan
Providing support to families with missing loved ones, Greystone Bereavement Centre, Regina SW
Now offered through Caring Hearts, SK
Support for Us – Families with Missing Loved Ones FB page by Maureen Trask
New Virtual Peer Support Group for Families
Canada’s Missing Persons Research Hub, New Jan. 2021 by Lorna Ferguson
Missing - Information in Other Countries:
International Centre for Missing and Unidentified Persons (The DOE Network, Cold Cases) GINA for Missing
Persons Foundation Missing Squeaky Wheel ™ Tour events, by Jannel Rap, California, USA 2015 Tour
Media for the Missing (producers of Letters to our Missing) website, USA and International
NAMUS National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, USA Gov.
Ambiguous Losses that Bring Unresolved and Ongoing Grief, Lou LaGrand, USA 2007

3. Presentation Reference Materials, March 6, 2021
Ambiguous Loss - Supporting Families with Missing Loved Ones (Missing Persons)
By: Maureen Trask March 6, 2021 Page 3 of 3
Australian Federal Police (AFP) Missing Persons Website, Australia Gov., AU
Missing Persons Advisory Network (MPAN) Website by Loren O’Keeffe, Melbourne, AU
fFOMPA Charitable Trust , FB page, by Cylvi Manthyng, Daughter of Douglas Coop, Perth, Western AU
Family & Friends of Missing Person Aotearoa (fFOMPA) Website, by Douglas Coop, Wellington, NZ
Family and Friends of Missing Persons Unit (FFMPU) Website, Dept. of Justice, NSW, AU
Including update Missing Persons Framework – Acknowledging the Empty Space, Mar. 4, 2019
It’s the Hope That Hurts-Best Practice in counselling models relevant to families of missing persons, FFMPU
Missing People UK Website, London England Gov, across UK (including England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales)
Missing in Ireland: The Search Process, Ireland Times, Ireland
Taking Care of Yourself when someone goes missing, FFMPU, NSW Dept. of Justice, AU 2011
Legislative Advocacy:
Petition “Ontario needs Missing Persons Legislation” was introduced to Ontario Parliament by MPP Catherine
Fife on Oct. 20, 2014. Bill 175 Safer Ontario Act was given royal assent in March 2018, the Missing Persons Act
is part of this bill, Schedule 7, in effect on July 1, 2019 For details: Ontario Gets Missing Person Legislation
Petition “Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada” tabled Jan. 29, 2018, re-response from the
government unsatisfactory, no further action. For details: Declare a National Missing Persons Day in Canada
Petition “Develop a National Silver Alert strategy for Canada” e-1588, presented Feb. 7, 2019. Gov. Response
on April 1, 2019. For details: Silver Alert Canada
Advocating that “Canada needs a national Missing Persons Framework”. For more info, read the report titled
Missing Persons - Recommendations released Jan. 20, 2020. Senator Pierre-Hugues Boisvenu made a
Statement in tribute to the Missing and raised awareness that Canada needs a Missing Persons Framework,
Dec. 1, 2020.