Living With Grief®: Children and Adolescents - Hunterdon Hopspice to Host Hospice Foundation of America's 15th Annual Teleconference

Published March 30, 2008

On Wednesday, April 16th, Hunterdon Hospice and the Pastoral Care Department of Hunterdon Medical Center will once again host the Hospice Foundation of America's Annual Bereavement Teleconference, along with more than 2,000 communities across the United States and Canada. The topic for the teleconference is  "Children and Adolescents."   The teleconference will be broadcast at Hunterdon Medical Center in the Auditorium from 1:30 p.m. to 4:00 and a panel discussion will follow from 4:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

The teleconference will focus on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and the ways that all hospice professionals, educators and counselors, parents, social workers, physicians, grief counselors, funeral directors, and clergy can best support these populations as they cope with loss and grief.

The broadcast will be moderated by Frank Sesno, Professor of Media and Public Affairs at The George Washington University and Special Correspondent with CNN.  Mr. Sesno will lead the panel of noted authorities that includes: Kenneth J. Doka, PhD, MDiv from The College of New Rochelle, Nancy Hogan, PhD, RN, FAAN from Marcella Niehoff School of Nursing, Rita Milburn-Dobson, MA, RNC, FT from Precious Gems Supportive Services, Laura E. Olague, MEd, CT from Children's Grief Center, Stacy F. Orloff, EdD, LCSW from The Hospice of the Florida Suncoast, and J. William Worden, PhD, ABPP from Harvard Childhood Bereavement Study.

This distinguished panel of ethicists, educators and hospice experts will focus on the experience of grieving children and adolescents and the ways that all hospice professionals, educators and counselors, parents, social workers, physicians, grief counselors, funeral directors, and clergy can best support these populations as they cope with loss and grief.

Anne Boyle as Director of Hunterdon Hospice states, "The information presented will help us, help our children.  Children and adolescents experience grief in a unique way.  As adults, we are not always sure what support they might need.  Often Hospice staff are asked by families how to talk to children or what rituals would they participate in."      

Continuing Education Credits (CEU's) will be available to professionals who stay for the teleconference and panel discussion.  To find out more about registration or continuing education credit, contact Hunterdon Hospice at 908-788-6600.