Family Bereavement Camp for Child Loss

After the death of a child, the family system is in complete disarray. They are faced with the task of reconstructing relational bonds with each other in the absence of the child who died. They seek a "new normal" in their roles and routines. Incorporating the past and weaving it into the present is a difficult process that requires enormous emotional and physical energy as the new family system unfolds over time. Unfortunately during bereavement, families are also faced with feelings of isolation and ostracism.

Bereavement camps provide a safe environment to learn about grief, express feelings and build networks of support and friendship. Bereavement camps have been used as one means of assisting children to cope with the loss of loved ones. This concept can be expanded to include the entire family system.

The purpose of a family bereavement camp is to provide opportunities for families to network with other families who have lost a child, decreasing the sense of isolation; for rebuilding through activities; commemorating and remembering; creating new positive family memories.

Knowing that individuals do not grieve in isolation and keeping with our hospice philosophy of treating the whole family, we sought to create a healing experience for the entire family. Our search revealed that while there was a well established camp for grieving children in our community, we could not find a bereavement camp for the whole family. In addition we wanted the camp to be specific to the loss of a child.

This course is based on the recorded webinar, Family Bereavement Camp for Child Loss created by Tina Ulanowski, M.Ed. et al