Loss Grief and Growth Education Project

1. Loss Grief and Growth Education Project Introduction to the program Funeral Directors/Associations

2. Developed with sponsorship from:

3. The story... “…had it not been for the hard work and dedication of teachers I never would have made it to college….” Yves Berthiaume

4. “We need to address the needs of kids” • Tours of the funeral home

5. “The most frequent question from teachers: “How do I support grieving students?”

6. Curriculum development • With sponsorship OFSA & OBFS • Teachers from across Ontario developed curriculum • “Written by teachers for teachers” • Linked materials directly to Ministry curriculum & Ontario report card

7. Current status • 2009 FSAC assumed leadership • Curriculum Services Canada (CSC) • “develop a resource for teachers not curriculum” • June 2010 LGG was launched nationally

9. Loss Grief and Growth • honors the relationship between students and teachers • acknowledges that teachers are connected with students before, during and after the crisis is over, after “grief counsellors” have gone….

10. Loss Grief and Growth • honours the role of Funeral Directors as citizens in their communities • recognizes Funeral Directors as a integral members of the interprofessional team with expertise in grief and bereavement • provides opportunities to help….

12. Connect

13. Note: • LGG does not replace the CIRT team • LGG does not replace any connections or need for partnering with local hospice/bereavement counsellors etc.

14. One of the strengths: simplicity

15. Connect content and make it simple

16. Brief overview: Loss is a part of life….

17. Loss may include: • Divorce • Moving • Developmental • Death

18. Our kids are exposed to death

19. Death in the family • grandparents, • parents, • siblings, • pets, • friends …

20. Death in the media

21. Death in the school community

22. And in the school curriculum.

23. Grief • is a normal healthy response to loss. • is a whole person response.

24. Grieving • is the process of integrating the loss into ones life • and making meaning of life’s experiences.

25. Grieving • is not something to “get over” • is not something that needs to be “fixed”

26. Factors which influence grieving

27. What you might see…

28. Teachers can:

29. General Guidelines

30. You do not need to be a specialist to offer support

31. Indicators of need for additional support • Physically assaulting others • Persistent anger towards everyone • Prolonged feelings of guilt/responsibility for death • …….

32. Specific age/grade levels • Introduction • “TASK” • “Teachable Moment”

33. Cultural diversity Questions to explore might include: • How do we best offer our support to the family/the student? • Is it appropriate to: send flowers/letters, visit the home, attend the funeral…

34. Resources

35. Getting started…

36. Preparing the ground

37. FSAC • Contacted Ministers of Education – June 2010 • Supporting provincial associations • Pilot projects to support learning for local and national implementation

38. Provincial Teams Approaching • School Boards Directors/Superintendents • Principals Associations • Based on unique characteristics in each province, may contact: • Teachers associations/federations • Private school associations

39. Local funeral director • Contact your provincial association • Get involved with the provincial resource team • Become familiar with the • LGG resource • Presentation for teachers • Resources

40. Funeral Directors • Build relationships with your community educators • Introduce educators to the LGG resource

41. Loss Grief and Growth Education Resource Presentation guide for teachers Access from OFSA & FSAC website

42. “It’s time for lunch already?”

43. How to access LGG resource

44. Accessing the document • www.curriculum.org