Blue Skies -Helping Children Cope With Loss – Shelly Skinner 18 November 2010

History Programs developed in response to an identified need in the community to help bereaved children: –Understand their emotions –Share experiences with other children –Normalise the grief process –Identify personal strengths and coping strategies Blue Skies acknowledges Rosemary Watkins, Frankie Durack and Georgina Timms who designed and commenced similar programs in the 1990’s.

Blue Skies is… Creative Therapy Blue Skies, a bereavement program for eight to 12 year olds, was piloted for 12 months to bridge this gap. Blue Skies program aims to normalise the process of grief for children and identify strengths, coping and communication strategies Blue Skies provides a fun filled, supportive environment which allows children to connect with other children experiencing a similar life change Blue Skies is flexible but structured Activities include: –Play/games- Exploring feelings –Art - Music –Psycho educational sessions –Meaning making activities

1) Aims Blue Skies: Encourages bereaved children to give and receive support in a shared, creative environment to reduce isolation, uncertainty and confusion. Helps children to recognize, name and become familiar with vast spectrum of emotions associated with the death of a loved one. Encourages sharing and expression of these emotions in a healthy constructive way. Normalises the grief process for children and to increase their awareness of loss as inevitable and natural part of living. Identifies strengths and coping strategies and learn how to incorporate these into their grief journey. Provides a fun-filled, supportive environment. This gives children the opportunity of connecting with other children experiencing a similar life experience.

2) Objectives Help children recognise, name and become familiar with emotions associated with the death of a loved one Provide a fun-filled, supportive environment for children who experienced the death of a parent/guardian Normalise the grief process and assist children to understand the death of a loved one in their life Encourage constructive, healthy sharing and expression of emotion Identify strengths and coping strategies for healthy grieving

Pilot Workshop Support - Funding

Putting together a Blue Skies program Educate the community and advertise the program to professionals and the greater community The Blue Skies team determine a suitable date and work together with marketing to design a flyer. Mail outs – All GP surgeries in the metro area as well as all schools in WA Design the structured program – resources, shopping Recruit and train volunteers Run program Volunteer debrief and volunteer feedback sessions Team feedback sessions Make alterations as required for next program

Activities Balance between psychosocial, emotional and energy release activities Important to keep up to date with contemporary research and activities Activities include: –Puppeteer (Jenny Tyrell and The Crunchkin Crew) –Photo reminiscence- Very special person table –Body outline- Sand activities –Thank you cards- Balloon release –Feeling Jars- Question Box Challenge to find activities that meet the needs of the whole group

Blue Skies Activities

Who to refer Important to know who to refer to the program Literature tells us: -Formal support within the first 3-6 months is optimal but support at any time is better than no support. -Different types of support work well for different children – group work, individual counselling, play therapy. -Developing coping strategies and language around adjusting to change and loss is imperative for child development and will assist with coping and resilience into adulthood. Considerations: aggression, sexual abuse, violence, mental health, child’s reaction to the death and other lifestyle factors. We’re always happy to discuss potential referrals.

Our Screening Tool Based on National Centre for Childhood Grief (A Friend’s Place) NSW model Snapshot of the child’s life including: Who died? How? When? Was the child present? How does the child express themselves (i.e. open/subdued)? Does the child work effectively in groups? Experiences of loss? How did they learn about the death? Reactions? Did they get to spend time with deceased? How did they experience the funeral?

What relationship did they have? Relevant/significant factors in the child’s/family history? Parent/guardian concerns about the child? How has life been since? Any help/support received? Greatest difficulty at the moment? Help needed now? Screening Tool

How to refer You can contact Shelly Skinner or Nerida Lovell for: Referrals Request flyers for the next program Questions about resources or supports available

Blue Skies

Limitations Blue Skies is age specific - between 8 and 12yrs Currently, there are no non-oncology bereavement programs running in WA, besides Blue Skies Blue Skies received funding from Ramsay Health Care initially now McCusker Foundation, exploring options for ongoing longer term funding Ideally, Blue Skies would run more often in different venues throughout Perth, for more children – conversations with organisations to form partnerships for particular populations Liaison with other organisations – CanTeen highly recommend overnight programs to be most effective 2 days is a short time to go through the whole journey 3 month program

Strengths Blue Skies is currently the only program of its type in WA Blue Skies offers educational, therapeutic and recreational activities Staff expertise – group facilitation provided by qualified, experienced Social Workers from a range of backgrounds. Program support from largest community health service provider in W.A. - Silver Chain No cost for attendees Strong volunteer model Interactive Flexible program Positive family feedback, child feedback and from schools Not expensive to run

Testimonials From parents: “My daughter was hesitant in coming initially, but what a huge difference it has made! Thank you.” “She now speaks about her mum’s passing and knows that she won’t upset me anymore.” From children: “I used to cry into my pillow at night – now I know it’s ok to let my feelings out.” “I thought that I had made him die, now I know it wasn’t my fault.”

Blue Skies and Volunteering Volunteer coordinator – Brad McKay or Professional – police clearance Volunteer training sessions Volunteer debriefing Access to SCHCS EAP Volunteer feedback sessions Always looking for more male volunteers More detailed training to be provided to volunteers

Volunteers Volunteers are essential to the success of Blue Skies.

Blue Skies and volunteering Volunteer experiences and feedback: “One girl showed me a picture of her with her mother. Her mother’s arms enveloped her and she told me that this made her feel her Mum was always around her.” “It was difficult to hear all these sad stories, but what a privilege to be part of working with these kids!” Do you want to be part of Blue Skies? Please speak to Brad McKay, Silver Chain Team Leader Volunteer Services We are currently recruiting for volunteers to participate in this program

Where to from here? Next 12 months: Blue Skies is likely to remain in the same format due to a new social worker at SCHCS and current levels of resources. Always looking for new volunteers. Always on the look out for funding opportunities. Long term: Options for on-going funding Looking to develop into a 3 month program The role of facilitator to become a paid role Make into a package to be used in rural, remote and interstate settings by other organisations

Questions? Do you have any questions?

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