Children’s Grief Awareness Day November 17, 2011

Press Release

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:

DATE: November 7, 2011
CONTACT: Dr. Roxanne Debski- Seigel
Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation
Offices in Newton & Phillipsburg, NJ & Milford PA.
PHONE: 973-383-0115 toll free 800-882-1117 FAX 973-383-6889
EMAIL: rdebski-seigel@karenannquinlanhospice.org
Website: www.karenannquinlanhospice.org

Children’s Grief Awareness Day
November 17, 2011

Bereavement RibbonNewton-November 7, 2011–As “Children’s Grief Awareness Day” approaches on Thursday, November 17 the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center will unite with organizations across the nation by wearing blue to commemorate the day. This third annual event, founded by the Highmark Caring Place, A Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents and Their Families, focuses attention on the impact death has on children and what people can do to help a grieving child.

Founded in 2008, Children’s Grief Awareness Day is now observed every year on the third Thursday of November.

Children are often the forgotten mourners when in actuality they need to be heard and supported. Supporting Children’s Grief Awareness Day is a way to bring children who have had a loved one die – and their grief – out of the shadows. Through thousands of children and adults wearing blue on that day, we call attention to the issue, and children who have experienced a death can feel less alone and isolated in their grief.

The Sussex County Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center plans to pass out blue lollipops to children and adults on this day and will display blue colored balloons outside the center to draw attention and visitors. Many will also show their support on the Children’s Grief Awareness Day Facebook page and through various activities designed to raise awareness of the needs of grieving children. A Children’s Grief Awareness Day Toolkit containing ideas for a range of activities is available free of charge at www.childrensgriefawarenessday.com.

Diana Sebzda, MA, LPC, CT, Director of Bereavement, Lorri Opitz, MA, CT, Grief Counselor and Jennifer Smetana, MSW, LSW, Grief Counselor provide emotional support and education about the grief process to adults and children, not only through the hospice programs of Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, but to the community as well. One of the center’s hallmark programs is the Children’s Art Bereavement Program which is offered three times a year. The counselors also offer Healing in the Classroom Workshops to school systems throughout the tri-state area which focus on educating school professionals in recognizing grief responses in their students and how best to support these children. The center has a lending library that is also available to the public and professionals in the area with literature on the topic of explaining death and dying to young people.

The Sussex County location of the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center is located at 61 Spring Street, Suite 100 Newton and is open Monday – Friday from 8:30 to 4:30. For more information about our services, please call 973-940-0413 or visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation is passionately dedicated to providing Hospice care for the terminally ill, Bereavement for those who have lost loved ones and Home Care assistance for recovery patients. Serving North and Northwest NJ and the Pike County area PA; please call 800 882 1117 to reach any of our services. Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 99 Sparta Ave., Newton, NJ, Karen Ann Quinlan Home Health Care, 755 Memorial Parkway, Phillipsburg, NJ and Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice, 104 Bennett Ave., Milford, PA. For programs, events, and more information visit www.karenannquinlanhospice.org.

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