Measuring success : creating an evaluation tool for children and teen bereavement programming at the Greystone Bereavement Centre

Abstract

The literature on children's grief recognizes the value of bereavement support programs as a method for facilitating children through their personal grief journeys. The long term impact and outcomes of such support programs for children's grief have not been identified. Evaluative measures, specific to children's grief, are complex, developing and limited. To further inform the development of an evaluative tool for children and teen grief and bereavement programming, this report focuses on the experiences of caregivers whose children have attended grief and bereavement programming at Greystone Bereavement Centre in Regina, Saskatchewan. Eight interviews were conducted with caregivers whose children attended Caring Hearts Camp. The eight participants shared the benefits and challenges to their children, themselves and their family units. Through a phenomenological approach to qualitative research, these experiences are highlighted within the findings. From these findings, recommendations are provided for the development of an evaluative tool for consideration by Greystone Bereavement Centre. A pilot evaluation has also been constructed and is attached in the Appendices. Further, the recommendations within this report contribute to the knowledge of death, dying and bereavement. Within the field of social work, this knowledge will continue to enhance the care provided to the individuals and families who have encountered a death loss.