Loss Grief and Growth Education Project

Introduction to the program

Funeral Directors/Associations

Developed with sponsorship from:

The story...

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

“We need to address the needs of kids”

• Tours of the funeral home

“The most frequent question from teachers:

“How do I support grieving

students?”

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

Current status

• 2009 FSAC assumed leadership

• Curriculum Services Canada (CSC)– “develop a resource for teachers not

curriculum”

• June 2010 LGG was launched nationally

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….

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….

Connect

Note:

• LGG does not replace the CIRT team

• LGG does not replace any connections or need for partnering with local hospice/bereavement counsellors etc.

One of the strengths: simplicity

Connect content and make it simple

Loss is a part of life….

Brief overview:

• Divorce

• Moving

• Developmental

• Death

Loss may include:

Our kids are exposed to death

Death in the family

• grandparents,

• parents,

• siblings,

• pets,

• friends …

Death in the media

Death in the school community

And in the school curriculum.

Grief

• is a normal healthy response to loss.

• is a whole person response.

Grieving• is the process

of integrating the loss into ones life

• and making meaning of life’s experiences.

Grieving

• is not something to “get over”

• is not something that needs to be “fixed”

Factors which influence grieving

What you might see…

Teachers can:

General Guidelines

You do not need to be a specialist to offer support

Indicators of need for additional support

• Physically assaulting others • Persistent anger towards everyone • Prolonged feelings of guilt/responsibility

for death • …….

Specific age/grade levels

• Introduction

• “TASK”

• “Teachable Moment”

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…

Resources

Getting started…

Preparing the ground

FSAC

• Contacted Ministers of Education – June 2010

• Supporting provincial associations

• Pilot projects to support learning for local and national implementation

Provincial Teams

Approaching

• School Boards Directors/Superintendents

• Principals Associations

• Based on unique characteristics in each province, may contact:– Teachers associations/federations– Private school associations

Local funeral director

• Contact your provincial association

• Get involved with the provincial resource team

• Become familiar with the– LGG resource

– Presentation for teachers– Resources

• Build relationships with your community educators

• Introduce educators to the LGG resource

Funeral Directors

Loss Grief and Growth Education Resource

Presentation guide for teachers

Access from OFSA & FSAC website

“It’s time for lunch already?”

How to access LGG resource

www.curriculum.org

Accessing the document