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Our programs are designed to combat the sense of loneliness and isolation and to recognize that the bereaved often respond better to one another. Our groups meet on a monthly basis, with special events from time to time. Group participants gain insight into their own thoughts and feelings, thus easing the pain.
SHARE AND SUPPORT EVENINGS
Monthly Open Mother's Night
Mother's Night provides an opportunity for mothers who have experienced the death of a child to meet with and share their experiences with other mothers in a confidential environment. BFO - Kingston hosts a monthly Mother's night on the second Tuesday of the month (August to June) in Kingston.
A Mother's Support evening is also held in Belleville at Quinte Hospice (225 Dundas Street East). Parking is at a premium at this location with available parking spaces available directly across the street from Quinte Hospice. The Belleville Support Evenings are held every second Wednesday at 6:30 pm. Please see our Calendar of Events for dates of these sessions. Any mother who has lost a child through death is welcome to attend.
Monthly Open Baby Loss Night
Starting Wednesday, Januray 18, 2012 BFO Kingston is hosting Baby Loss Night for mothers who have suffered a miscarriage, stillbirth or death of a baby up to age 1. Mothers have the opportunity to share their loss with other mothers who know. This new program will be held on the 3rd Wednesday of each month (except July) at 6:30 pm.
Monthly Open Family Night
Family Night gatherings usually feature a guest speaker whose topic is helpful to the bereaved. This meeting is open to any adult who has lost a child, parent, sibling, spouse or partner. Most material covered is not suitable for children. We host a social period afterwards, which allows for people to share their thoughts with others if they wish. Family night is on the third Tuesday of the month (August to June). Sessions are held at 7:30 p.m. at 721 Progress Avenue, Unit 1. All are welcome. The topic and facilitator are posted in the Calendar of Events.
Monthly Spousal/Partner Support Group
This is an open support group for anyone who has lost their spouse or partner. It is held on the second Wednesday of the month, from August to June, at 6:30 pm.
One-to-One Peer Facilitation
This is the opportunity for the newly-bereaved to share their thoughts and feelings individually and privately with a trained volunteer. Sessions are held in a private location within our office at 721 Progress Avenue. One-hour sessions are scheduled by appointment, during business hours Tuesdays and Thursdays from 11:30 am to 3:30 pm. Please call us at 613-634-1230 to schedule an appointment.
Closed Support Groups
Closed Support Groups are one of our core pillars. By meeting and sharing their feelings and experiences, people can begin to understand their own grief and have the opportunity to discuss common feelings with other bereaved persons. In organizing these groups, we ensure that they are all ‘peer structured’. That is, they are planned and organized so that participants can comfortably relate to their peers who are facing, or have faced, a similar loss. The groups are currently divided into these categories:
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Bereaved mothers who have lost a child
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Adults who have lost a spouse/partner.
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Perinatal and Infant Loss
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Children who have lost a parent or sibling
Closed Groups are 6-8 weeks in duration and are held one evening per week with the same participants & facilitators. Our Closed Support Groups for specific losses are formed when there are enough registrants to make a group possible. There is no charge, but pre-registration and an interview are required. Please contact the office if you are interested in these programs or for additional information.
Member Newsletters
Every month our members may receive a newsletter to keep them informed of upcoming meetings, events, and new services and programs. This publication is filled with inspiration and educational words of wisdom. It is a vital touchstone for those who depend on Bereaved Families of Ontario – Kingston Region to help them cope with their loss. If you would like to receive this newsletter, please send an email to bfo@kingston.net.
OUR LIBRARY
BFO-Kingston Region has a large library of very informative books for different losses. You are most welcome to come in during our office hours to browse through our books, sign a book out for two weeks, or stay and read while enjoying a cup of tea or coffee.
The following is a list of the categories:
Grieving the Loss of a Child
General Grief
Suicide, Homicide and Violent Death
Loss of Babies: Miscarriage, Stillbirth and SIDS
Loss of a Spouse or Partner
Loss of Parents, Grandparents, Sibling- a child's perspective and adult's perspective on loss
Talking to children & teenagers about death.
Children's storybooks explaining death in a language they can understand.
Men and Grief
Anticipatory Grief and Sudden Grief
Spiritual Care for the Grieving - How to Journey through grief and find Hope & Healing after Loss
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