Bereavement Support - Coping with Death
Coping with Grief - Coping with Loss
Hope History: Hope is the single most powerful word in the English language. It is a valuable tool and is nurtured by good medical care,emotional support and education. In 1979, ten members of the Los Angeles community recognized that emotional support and information for patients and families touched by cancer were not being adequately supplied by existing community services. Using their own funds, these ten determined people established the H.O.P.E. Foundation to meet these needs. They made it possible for thousands of others to benefit from a unique network of bereavement and cancer support groups. Today, we are strong in offering 8 Bereavement support groups, 2 Alumni groups, and expansion based on membership needs.
Opportunities: Many and varied opportunities for giving and receiving are available through the H.O.P.E. Foundation. Since all services are provided for a nominal fee, financial donations and fund-raising efforts are always welcome and needed. Volunteers with experience to share, time, expertise or resources to offer are encouraged to join. The Foundation is constantly looking for unmet community needs. With appropriate support, new programs are then established to satisfy those needs
Participation: Through H.O.P.E. , individuals take an active role in their own healing process. They gain access to information enabling them to become more effective consumers of health care services. They participate in groups, sharing experiences and receiving needed understanding, acceptance and support. All groups are led by licensed therapists, carefully chosen and supervised by the foundation. Participants move through 4 support groups organized around the time elapsed since the loss of a spouse, just as they move through stages of mourning. After two years, members graduate from the program having found solace, understanding and new friends. The success of this unique approach was recognized by the Joseph Drown Foundation when it awarded H.O.P.E. a grant to create and distribute a handbook for counselors wishing to establish similar groups in their own communities. See our "Groups" link for more information on the different groups.
Education: Educational components of grieving are offered within our process groups, supplemented with handouts and Bibliographies of grief resources. We sometimes offer "Healing panels" at community sites, with educational information provided by our staff of licensed therapists as well as other professionals in the field.
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