News and Events

News

Support for Families During Times of Illness or Injury

A serious illness or injury can have a significant impact on the emotional and physical resources of the entire family, including youth. Children are faced with changes in themselves, their families, and in the person directly impacted by the illness or injury. At Hearts of Hope, a program offered by the Mourning Hope Grief Center, we help children, teens, young adults and their caregivers cope with the changes that a serious illness or injury can bring, while developing coping skills for the many changes encountered.

As part of Mourning Hope's mission to companion youth dealing with a serious illness or injury in their family, several community-wide educational events will be offered during the next few months.

Illness or Injury Through a Child's Eyes

Tuesday, January 17, 2012; 7:00 pm -- 8:30 pm
BryanLGH College of Health Science
Free Event -- No Registration Required

An educational program and panel discussion will be offered for caregivers regarding how illness and injury impacts the whole family, making connections with the school and where you can access resources.
Messages from the Heart -- A Family Event

Saturday, February 11, 2012; 9:00 am -- 12:00 pm
Mourning Hope Grief Center -- 4919 Baldwin Avenue

A variety of activities will help children and teens express their feelings -- through the use of games, play, music and art, while caregivers will have speakers focusing on how to talk with children about the illness or injury, how to support grieving youth, and what types of behaviors and emotions should be expected based on the child's developmental level.

Registration is $15 per family (to cover the cost of materials) and pre-registration is required by February 5. Register at: hope@mourninghope.org or 402.488.8989.
Communication is the Key!

Tuesday, March 20, 2012; 7:00 pm -- 8:30 pm
BryanLGH College of Health Science
Free Event -- No Registration Required

An educational program and panel discussion will be offered for caregivers regarding how to communicate with your doctors, your children and your community regarding your illness or injury.

Exploring Eight Critical Questions When Someone
Dies�and the Answers That Will Help You Heal

* Tuesday, February 28, 2012
* 7:00 p.m. -- 8:30 p.m.
* BryanLGH East - Plaza Conference Center
* 1600 S. 48th Street, Lincoln
* Free and open to the public
* To register, visit www.bryanlgh.org/calendar or call 402.481.8886.

When loss enters your life, you are faced with many choices. The questions you ask and the choices you make will determine whether you become among the "living dead" or go on to live until you die. If you are going to integrate grief into your life, it helps to recognize what questions to ask yourself on the journey.

This program will provide the needed answers to clarify your experiences and encourage choices that honor the transformational nature of grief and loss. Don't miss this opportunity to spend an evening with North America's leading grief counselor and author!

Click Here for a Flier Detailing Wolfelt's Visit to Lincoln

February 29, 2012
9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Dr. Alan D. Wolfelt is a noted author, educator and grief counselor. Recipient of the Association for Death Education and Counseling's Death Educator Award, he serves as the director of the Center for Loss and Life Transition in Fort Collins, Colo. A frequent guest of the media, Dr. Wolfelt has appeared on the "Oprah Winfrey Show," the "Larry King Show," the "NBC Today Show," and "Nick News." He also is the author of more than twenty books on grief and loss.

Workshop Credit: 5.0 contact hours awarded by Southeast Community College. This workshop meets the criteria for continuing education for licensed mental health practitioners, funeral directors and nurses. Other professionals should check with their licensing agencies to verify that this workshop will qualify as continuing education in their field. Participants must attend entire seminar to receive CEU credits.

For Course Information Questions, contact Jeanette Walsh at Southeast Community College, Continuing Education: 402-437-2706 � 800-828-0072, ext. 2706 or jwalsh@southeast.edu

To register or for additional information, click here.

2nd Annual Loss Conference: Reaching Out to Survivors Across the Lifespan

Thursday, May 31; 7:30 a.m. to 3:45 p.m.
Loss Team Nuts and Bolts
Sudden and Traumatic Loss
Evening Remembrance Event
Friday, June 1; 8:00 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.
Frank Campbell, Grief Across the Lifespan
Mourning Hope Grief Center, Children's Grief

Hope in the Morning 2012

Mourning Hope's First Annual Tree Lighting Ceremony
Sunday, December 18, 2011
4:30 pm - 5:30 pm

The arrival of the holidays often comes with a variety of emotions, memories and expectations that center on family traditions and celebrations. At Mourning Hope, we understand that holidays with the absence of loved ones can often be very difficult. Mourning Hope invites your family to help us begin a new tradition this holiday season. This celebration centers on providing support for our grieving families and joining together to honor and remember loved ones who have died.

On Sunday, December 18, we invite your family to attend our first annual Tree Lighting Ceremony. During this short one-hour ceremony, families will decorate ornaments, design a luminary - and most importantly, reconnect with friends. We will conclude our time together by remembering our loved ones through candlelight and the lighting of the Memory Tree.

RSVP your family's attendance by Thursday, December 15. You may RSVP by leaving a message at our Center 402.488.8989 or through email at jbass@mourninghope.org.

Holiday Hope

Holiday Hope 2011

Saturday, November 19, 2011
4919 Baldwin Avenue
Lincoln, NE 68504

Mourning Hope Grief Center invites you to attend "Holiday Hope." In previous years, Holiday Hope was designed to focus on supporting grieving families and their children as they enter the stressful holiday season. This year we are expanding our program to include all who have experienced the death of a loved one. Whatever your age, whoever has died, whatever the cause of death, holidays lived in the absence of a loved one can be very difficult. With the arrival of the holidays often come a variety of emotions, memories and expectations that center on family traditions and celebrations. Adults will be treated to a 3-hour session designed to help them navigate through the holiday season, while youth will be joined by local artists to create memory items honoring their loved one. It is not, however, necessary for attendees to participate as a family unit-youth can participate in the art program without an adult caregiver and all adults, with or without children, are invited to register for Holiday Hope.

Fee:
$10 for the adult session (9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.)
$20 for the youth session to cover the cost of materials. (9:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.) Please do not let the cost deter you from attending. Scholarships are available.

Registration:
Registration is required. To register, please call Mourning Hope at (402) 488-8989 or e-mail jbass@mourninghope.org.

Nebraska Governor's Points of Light Award - 2011

Governor Dave Heineman presented the Nebraska Governor's Points of Light Awards at a ceremony in Warner Chamber at the State Capitol in Lincoln on February 16 at 10:30 a.m.. The awards are presented quarterly in recognition of volunteers who give their time, talent and energy to help Nebraskans build stronger communities.

Since 1994, Mourning Hope volunteers have been gently guiding bereaved youth toward the right path. All involved with Mourning Hope operate with a crystal clear, singular purpose -- to bring comfort and support to children, teens, young adults and their families following the serious illness or death of a loved one. During the initial 11 years, Mourning Hope operated as an exclusively volunteer-ran organization. Currently, the Center functions with only two half-time staff and has served nearly 2,400 community members this past fiscal year. This program would not exist without its cadre of dedicated and trained volunteers which is why they are most deserving of the Governor's Point of Light Award

The Points of Light Award honors those who have made a commitment to connect Americans through service to help meet critical needs in their communities. This award was established by Governor Mike Johanns in May 2002 to recognize the innovative and effective voluntary efforts that take place in Nebraska everyday.

Nebraska Children's Grief Awareness Week

September 21 -- 27, 2009

The last week of September marks Mourning Hope Grief Center's 15th year of offering hope and healing to grieving youth in our community.

Anyone old enough to love, is also old enough to grieve. How adults respond following the death of someone significant in their lives has a major effect on the way youth react to death. If handled with warmth, acceptance and understanding, caring adults can help youth experience a valuable part of their personal growth and development.

- You are a role model for your children, even as they grieve. Openly share your emotions so your children can learn healthy expression skills.
- Death is a natural part of life. Allow children to be included in the family rituals and take an active role if they would like.
- Share information with children at a level they can understand. Use simple, concrete, but direct language and allow children plenty of opportunities to ask questions.
- Grief comes in waves -- some may be gentle and others very strong. There may be times when children seem like nothing has happened and other times when they are overcome by emotion. Be there for them - comforting, listening, hugging, and showing them you care.

4919 Baldwin Avenue
402.488.8989
info@mourninghope.org
www.mourninghope.org