A new program designed to help children cope with losing a parent to cancer has been started by the Yale Cancer Center. The bereavement support group is the first in the area that is tailored for children.
The free, six-session program will begin on Monday, April 14. Sessions will be held every other Monday 5:30-7 p.m. at the Greater New Haven Jewish Community Center, Amity Road, Woodbridge.
Children between the ages of 5 and 18 are invited to participate in the program, and will be grouped according to age. Age-appropriate activities will be geared toward each group, with social workers and child life specialists serving as facilitators. Adults will meet at the same time in a separate, more informal setting.
"We've identified a tremendous need for this kind of service in the area," says Diane Erdos, patient services director at the Yale Cancer Center. "There are lots of other support groups, but none designed specifically for children coping with the loss of a mother or father. The support group will give them an opportunity to meet other kids their age who are going through a similar experience. There's an enormous amount to be gained from that."
For more information, call Ms. Erdos at 785-7398.