NEWARK – An expanded grief counseling program for children who have lost a loved one is available through Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio (HOCO), according to a press release.
Formerly offered at annual in-person camps (which will still be held), Camp HOCO at Home will now provide similar resources to children year-round.
In June, Camp HOCO hosted its 25th annual camp, where children ages 6-12 participated in arts and crafts, hiking and music, in addition to grief support activities to learn how to manage their grief.
The year-round program is provided via a $15,000 grant from an anonymous donor. Through this innovative offering, Ohio’s Hospice has more than doubled the number of children it has supported in previous years, the release stated.
Stacy Geller, vice president of philanthropic development at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio, thanked the donor’s “generous gift,” which enabled them to create 200 boxes of materials.
“We continue to seek funding so that Camp HOCO at Home remains available to anyone seeking support,” Geller said in the release.
Having the boxes available year-round allows children to work through their grief on an appropriate timetable.
“For some children, their loss is only a few weeks or months before camp, and it feels too soon to attend,” said Maria Johnson, manager of patient and family support services at Ohio’s Hospice of Central Ohio. “Children may feel increased grief around birthdays, holidays, or anniversaries. The box allows them to work on their grief in a home setting. No matter what time of year it is, they can use it when they need it.”
The Camp HOCO at Home box comes with instructions for parents and guardians to follow. The box includes information about how children grieve, common emotions, and coping skills that can be helpful, as well as activities for the family to do to explore common issues children experience when grieving.
Camp HOCO at Home boxes are available, free of charge. For more information about the program, contact Maria Johnson at MJohnson@HospiceofCentralOhio.org or call 740-788-1474.
To learn more about how you can help support Camp HOCO at Home, contact Stacy Geller at Stacy@HospiceofCentralOhio.org or 740-788-1488.
