Olivia S House-A Grief And Loss Center For Children

OLIVIA'S HOUSE IS AN ORGANIZATION OF CARE-GIVING PROFESSIONALS AND VOLUNTEERS COMMITTED TO SUPPORTING GRIEVING CHILDREN. IT'S PURPOSE IS TO FACILITATE HEALING THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS EDUCATION.

OLIVIA'S HOUSE FACILITATES HEALING THROUGH GRIEF AND LOSS EDUCATION BY PROVIDING NO-COST SERVICES SUCH AS: EDUCATIONAL PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND THEIR CAREGIVERS, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GRIEF COUNSELING REFERRALS TO QUALIFIED TRAUMA PROFESSIONALS, GRIEF EDUCATION PROGRAMS FOR THE SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY, PRE-DEATH SUPPORT SERVICES, PET LOSS SUPPORT SERVICES, SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR PROGRAM ALUMNI, AND A LENDING LIBRARY CONTAINING RESOURCES ON GRIEF AND LOSS. 2020 WILL FOREVER BE SYNONYMOUS WITH COVID-19 BUT 2021 LAID WITNESS TO A NATION IN MOURNING, CAUGHT IN THE EPIDEMIC OF GRIEF. IN OUR COMMUNITY ALONE, HUNDREDS OF CHILDREN HAVE LOST PARENTS, GRANDPARENTS, SIBLINGS, AND FRIENDS. OUR MISSION RECEIVED COUNTLESS PHONE CALLS FROM SCHOOL GUIDANCE COUNSELORS, HOSPITAL SOCIAL WORKERS, AND FUNERAL DIRECTORS ALIKE DESPERATE TO KNOW IF WE WERE STILL OFFERING PROGRAMS AND SERVICES. ONE BY ONE, WE ANSWERED THEIR CALLS, "ASSURING THEM WE WERE OPENX AND READY TO HELP.DUE TO THE ONGOING COVID-19 PANDEMIC, REGULAR OPERATIONS AT OLIVIA'S HOUSE CONTINUED TO BE AFFECTED. AS AN ORGANIZATION WHO WITNESSED FIRSTHAND THE TRAUMA FAMILIES ENDURED WHILE LOSING THEIR BATTLES WITH COVID-19, WE REMAINED EXTREMELY CAUTIOUS OF BOTH THEIR PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH NEEDS. THIS AMOUNTED TO OUR PROGRAMS REMAINING IN THE VIRTUAL REALM. IN LIGHT OF THIS, OUR MISSION WAS WITNESS TO RESOUNDING SUCCESS AND INCREDIBLE GROWTH. BY TRANSFERRING TO A VIRTUAL REALM, OUR REACH OF SUPPORT STRETCHED FURTHER THAN EVER BEFORE. IN 2021, WE CONNECTED WITH 2,565 GRIEVING FAMILIES LOOKING FOR SUPPORT. OUR CLINICAL DIRECTOR HELD 208 FAMILY INTAKE CONSULTATIONS. EIGHTY-TWO (82) PARTICIPANTS WERE SERVED THROUGH 36 WEEKS OF EDUCATIONAL SUPPORT PROGRAMS, CALLED HEARTS CAN HEAL AND LITTLE ONES. THE WINGS PROGRAM PROVIDES SOCIAL ACTIVITIES FOR ALUMNI OF THE GRIEF AND LOSS PROGRAMS AND THEIR FAMILIES, AND THIS YEAR WE HOSTED 4 WINGS ACTIVITIES SERVING APPROXIMATELY 187 PARTICIPANTS. ONE OF OUR MOST POPULAR WINGS EVENTS, THE YORK REVOLUTION BASEBALL GAME AND PICNIC, FILLED UP IN A RECORD-BREAKING FOUR DAYS, JUST FROM VIRTUAL ALUMNI FAMILIES.AFTER MANY YEARS OF PROVIDING EDUCATIONAL PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS DESIGNED TO GUIDE CHILDREN IN A HEALTHY EXPRESSION OF THEIR ANGER AND PAIN, OLIVIA'S HOUSE FOUND THAT WITHOUT ASSESSMENT FOR TRAUMA AND APPROPRIATE ADJUNCTIVE THERAPY REFERRALS, CHILDREN OFTEN FAILED TO USE POSITIVE COPING SKILLS. TRAUMA REFERRALS COUPLED WITH THE EDUCATIONAL PEER SUPPORT PROGRAMS HAVE PROVEN TO BE MORE THAN EFFECTIVE.OLIVIA'S HOUSE PROVIDES REFERRAL SERVICES TO COMMUNITY AND PROFESSIONAL COUNSELING ORGANIZATIONS WHEN NECESSARY. WHEN CLIENTS' NEEDS ARE PURELY OF A BEREAVEMENT NATURE, THE CLINICAL TEAM AT OLIVIA'S HOUSE HAS BEGUN OFFERING LIMITED INDIVIDUAL SUPPORT "IN HOUSE". IN 2021, 150 REFERRALS WERE MADE AND, IN AN EFFORT TO HELP TO OFF-SET INDIVIDUAL COSTS TO THE FAMILIES, OLIVIA'S HOUSE PROVIDED FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE TO 18 PARTICIPANTS.IN ADDITION, OLIVIA'S HOUSE CONTINUES TO GROW ITS GRIEF AND LOSS LENDING LIBRARY. NEW RESOURCES ARE ADDED REGULARLY AS A RESULT OF THE COMMUNITIES' CONTINUAL USE. IN 2021, 790 DIFFERENT GRIEF RELATED RESOURCES, JOURNALS AND WORKBOOKS WERE UTILIZED. TYPICALLY, RESOURCES ARE PLACED INTO A FAMILY'S HANDS DURING THEIR IN-PERSON INTAKE, HOWEVER BECAUSE OF THE ON-GOING PANDEMIC, THE ABILITY TO SHARE OUR RESOURCES BECAME LIMITED. OUR TEAM RECTIFIED THIS BY CREATING "OLIVIA'S HOUSE CARE KITS," PACKAGES DESIGNED WITH OUR CLASSIC BURGUNDY COLOR AND LOGO, FILLED WITH AGE-APPROPRIATE MATERIALS, SHIPPED RIGHT TO A FAMILY'S DOOR. AS A COMPLEMENT TO OUR VIRTUAL SERVICES, EACH PROGRAM FAMILY ALSO RECEIVED A CUSTOM-DESIGNED "OLIVIA'S HOUSE MEMORY BOX," FILLED WITH ITEMS NEEDED FOR ACTIVITIES DURING THE WEEKS OF THE PROGRAMS. BECAUSE OF OUR LONG-STANDING IMPACT ON THE COMMUNITY, AND NOW OUR PROVEN ABILITY TO CONTINUE SERVICES IN A GLOBAL PANDEMIC, OLIVIA'S HOUSE CONTINUES TO BE A "MENTOR CENTER," PROVIDING GUIDANCE AND WISDOM FOR ANY COMMUNITY WISHING TO DEVELOP CHILDREN'S GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES.