Good Samaritan Hospice Of Pittsburgh

HOME HOSPICE/NURSING: ESTABLISH AND MAINTAIN PROGRAMS WHICH PROVIDE SUPPORTIVE CARE FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES; AND TO PROVIDE ASSOCIATED SERVICES INCLUDING, BUT NOT LIMITED TO, OPERATION OF A NON-PROFIT HOSPICE.

GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE (GSH) REMAINS DEDICATED TO EXCELLENT PATIENT/FAMILY CARE, ETHICAL PRACTICE IN THE MANAGEMENT OF FUNDS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES CONTRIBUTING TO IMPROVED EDUCATION AND UNDERSTANDING OF QUALITY OF LIFE AT THE END OF LIFE. THE FOUNDATION OF HOSPICE IS COMFORT CARE - MANAGING PAIN AND SYMPTOMS - TO IMPROVE THEIR OVERALL QUALITY OF LIFE WHILE NEARING THE END OF THEIR JOURNEY. GSH PROVIDED CARE TO 1,945 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES IN THE COMMUNITY BY PROVIDING 41,169 VISITS IN THEIR HOMES. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE HAD 83 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. THE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN BEREAVEMENT, CLERICAL, PATIENT SERVICE, INPATIENT UNIT SUPPORT, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. DESPITE THE PANDEMIC, REQUESTS WERE MADE FOR VOLUNTEERS TO SAFELY PROVIDE PATIENT COMPANIONSHIP AND SUPPORT TO CAREGIVERS AND OFFER RESPITE. DURING THESE PATIENT VISITS, IT ALSO GIVES CAREGIVERS TIME TO TAKE A BREAK, RUN ERRANDS, AND BUILD NEW RELATIONSHIPS WITH THE VOLUNTEERS. SOME OF OUR VOLUNTEERS ALSO VISIT OR CALL FAMILY MEMBERS AT HOME AFTER A PATIENT PASSED AWAY TO COMFORT THEM IN A TIME OF BEREAVEMENT. VOLUNTEERS ALSO ASSIST WITH OFFICE FUNCTIONS SUCH AS; FILING, ORGANIZING, CREATING ADMISSION PACKETS, PROCESSING MAIL, CREATING THANK YOU BASKETS FOR CLINICIANS, AND MAKING CONDOLENCE CALLS TO THOSE WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. VOLUNTEERS WHO MAKE THESE CALLS ARE PART OF OUR COMPASSIONATE CALLERS PROGRAM. BECAUSE OF QUARANTINE RESTRICTIONS, THE BEREAVED CAREGIVERS HAVE GREATLY APPRECIATED OUR VOLUNTEERS MAKING THESE CONDOLENCE SUPPORT CALLS. FOLLOWING SAFETY GUIDELINES, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS PLAYED A PART IN SPECIAL EVENTS, MEETINGS, AND ACTIVITIES HELD THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. THESE EVENTS INCLUDED A CAMP ERIN ONE-DAY PROGRAM, VIRTUAL HOLIDAY GRIEF WORKSHOP, AND BUTTERFLY MEMORIAL RELEASE. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEERS GENEROUSLY DONATED HOMEMADE FACE MASKS FOR OUR ORGANIZATION TO HELP SLOW THE SPREAD OF COVID-19. SEAMSTRESSES AND QUILTERS ALSO MADE MEMORY QUILTS, LAP BLANKETS, AND FIDGET BLANKETS FOR OUR PATIENTS. OVER THE COURSE OF THE PAST FISCAL YEAR, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED A TOTAL OF 1,867 HOURS OF SERVICE WITH A DOLLAR VALUE OF $50,788.66. NON-PATIENT RELATED VOLUNTEER HOURS, TOTALED 257 HOURS OF SERVICE. GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS WERE OFFERED BY GSH IN THREE COUNTIES AND WERE OPEN TO THE COMMUNITY AT NO CHARGE. FOUR SEPARATE BEREAVEMENT MAILINGS WERE SENT OFFERING SPIRITUAL SUPPORT, COPING TECHNIQUES AND EDUCATION TO 1,808 HOSPICE FAMILY MEMBERS. A TOTAL OF 26 GRIEF SUPPORT GROUP SESSIONS PROVIDED ENCOURAGEMENT AND ASSISTANCE TO APPROXIMATELY 144 PARTICIPANTS. ONE HOLIDAY GRIEF WORKSHOP WAS HELD ON DECEMBER 5, 2020, IN THE GSH MIDDLESEX LOCATION. A TOTAL OF 10 STAFF MEMBERS OFFERED APPROXIMATELY 200 HOURS OF FREE TIME IN PREPARING AND HOSTING THE WORKSHOP TO PREPARE INDIVIDUALS ON NAVIGATING LOSS THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON. THIRTEEN PARTICIPANTS ENGAGED IN THE EVENT THOUGH A VIRTUAL APPLICATION. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES WERE HONORED TO IMPLEMENT THE NEW BEREAVEMENT PROGRAM, YOUTH BEREAVEMENT CARE (YBC), A GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAM FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE LOST A LOVED ONE. THE ANNUAL GSH BUTTERFLY RELEASE WAS HELD IN A MODIFIED DRIVE-IN STYLE FORMAT ON SUNDAY AUGUST 30, 2020, AT MT ZION BAPTIST CHURCH IN FRANKLIN TOWNSHIP, PA. THIS MEMORIAL EVENT WAS OPEN TO ANYONE WHO WANTED TO HONOR AND CELEBRATE THE MEMORY OF THEIR LOVED ONES, WHETHER OR NOT THEY WERE EVER ON SERVICE AT GSH. ONE HUNDRED FAMILIES RELEASED 300 MONARCH BUTTERFLIES INTO THE SKY. TWENTY-SIX VOLUNTEERS ASSISTED WITH THE EVENT. HOSPICE STAFF MEMBERS PROVIDED EDUCATION AND INFORMATION AT NO COST TO OVER 1,358 INDIVIDUALS AND THEIR FAMILY MEMBERS REGARDING THEIR DISEASE STATE, CONCERNS, HEALTHCARE WISHES AND HOSPICE AND PALLIATIVE CARE INSURANCE OPTIONS WITHIN THE COUNTIES SERVED, PRIOR TO THEIR DECISION REGARDING CARE. IT IS ESTIMATED GSH TALLIED OVER 1,046 HOURS PROVIDING HOSPICE INFORMATION AND EDUCATION. THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) POSED MANY CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE YEAR. WE SAW A SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. IN MARCH 2020, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED ITS EMERGENCY DISASTER PLAN. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACROSS THE CONTINUUM MET ROUTINELY TO CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE SITUATION REGARDING THE PHE AND EVER-CHANGING STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED OR KNOWN COVID-19 INFECTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP ALL STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY. AT TIMES, STAFFING BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN STAFF NEEDED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO EXPOSURE OR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. A STAFFING CONTINGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO CARE FOR AS MANY PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE SAFEST OF WAYS. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PHE, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FOCUSED EDUCATION ON VARIOUS RELATED TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED WHAT COVID-19 IS, HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, HOW TO CARE FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MITIGATION EFFORTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION (THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED $56,832 OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR FOR USE BY THE COMMUNITY AND ADMIN STAFF) AND OTHER INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES. THIS EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARYING PLATFORMS SUCH AS SECURE MESSAGING, AT VIRTUAL STAFF MEETINGS AND THROUGH THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ELSEVIER. STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN EDUCATED ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A TOOL TO HELP END THE PHE. A CORPORATE NURSING TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST WITH EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. THE VACCINATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO FELLOW CO-WORKERS, PATIENTS, RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AT NO CHARGE. TOTAL DONATIONS AND SPONSORSHIPS DURING THE FISCAL YEAR EQUATED $15,306. ADDITIONAL INDIRECT CONTRIBUTIONS HAVE BEEN THROUGH DONATIONS TO 501(C)(3) MEMBER HOSPITAL SYSTEMS AT A TOTAL OF $4,500,000 TO HELP EXPAND LIKE-MINDED MISSION WITHIN THE GEOGRAPHICAL COMMUNITIES THAT WE SERVE. EMPLOYEES OF GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY TO SERVE THE COMMUNITY BY PARTICIPATING IN SEVERAL MISSION EVENTS ORGANIZED BY THE PARENT COMPANY CONCORDIA COMMUNITY SUPPORT SERVICES. HERE ARE THE DONATION, SPONSORSHIP, AND MISSION EVENT OPPORTUNITIES THAT GSH TOOK PART OF DURING THE FISCAL YEAR. A SCHOLARSHIP OF $5,000 WAS AWARDED TO THE DAUGHTER OF A GSH EMPLOYEE IN THE CONCORDIA SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM. THE GSH MISSION EVENT FOR CHRISTMAS 2020 WAS AN OPPORTUNITY FOR EMPLOYEES TO DONATE TO AN ORGANIZATION CALLED VARIETY-THE CHILDREN'S CHARITY. GSH MATCHED EACH EMPLOYEE DONATION, AND THE GIFTS WENT TO VARIETY'S MY BIKE PROGRAM IN WHICH AN ADAPTIVE BIKE WAS PURCHASED FOR A DESERVING SPECIAL-NEEDS KID. A TOTAL OF $494 WAS GIVEN TOWARD THE PURCHASE OF A BIKE; THAT AMOUNT WAS OFFSET BY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $94 FOR AN EXPENSE TO GSH OF $400. A SEVEN-WEEK LONG MISSION EVENT WAS HELD IN JANUARY AND FEBRUARY 2021 CALLED MONDAY BLUE JEANS DAYS. EMPLOYEES WERE PERMITTED TO WEAR BLUE JEANS FOR A $5 DONATION AND THE DONATIONS WERE MATCHED BY GSH AND THEN USED TO SUPPORT A LOCAL CHARITY. A NEW CHARITY WAS CHOSEN EACH WEEK AND THE FOLLOWING ORGANIZATIONS WERE SUPPORTED DURING THAT TIME: BUTLER COUNTY YMCA, GOOD SAMARITAN ENDOWMENT FUND, KIDS KLOSET AT TRINITY CHURCH OF WASHINGTON, PA, PRINCE OF PEACE CENTER, ST LUKE LUTHERAN CHURCH FOOD BANK, AND THE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION. A TOTAL OF $737 WAS GIVEN TO THE CHARITIES; THAT AMOUNT WAS OFFSET BY EMPLOYEE CONTRIBUTIONS OF $53 FOR AN EXPENSE TO GSH OF $684. THE FOLLOWING EVENTS WERE SPONSORED DURING THE FISCAL YEAR: ALLE-KISKI PARAMEDIC UNIT FOR LIFE SUPPORT EMERGENCY RESPONSE ANNUAL GOLF OUTING $500; ALLE-KISKI STRONG CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLF OUTING $183; BUTLER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE EMPLOYEE APPRECIATION LUNCHEON $100; BUTLER COUNTY CHAMBER OF COMMERCE GOLF OUTING $500; BUTLER HEALTH SYSTEM FOUNDATION $1,000; BUTLER HEALTH SYSTEM GOLF OUTING $1,000; CONCORDIA LUTHERAN MINISTRIES FOUNDATION CLM GOLF CLASSIC $3,000; HERITAGE VALLEY HEALTH SYSTEM CHEERS EVENT $1,250; THE LIGHTHOUSE FOUNDATION GOLF OUTING $1,000. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE DONATED $3,987 WORTH OF DURABLE MEDICAL EQUIPMENT AND PATIENT SUPPLIES TO THE PEOPLE IN PANAMA THROUGH AN ORGANIZATION CALLED DTCARE. THE DTCARE PANAMA PROJECT SENT ITS 27TH CONTAINER FILLED WITH MEDICAL EQUIPMENT IN JUNE 2021 AND CONCORDIA WAS BLESSED TO BE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE TO IT. THE ITEMS THAT GSH DONATED WERE ITEMS IN STORAGE THAT HAD BEEN GIVEN BACK BY FAMILIES OF GSH PATIENTS TO BE PASSED TO THOSE IN NEED; AS WELL AS NEW BUT EXPIRED PATIENT SUPPLIES. SOME EXAMPLES INCLUDE WHEELCHAIRS, WALKERS, TUBING, OSTOMY POUCHES, KNEE BRACES, BED SHEETS AND EYEGLASSES. THESE DONATIONS, SPONSORSHIPS AND MISSION EVENTS ARE SOME OF THE WAYS WE SERVE GOD BY PROVIDING FOR THE NEEDS OF HIS PEOPLE.

GSH ALSO OFFERS INPATIENT CARE FOR HELP IN THE ASSESSMENT AND MANAGEMENT OF ACUTE, COMPLEX, OR UNCONTROLLED SYMPTOMS SUCH AS PAIN OR SHORTNESS OF BREATH. THE INPATIENT UNITS (IPUS) FOCUS ON CARING FOR PATIENTS WITH HIGH ACUITY THAT CANNOT BE MANAGED AT HOME, SUCH AS COMPLICATED DELIVERY MECHANISMS I.E., SUBCUTANEOUS, FREQUENT DOSE TITRATION, AND SKILLED NURSING CARE WITH FREQUENT MONITORING CAN BE PROVIDED IN THE GENERAL INPATIENT SETTING. GSH PROVIDED THIS LEVEL OF CARE TO 888 PATIENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR END. 9,803 VISITS WERE PROVIDED TO PATIENTS IN THE IPUS. THE HOSPICE STAFF ARE AVAILABLE IN THIS SPECIFIC SETTING AROUND THE CLOCK TO CONSULT AND PROVIDE SUPPORT TO FAMILIES AS THEY JOURNEY THROUGH THE PROGRESSION OF THE DISEASE. THIS SETTING IS OFFERED AT THREE LOCATIONS: HERITAGE VALLEY BEAVER HOSPITAL, CONCORDIA AT CABOT, AND IN THE HOSPICE HOUSE IN WEXFORD. SHORT-TERM RESPITE CARE IS ALSO PROVIDED BY NURSING STAFF TO ALLEVIATE THE BURDEN ON FAMILY CAREGIVERS. GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE HAD 83 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS. THE ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATED IN BEREAVEMENT, CLERICAL, PATIENT SERVICE, INPATIENT UNIT SUPPORT, AND SPECIAL EVENTS. THESE VOLUNTEERS VISIT WITH PATIENTS, READ THEM STORIES, CREATE CRAFT PROJECTS, PLAY MUSIC, SING, AND PROVIDE PET THERAPY VISITS. IN ADDITION, THEY PROVIDE SPIRITUAL SUPPORT THROUGH PRAYER, SINGING HYMNS, SCRIPTURE READING, AND SIMPLY OFFER A QUIET, CALM PRESENCE DURING THE LAST FEW HOURS OF LIFE. A TEAM OF VOLUNTEERS WORKED DILIGENTLY AT BEAUTIFYING THE FLOWER GARDENS AT OUR INPATIENT UNITS IN CABOT AND WEXFORD. THE PATIENTS AND FAMILIES HAVE THOROUGHLY ENJOYED THE BEAUTIFUL LANDSCAPE AND FLOWER ARRANGEMENTS. OVER EACH HOLIDAY SEASON, OUR VOLUNTEERS GRACIOUSLY HELP DECORATE OUR THREE INPATIENT UNITS MAKING IT FEEL WELCOMING FOR FAMILIES AND VISITORS. VOLUNTEERS ROUTINELY BAKE TREATS AND COOK MEALS FOR OUR INPATIENT UNITS; THESE HOMECOOKED MEALS ARE APPRECIATED BY FAMILIES AND VISITORS. WE ALSO HAVE A TEAM OF PET THERAPY VOLUNTEERS WHO VISIT PATIENTS AND FAMILY MEMBERS IN OUR THREE INPATIENT UNITS. STUDENTS PREPARING TO BECOME REGISTERED NURSES AND LICENSED PRACTICAL NURSES WERE ALSO OFFERED EDUCATIONAL OPPORTUNITIES AT OUR WEXFORD AND CABOT INPATIENT LOCATIONS. STUDENTS FROM COMMUNITY COLLEGE OF BEAVER COUNTY (CCBC) COMPLETED APPROXIMATELY 656 CLINICAL ROTATION HOURS. THESE OPPORTUNITIES ALLOWED FOR A HANDS-ON TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE IN A SKILLED SETTING. THE SOCIAL SERVICES DEPARTMENT ALSO HOSTED A STUDENT INTERN FOR SOCIAL WORK FROM SLIPPERY ROCK UNIVERSITY IN WHICH THE STUDENT HAD THE OPPORTUNITY TO ACCESS 250 HOURS OF FREE EDUCATION AND TRAINING IN HOSPICE SERVICES. THE CORONAVIRUS (COVID-19) PUBLIC HEALTH EMERGENCY (PHE) POSED MANY CHALLENGES, AS WELL AS OPPORTUNITIES FOR THE ORGANIZATION THROUGH THE YEAR. WE SAW A SHIFT IN HEALTHCARE. THE PANDEMIC HAS CREATED NEW WAYS OF THINKING AND SOLUTIONS THAT WILL HELP TO CARRY HEALTHCARE SERVICES INTO THE FUTURE. IN MARCH 2020, THE ORGANIZATION IMPLEMENTED ITS EMERGENCY DISASTER PLAN. THE LEADERSHIP TEAM ACROSS THE CONTINUUM MET ROUTINELY TO CONTINUOUSLY EVALUATE THE SITUATION REGARDING THE PHE AND EVER-CHANGING STATE AND FEDERAL GUIDANCE FOR THE SAFE CARE OF PATIENTS WITH SUSPECTED OR KNOWN COVID-19 INFECTIONS WHILE ATTEMPTING TO KEEP ALL STAFF SAFE AND HEALTHY. AT TIMES, STAFFING BECAME A CHALLENGE WHEN STAFF NEEDED TO QUARANTINE DUE TO EXPOSURE OR TESTING POSITIVE FOR COVID-19. A STAFFING CONTINGENCY PLAN WAS PUT INTO PLACE SO THAT THE ORGANIZATION WOULD BE ABLE TO CARRY OUT ITS MISSION TO CARE FOR AS MANY PATIENTS AS POSSIBLE IN THE SAFEST OF WAYS. THROUGHOUT THE COVID-19 PHE, THE ORGANIZATION PROVIDED FOCUSED EDUCATION ON VARIOUS RELATED TOPICS. THESE TOPICS INCLUDED WHAT COVID-19 IS, HOW TO PREVENT THE SPREAD, HOW TO CARE FOR PATIENTS THAT ARE POSITIVE FOR COVID-19, MITIGATION EFFORTS, PERSONAL PROTECTIVE EQUIPMENT UTILIZATION (THE ORGANIZATION PURCHASED $25,533 OF PPE AND RELATED SUPPLIES THROUGHOUT THE PAST YEAR FOR THE GSH IPUS) AND OTHER INFECTION CONTROL PRACTICES. THIS EDUCATION WAS PROVIDED THROUGH VARYING PLATFORMS SUCH AS SECURE MESSAGING, AT VIRTUAL STAFF MEETINGS AND THROUGH THE LEARNING MANAGEMENT SOFTWARE, ELSEVIER. STAFF HAVE ALSO BEEN EDUCATED ON COVID-19 VACCINATIONS AND THE IMPORTANCE OF VACCINATIONS AS A TOOL TO HELP END THE PHE. A CORPORATE NURSING TEAM WAS ESTABLISHED TO ASSIST WITH EDUCATION AND ADMINISTRATION RELATED TO THE COVID-19 VACCINATIONS. THE VACCINATION WAS ADMINISTERED TO FELLOW CO-WORKERS, PATIENTS, RESIDENTS AND MEMBERS OF SURROUNDING COMMUNITIES AT NO CHARGE.

IN 2007, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE HELD ITS FIRST EVENT JUST FOR CHILDREN CALLED CAMP GOOD SAM, AN OVERNIGHT SUMMER BEREAVEMENT CAMP. IN 2013, CAMP GOOD SAM WAS CONSOLIDATED WITH CAMP ERIN PITTSBURGH TO PROVIDE A THREE-DAY, OVERNIGHT EXPERIENCE IN A SAFE AND CARING ENVIRONMENT WHERE GRIEVING CHILDREN AND TEENS AGES 6-17 COULD CONNECT WITH OTHERS DEALING WITH LOSS. IN 2020, WE FACED A UNIQUE CHALLENGE AND WERE UNABLE TO HOLD OUR TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT CAMP, ORIGINALLY PLANNED FOR JUNE 2020. GOVERNMENT RESTRICTIONS AT THE TIME PREVENTED US FROM BEING ABLE TO HOST OUR CAMP DUE TO SOCIAL DISTANCING GUIDELINES. WE WERE ABLE TO HOST A ONE-DAY SOCIALLY DISTANCED EVENT OUTSIDE AT OUR MIDDLESEX OFFICE WHICH WAS CAMP ERIN 2020. CAMPERS THAT ATTENDED THE AUGUST 22, 2020, DAY CAMP WERE GIVEN GRIEF ACTIVITIES INCLUDING INSTRUCTIONS AND ALL MATERIALS NEEDED TO COMPLETE THESE ACTIVITIES AS A FAMILY. THEY WERE ALSO GIFTED WITH TOTE BAGS, WATERPROOF LARGE CAMPING BLANKETS, AND BIODEGRADABLE PAPER LANTERNS TO LIGHT AND RELEASE AS A FAMILY IN HONOR OF THEIR PERSON WHO DIED. CONTACT WAS MAINTAINED THROUGH SOCIAL MEDIA AND EMAILS TO THE FAMILIES AFTER THE CAMP WAS HELD. DETAILS FOR THE AUGUST 22, 2020, EVENT INCLUDE: 4 STAFF MEMBERS, 20 CAMPERS, 20 SIBLINGS/CAREGIVERS, AND 10 VOLUNTEERS FOR A TOTAL OF 54 ATTENDEES. AND WHILE CAMP ERIN PITTSBURGH WAS A SUCCESS, A NEED WAS RECOGNIZED TO ADAPT AND EXPAND OUR YOUTH BEREAVEMENT SERVICES BEYOND JUST THE CAMP TO REACH EVEN MORE OF GOD'S PEOPLE ON A MORE FREQUENT BASIS. DURING THIS FISCAL YEAR, GOOD SAMARITAN HOSPICE INTRODUCED YOUTH BEREAVEMENT CARE (YBC), A DIVISION OF FAMILY SUPPORT SERVICES. FOUNDED IN 2020 AND GROWN FROM THE NEED FOR INNOVATIVE WAYS TO REACH GRIEVING CHILDREN YEAR-ROUND, THE PROGRAM PROVIDES FREE SUPPORT FOR YOUTH FROM BIRTH THROUGH AGE 21 WHO HAVE BEEN AFFECTED BY THE DEATH OF A SIGNIFICANT PERSON IN THEIR LIVES. YBC IS OPEN TO NOT ONLY OUR HOSPICE AND EXTENDED CONCORDIA FAMILIES BUT ALSO TO THE GREATER COMMUNITY. THE MISSION OF YBC IS TO MAKE AN IMPACTFUL DIFFERENCE IN THE LIVES OF CHILDREN AND TEENS BY PROVIDING RESOURCES, CLINICAL SUPPORT AND YEAR-ROUND CONNECTION WITH OTHER FAMILIES WHO ARE GRIEVING. THE ENRICHED PROGRAMMING PROVIDES ROBUST SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AND YOUTH AS THEY NAVIGATE THEIR OWN UNIQUE GRIEF. YBC SERVICES ARE FREE AND INCLUDE A VARIETY OF VIRTUAL AND IN-PERSON PROGRAMMING, SUCH AS GRIEF COUNSELING, PEER SUPPORT, INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY GROUPS, GRIEF EDUCATION AND DAY RETREATS. YBC IS STAFFED BY GRIEF AND BEREAVEMENT EXPERTS AS WELL AS CLINICIANS WHO ARE TRAINED IN CHILD MENTAL AND BEHAVIORAL HEALTH AND PROVIDE CONNECTIVE RESOURCES WITHIN THE GRIEF COMMUNITY. GSH HAS CONTRACTED A RETIRED PASTOR TO PROVIDE EVENT SUPPORT AND ONE-ON-ONE COUNSELING SESSIONS FOR THE YOUTH OF YBC. DURING THE FISCAL YEAR, HE PROVIDED 8.5 HOURS OF IN-PERSON SERVICE WITH PLANS OF PROVIDING MORE HOURS BOTH IN-PERSON AND ON PHONE CALLS. THE YBC PROGRAM KICKED OFF WITH A SPRING SELF CARE EVENT ON MAY 21, 2021 AT THE MANSION IN BUTLER, PA FOR CAREGIVERS AND YOUTH UNDER 21 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE LOSS OF A LOVED ONE. THE EVENT WAS PRESENTED IN PART BY NEW YORK LIFE. OVER 20 FAMILIES WERE SERVED AT THE "NOURISH TO FLOURISH" EVENT WHICH HAD A BUTTERFLY THEME. PARTICIPANTS MADE A CRAFT ABOUT THE LIFE CYCLE OF A BUTTERFLY AND WERE GIVEN TWO BOOKS TITLED WATER BUGS AND DRAGONFLIES: EXPLAINING DEATH TO YOUNG CHILDREN, AND WHEN YOUR CHILD IS GRIEVING. ALL REVIEWS AFTER THE EVENT VALIDATED THE NEED FOR SUCH A PROGRAM.