By Michèle Neider
Executive Director
Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley

The Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley (HSVC) has been helping and supporting community members through a variety of programs and services such as Anticipatory Grief, End-of-Life, and Bereavement support since 2013.

A recent Hospice initiative is the Rainbows International Program, specifically designed for children and youth who are grieving the death of a loved one or have gone through losses. 

Since 1983, Rainbows for All Children has helped over three million children and youth worldwide and HSCV, in collaboration with the Rocky Mountain School District #6, is extremely proud to bring this unique program to the Valley. The Rainbows’ curriculum is designed to provide support to all youth as they navigate grief and heal from loss, whether from death, divorce or separation, deployment, or other challenges. The program is free for all participants, regardless of economic, racial, gender, or religious backgrounds. Rainbows program is facilitated by trained leaders and uses an age-appropriate curriculum. 

Starting mid-November, the Hospice Society of the Columbia Valley will offer a 12-week support group to children and youth struggling with grief and loss where they will learn to develop and strengthen problem-solving skills, to discuss feelings, and to improve communication. 

A 2018 school district survey on youth mental health indicated that 53 per cent experienced a loss in their lives. Yet only 28 per cent felt they received appropriate support from adults. Their vulnerability may be exacerbated by adults around them who may not be able to provide sufficient comfort and support because of their own bereavement and loss. It’s not always easy to know how to talk about losses. Adults need to speak to their children about what matters to help relieve feelings of isolation, loneliness, and distress.

The facilitators in the Rainbows program will address these feelings of isolation, loneliness, and distress and assist with developing positive coping skills. For more information about the program, contact HSCV at 250-280-3091 or send an email to [email protected].