The holidays can be a time of joy, and a time of sadness. This is particularly true when our families are impacted by illness and difficulty. This week we find comfort in the wise words of Anne Lynch and Valerie Jones of the Center for Grieving Children; and hospice advocate Louise Hurlbutt and Arlene Wing RN, MHSA, Chief Executive Officer of Hospice of Southern Maine.
Guests
Anne Lynch
Anne Lynch heads a unique and critical community resource in southern Maine, serving as executive director of the Center for Grieving Children. She was appointed to theposition in July 2001 after serving as the Center’s outreach director and education coordinator for four years and facilitating the Center’s Bereavement Peer Support Program as a volunteer for three years. Her introduction to the Center was as a family participant who sought support.
Additionally, she was among the founders of America’s Camp, a national summer camp that for 10 years included a network of grief-support “buddies” in its service to children and siblings of fire fighters and police who died in the 9/11 tragedy. Locally, she has guided the Center’s leading role in providing grief support services to schools and civic associations, a notable example of which is the Center’s innovative Multicultural Program, which works with Portland middle schools to support refugee and immigrant students from war-torn countries.
Valerie Jones
Valerie Jones LMSW is the Bereavement Services Coordinator at the Center for Grieving Children as well as an adjunct faculty member at the University of New England School of Social Work and the Chaplaincy Institute of Maine. She is also owner of Continuing Journeys, a private practice, working with individuals and families in the areas of grief, loss and transition.
Valerie holds a master’s degree in social work and has over fifteen years of experience working with a variety of populations in social service settings. Her work at the Center includes working closely with families, volunteers and the community in the areas of grief and loss, program development and teaching. Valerie coordinates all training for the volunteers at the Center, especially developing and designing in-service trainings.
Arlene Wing
Arlene Wing, RN, MHSA is a registered nurse with over 20 years of hospice experience who currently serves as CEO at Hospice of Southern Maine. Arlene holds a Master of Health Services Administration degree and her background includes over 15 years of executive management in hospice and home health. She has also been a JCAHO surveyor for home health and hospice. She has done extensive public speaking and teaching concerning hospice and end of life care.
Louise Hurlbutt
Louise Hurlbutt is the owner of Hurlbutt Designs, a home furnishing store in Kennebunk, Maine, which provides interior design services to the New England area. She is an advocate of hospice and a fundraiser for the Gosnell Memorial Hospice House.