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NEED:
Families often encounter complicated psycho/social issues and expressed concerns associated with their child’s traumatic loss; for example:
- at the time of a difficult diagnosis
- after an acute traumatic event
- when an infant is sent to the NICU and the potential for uncertain outcomes is great
- when a pediatric patient is diagnosed with any chronic illness or faces a crisis
- when siblings are affected negatively by a parent or sibling illness or disorder
- when there will be a dramatic change in the family dynamic
In each of these cases, families are understandably overwhelmed. Providing the families developmentally appropriate information will serve the affected child in two ways:
- his parent will be more prepared to cope with the stressor and
- the parent will have increased capacity to gain support from extended family, community, school, etc., which will benefit the patient and ameliorate the isolation, a hallmark of traumatic loss
The Family Support Assessment Clinic will work collaboratively with the pediatrician to amplify his/her effectiveness, in particular, to:
- help the parent more fully understand the what this means to her child
- recognize symptoms of the stressor
- use language more effectively…”find the words”
- access different help when it’s required
The clinic will be staffed by a Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrician and a mental health clinician. Referring providers are welcome to attend the visit if a team approach would be supportive.
Appointments are made only by referral from the child’s pediatrician. To make a referral, ask your child’s pediatrician to call Tinsley Iselin, 617-414-3668, our appointment scheduler.
Please contact mtrozzi@bu.edu or Augustyn@bu.edu with questions.
For more information or to
obtain a schedule:
The Good Grief Program
1 Boston Medical Center Place, Mat 5
Boston, MA 02118
Phone: (617) 414-4005
Fax: (617) 414-7915
E-Mail: mtrozzi @bu.edu |
Division of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics