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A creative and educational environment that inspires individual healing through peer support and group interaction |
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A specialized support group curriculum therapeutically designed for children and adults which utilizes writing, art, music and discussion |
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Trained volunteers and staff who provide consistent understanding and encouragement |
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Connections with other community resources to provide a continuum of care for families in the weeks, months and years following the death of a loved one |
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| The goals of Solace House are to help children,
individuals and families: |
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Explore their perspectives about death |
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Understand emotional, behavioral, physical, social and spiritual responses related to loss |
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Make necessary adaptations to life-altering change |
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Develop strategies for coping, communicating, and healing as a family |
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| Families are often referred to Solace House through schools, the medical community, religious organizations, business associates and neighbors. To participate in the Solace House program simply: |
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Call Solace House for information at 913.341.0318 |
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Schedule a family orientation to Solace House |
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Be accepted into the program and placed into a support group |
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Ask about individual and family counseling as well as resources to assist you and your family |
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Participate in the program as long as your family finds it helpful |
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| Who can participate in the Solace House programs? |
| The Solace House programs are open to families and friends who have experienced death-related losses. Services are for persons ages 3 through adult. There are support groups for every age group. |
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| How soon can my family participate following our loved one’s death? |
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The Solace House philosophy for caring for bereaved children and their families recognizes that every death-related situation is unique for each member of every family. We encourage families to contact Solace House at any point before or following a loved one’s death to inquire about services and to schedule an intake/orientation session. |
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Typically, families who have had preparation time prior to a loved one’s death report feeling more ready to begin participation in the support group program sooner than families who have experienced their loved one’s death very suddenly and without any warning. |
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A 2-to-3 month period of time may be appropriate for families to wait to begin participation; this may not be the case for others. |
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The Program & Clinical Director and Program Manager will make the final determination regarding a family’s placement into the group programs. |
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| What happens during the intake/orientation session? |
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During the intake/orientation session, a member of the Solace House Program Staff will orient the family to the various services that Solace House offers to bereaved families. It is a time when the entire family has the opportunity to ask questions about Solace House, to tour the facility, and to begin thinking about how they can best benefit from the Solace House programs. |
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Solace House intake counselors will inquire about the family’s coping, their emotional support systems, and additional resources that have been helpful. The session is informal and will last approximately 1-to-2 hours. |
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Completion of the intake/orientation session does not necessarily signify that a family that has been accepted into the program. |
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| How long will I have to wait to be placed into the group program? |
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Most families can complete all the placement requirements, be accepted into the program, and start group participation 2 to 5 weeks following their initial inquiry to schedule an intake session. |
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Several factors affect the placement and acceptance process: current openings in the existing programs; a family’s availability to participate on certain nights and times; and the appropriateness of a family’s situation for the Solace House programs. |
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| What if I need additional help? |
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Solace House offers comprehensive on-site counseling programs. Services include marriage & family therapy; individual; adolescent; and child/play therapies. Families must be active in the group programs in order to utilize counseling services. |
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There is generally no waiting period for counseling services. |
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Solace House staff and counselors will also make referrals to outside mental health professionals. |
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| How long can I participate? |
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Solace House recognizes the uniqueness of the grief journey for every individual participant. Families are welcome to participate in the Solace House group programs and additional clinical services as long as they feel their experience is positive, meaningful, and beneficial. This length of time will be different for every situation. |
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It is expected that a family will complete the cycle of group sessions to which that family has been assigned. Regular attendance is required, and in the event that a family cannot attend on a particular evening, it is expected that a family will call in advance. |
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At the end of each cycle of sessions, families may request to continue participation or may graduate from the program. Due to limited openings in the programs, families should understand that the places reserved in the program for their family members cannot be filled by another family once a cycle of group sessions begins. Families that have not had active attendance in previous group session cycles will not have their places reserved for upcoming group cycles. |
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| How much does the service cost? |
| We are very fortunate to live in a community that cares about and supports Solace House. Pledged donations are requested and encouraged of group participants. For individual and family counseling services, there is only a sliding-scale co-payment based on income. However, no one is turned away based upon ability to pay. The remainder of the counseling fee is subsidized through private donations. |
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