The John J. Brogan Bereavement Center, a program of Hospice of Palm Beach County, offers a variety of services and support tools to assist people facing life-changing events.
The staff and people at the Bereavement Center are there for anyone in the community who has experienced a loss – families, adults, teens and children. These services are offered at no charge to the families and friends of hospice patients. To learn more about our programs or for more information, please call (561) 227-5175.
Programs include:
The Nature of Grief Workshop Series: A three-part workshop which provides information and education in the following areas: overview of the grief process, impact of grief on relationships, world view, jobs, identity, healthy coping and healing. For more information or directions, call (561) 227-5175 or register online here.
The Nature of Children's Grief Workshop: A one-night workshop offered monthly for parents and guardians supporting a bereaved child. The workshop provides education and guidance on how to support children and teens on their grief journey. We provide an overview of how children and adolescents grieve differently form adults, communicating about death, grief and healthy coping strategies.
Grief Support Groups: We offer several support groups designed to provide an opportunity for individuals to share their grief safely and have contact with others who have had similar losses. Before joining any group, each member is seen individually by a John J. Brogan Bereavement Center counselor. Specialized groups are offered for adults, children and teens.
Individual and Family Grief Support: John J. Brogan Bereavement Center provides individual and family bereavement counseling to Hospice and Community families. We recognize the individuality of grief and of expression. Therefore, our counselors utilize a variety of modalities to support adults, children and teens in their grief journey.
Creative Healing Workshops: This monthly workshop series offers an interactive opportunity to learn and experience creative approaches to coping with grief in a healthy fashion.
SHARE: This program assists families coping with the devastation of pregnancy or infant loss, or the death of a child under the age of five. Share also offers education on prenatal and infant loss for health care professionals and organizations. Click here to purchase a brick online.
School Support Groups: We offer support groups throughout our community schools - both public and private. These support groups are designed for children and teens who have experienced the death of a loved one.
Messages of Caring: Hospice of Palm Beach County families will receive supportive messages, which give information about the grief process and provide suggestions for coping. These letters also serve as a reminder of our ongoing availability to the families.
Telephone Grief Support: John J. Brogan Bereavement Center staff or volunteers are available to provide supportive contact by telephone after the death of your loved one.
Memorial Service: Throughout the year, John J. Brogan Bereavement Center sponsors events to honor and celebrate the memories of our loved ones.
Coping with the Holidays Program: We are aware that holidays and "special days" can be overwhelming and exacerbate the grief issues. Therefore, every year we provide a program for adults, children and teens to gather together and have an opportunity to share concerns and gain some coping strategies for these special days.
Coping with the Jewish Holidays Program: Navigating times of the year with special meaning can be stressful, particularly following the loss of a loved one. This program, provided annually in advance of Yom Kippur and Rosh Hashanah, provides useful tips on coping with this special time in accordance with faith and tradition.
Camp SeaStar: We offer bereavement camp each spring for children and teens who have received services through the John J. Brogan Bereavement Center. These camps allow time for adventure counseling, sharing, support, celebration and fun.
Community Outreach: Our staff provides educational presentations, interventions and training throughout the community. We offer these services to area businesses, schools, agencies and places of worship. In addition, all of our clinicians are certified in Critical Incident Stress Management (CISM) and are members of the Palm Beach County CISM Team.
Anticipatory Grief Support for Children and Teens: Children and teens who are facing the loss of a loved one to terminal illness can receive support in their grief at the John J. Brogan Bereavement Center through individual, family and group counseling.
Resources/Referrals: Reading and learning about the grief process can be helpful. We provide materials about grief and mourning to our hospice and community families upon request or as part of the counseling support. Referrals to other agencies/services will be made as necessary.
Throughout the year, other special workshops, events and services may be offered.