ABOUT HEAL TOGETHER
Heal Together – A Journey Through Grief
Following the devastating impacts of COVID-19, the Hospice Giving Foundation established Heal Together, a community-wide initiative to respond to grief and loss. Led by Coastal Kids Home Care, Heal Together educated our community in the language of grief and provided opportunities to accompany individuals through their unique journey.
Heal Together gathered more than 54 providers to bring their talents and expertise to grieving individuals. For some, one-on-one counseling or bereavement groups offered a path to follow. Others benefited from the healing touch of massage or cranial sacral therapy. Child life and music therapy were available to children and teens while cooking and art classes benefitted older adults.
The program has reached all corners of our community and responded to the needs of individuals from different cultural backgrounds. Partnership with promotores de salud brought information on grief to hard-hit Spanish-speaking communities, and outreach by therapeutic musicians has led to calming experiences for lonely residents of skilled nursing facilities.
Over the last eighteen months, Heal Together has accompanied 3,630 Monterey County residents on their grief journey. Going forward Heal Together will continue to be a source of valuable information for grieving individuals in Monterey County. Children and teens will continue to have access to one-on-one counseling, while bereavement groups will be available for individuals of all ages. For more information on current services and referrals available please contact us.
The Heal Together Hub is a central source of information on community resources to respond to grief, loss, and anxiety. Call 1-831-320-0947 or complete this form to reach out for assistance.
Hospice Giving Foundation
In response to the suffering so many have experienced throughout the pandemic, Hospice Giving Foundation established Heal Together, a major grant focused exclusively on the expansion of grief and bereavement care, to be available bilingually throughout Monterey County. Siobhan Greene, President, and CEO of Hospice Giving Foundation commented, “Though some of us may have been spared tragic, profound loss, we all have shared experiences ranging from lost routines, isolation, or missing loved ones and friends. Grief from this pandemic is palpable. This initiative is completely aligned with our mission. The gratitude we have for all who contributed is immense, and to our providers locally, we thank you and are honored to be able to help.”
On Thursday, Dec 9th Hospice Giving Foundation announced the local non-profit organization that was awarded the Heal Together Grant was Coastal Kids Home Care.
With over fifteen years of experience caring for children with serious illness and those facing end-of-life, Coastal Kids Home Care has long prioritized bereavement care to help parents and siblings heal after loss. Early in 2020, we recognized that our whole community was hurting. With an expanding mental health counseling program, we were able to broaden access to counseling for children and teens.
Licensed bilingual counselors served families and children without interruption via telehealth or with social distancing. In early 2021, we incorporated Papillon Center for Loss and Transition adult bereavement groups into our programs. Margy Mayfield, Executive Director of Coastal Kids Home Care stated, “When we heard about the Heal Together initiative, our team recognized an opportunity to collaborate with community partners to bring healing and growth during these difficult times.”
The Heal Together Hub at Coastal Kids Home Care initiated services in early December. Please continue to check back for more resources. Our community is grieving. Heal Together is here to help.
Coastal Kids Home Care
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HEAL TOGETHER