Quinlan Hospice to host children's art therapy program

Newton - The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and the Joseph T. Quinlan Bereavement Center will host an art therapy program for children ages six through 12 who are dealing with the loss of a loved one, from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on six consecutive Saturday afternoons beginning March 4, at the hospice office located at 99 Sparta Ave., Newton. The program will run through April 8. The program will be facilitated by credentialed staff, experienced in counseling and bereavement care. It is designed to explore the common feelings experienced by children when they lose someone they are close to. The activities will help children find hope and healing following their loss. The activities may also help children understand what grief is, and provide an environment where they can ask questions and express their fears about death. Part of the learning process in the program is also to remember and memorialize the person who has died. Parents and guardians are also encouraged to explore their feelings and understanding of grief by attending a concurrent program held while their children are engaged in the art therapy program. The parents and guardians group will be psycho educational and supportive in nature. Pre-registration and a $50 fee, to help defer the cost of materials and supplies, are required. For information about the children’s art therapy program or other services offered by the center, call 973-383-0115. The Karen Ann Quinlan Hospice and Home Health Care has provided interdisciplinary care to patients and their families in Sussex, Warren and Pike Counties since 1980.