Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region (BFO-MR) is the bereaved helping the bereaved so that no one walks alone through their journey of grief.
BFO-MR offers peer support programs for parents grieving the death of an infant, parents grieving the death of a child, grandparents grieving the death of a grandchild and a mixed loss group for adults.
Each of these programs are built on a peer mutual support model where volunteers who have experienced the death of a loved one facilitate support groups.
“Once families are further along their grief journey, becoming peer facilitators is often how they choose to give back to BFO-MR,” said executive director Jaime Bickerton, in a press release. “They have experienced the power of the peer experience first-hand and want to become the hope at the front of the room for others who are grieving.”
Registration is currently open for BFO-MR’s fall peer facilitator training program.
During the four-day program, grief theory and the grieving process; group structure, content and process; and facilitation skills and exercises are covered. Individuals will complete this training with a strong understanding of peer support, and gain the skills and confidence required to facilitate individuals in a group setting.
“While our priority areas are for our child and infant loss programs, we welcome anyone who would like to participate in the training,” Bickerton said.
Registration is required and all applicants will participate in an interview. The deadline for applications is Aug. 31.
The four-day program will be held at The Family Centre in Kitchener on Sept. 30 from 6 to 9, Oct. 1 from 9am to 4pm, Oct. 2 from 9am to 4pm and Oct. 5 from 6pm to 9pm.
For more information, or to register contact the office at 519-603-0196, email support@bfomidwest.org or visit http://www.bfomidwest.org/home/volunteer/facilitate/
About Bereaved Families of Ontario – Midwestern Region
In 2016 BFO-MR will be celebrating 20 years of providing peer grief support in Waterloo Region.
BFO-MR is a not-for-profit organization offering free peer-lead grief support groups for parents grieving the death of an infant, parents grieving the death of a child, healing little hearts – a professionally-run program for preschoolers and their caregivers, and living with loss – a group for adults who have experiences the death of a loved one. All services are offered free-of-charge. For information about programs and memorial events visit www.bfomidwest.org.
