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JANUARY 13, 2021
SERVING THE LOCAL COMMUNITIES SINCE 1954
VOL XXXVI • NO 41
Pathways Program Helps Youths Deal With Loss eens, if you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like to meet with other young people who are going through the same thing, activities offered by the Coping Kids & Teens Program of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss, the bereavement program for Hospice & Community Care, might be right for you. Coping Kids & Teens is run by children’s services counselor Diane Kulas. The program has been around for 25 years, so hundreds, if not thousands, of youths have been helped by its individual and group support offerings. “Being in a group and knowing there’s another kid who went through this makes them feel like they’re not alone,” Kulas explained. During the pandemic, Kulas and her staff members have been focusing on offering individual sessions via Zoom and over the phone. They have been meeting with children and teenagers after school and during the evenings. To combat Zoom
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fatigue, the professionals have dropped off art materials and games for future sessions at clients’ homes. “The best way to get (young people) to talk is to engage them in something they enjoy,” Kulas remarked. The Family Support Series is a six-week program offered in fall, winter, and spring. Due to the pandemic, sessions are being held online. Families gather via Zoom, then break into age-specific groups. Children and teenagers receive peer support and counseling, while their adult caregivers learn how to help youths grieve. Dealing with loss and grief looks different in children and teenagers as compared to adults, Kulas reported. “The best way to support a grieving child is to make sure the adult knows how to support them,” Kulas explained. “We teach them how to talk with kids, the importance of offering security and predictability, and how to establish discipline, structure, and routines.” The Coping Kids & Teens Program also runs Good Grief Clubs
and Camp Chimaqua. The clubs are school-based groups run by trained staff members. Camp Chimaqua is a weekend overnight camp for youths ages 6 to 12. Each camper is assigned a trained volunteer who provides support throughout the experience. Camp was canceled in 2020, but Kulas said she hopes that it will be offered as a one-day event this year. “Camp is a lot of fun. We try to make it interactive,” Kulas said. “We help (campers) be kids again.” An intake appointment is required before participating in any of the Coping Kids & Teens Program activities. Parents or guardians may call 717-391-2413 or 800-924-7610 to schedule a conversation with Kulas or a staff person, who will do an assessment to ensure the program will meet their family’s needs. Sometimes, young people are referred to therapists. “They can continue their therapeutic support while working on their grief,” Kulas commented. All programs are run in English, but Spanish language translation
CareerLink Offers Free Employment Assistance BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER
“We are workforce specialists,” commented Judy Wechter, site administrator for Pennsylvania CareerLink Lancaster County. “We provide job training and supports for individuals who are displaced and currently looking for employment, and we are an outlet for the county for employment and workforce resources.”
Diane Kulas
Police Departments Encourage Blood Donation BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER
East Hempfield Township Police Department (PD) has participated in the Bleed Blue Challenge since the initiative’s inception. “We want to support Penn Medicine LG Health in its quest to get donations, especially in a pandemic year,” explained Lt. Jen Brubaker. “The blood stays local. It’s a way to give back to the community.” The Bleed Blue Challenge is a program of the Penn Medicine Lancaster General Health (LG Health) Blood Donor Center and is running from Jan. 4 to Friday, Jan. 29. During the initiative, participating police departments are encouraging members of their staffs and their
See CareerLink pg 2
communities to give blood at LG Health blood drives and at the center, 2104 Harrisburg Pike, Suite 202, Lancaster. Blood donor recruiter Anita Blizzard introduced the Bleed Blue Challenge with four PDs two years ago. It has grown to include 15 PDs this year: Manheim Township, East Hempfield, East Lampeter, Columbia Borough, Millersville Borough, Millersville University, Lancaster City, Lititz Borough, West Hempfield, Northwest Regional, Mount Joy Borough, Pequea Township, Quarryville Borough, Strasburg Borough, and Pennsylvania State Police, Troop J. A total of 80 units were received during the challenge
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in 2020, with Millersville University PD receiving credit and a plaque for the most donors. LG Health aims to keep 200 units in stock at all times, Blizzard noted. “What they did last year was really good. With more police stations involved, you’d assume that you’d do even better (this year),” she said. Brubaker and other police officers planned to donate blood during the Bleed Blue Blood Drive on National Law Enforcement Day, Jan. 7. “Our first responders and police are great leaders in caring for our community. This effort is one more contribution they are willing to make,” said LG Health director of laboratory operations Brian Stambaugh.
Christmas Tree Disposal Option Posted . . . . . . . . . .3 Business Directory . . . . . .4
Church Sets Spiritual Direction Sessions . . . . . .5 House Of Worship . . . . . . .8 Classifieds . . . . . . . . . . . .9
See Bleed Blue Challenge pg 6
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BY DAYNA M. REIDENOUER