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From November 2001 NASW NEWS NASW has been awarded a one-year contract worth over $95,000 to train social workers in emergency departments on procedures to help the parents and siblings of children who die suddenly. The new contract comes on the heels of a 2000-2001 contract from the Health Resources and Services Administration (HRSA) Maternal and Child Health Bureau and its Emergency Medical Services for Children Program to develop bereavement practice guidelines for social workers in emergency departments. With the guidelines completed, HRSA tapped NASW to implement them by conducting a series of training programs, to last until Aug. 31, 2002. According to Mirean Coleman, NASW Professional Development and Advocacy senior staff associate, the contract specifies training of social workers who currently work in emergency services, who will then conduct one-day training sessions for other social workers through 15 NASW chapters. The training will be worth seven contact hours of continuing education. "It is very helpful for family members to receive skilled, sensitive and caring support at a time when they may be emotionally devastated due to the death of a child from a sudden illness or injury," Coleman said. The bereavement practice guidelines' trainee manual offers examples of how to establish rapport with a family in crisis. They include: engaging in active listening skills; providing attentiveness; reflecting feelings; asking only significant open and closed questions; explaining medical procedures in clear, simple language; encouraging expression of feelings; and being helpful, respectful and nonjudgmental. The manual also offers steps for a social worker to follow when a child dies, such as: being present when the physician informs the family of the death; allowing the family to be free to show their emotions without worry of how their reactions may affect a sibling, by seeking the assistance of other emergency department staff to take the sibling to a nearby room; and using the three "D" words — dead, died and death — to help the family recognize what has happened. Back to NASW NEWS Contents
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