A Pilot Study of a New Bereavement Program for Children: Lionheart Camp for Kids

Bereavement during childhood is widely accepted as one of the most stressful life events that can occur. Although with appropriate supports, many bereaved children display resilience, others are at risk of ongoing issues requiring intervention. We used a pre-post design to assess the feasibility, effectiveness, and acceptability of a new bereavement service known as Lionheart Camp for Kids (LHCK). Quantitative and qualitative data pertaining to 12 bereaved children (aged 5-12 years) and 9 of their parents/caregivers were obtained. The adult participants completed measures of the children’s internalising and externalising behaviours and dimensions of family functioning. The children reported on their grief and their internalising and externalising behaviours. Additional data were obtained from both adult and children via a client satisfaction questionnaire. There was no significant pre-test post-test changes in child grief symptomatology or family functioning and the full benefits of the program may not have been adequately captured by the current measures. However, acceptability data was highly positive and demonstrated by scores for overall satisfaction (100%), quality of service (100%) and endorsement (100%).The qualitative responses provide key insight into how LHCK can improve long-term outcomes for bereaved children and enable them to integrate grief into their lives in a loving, accepting, compassionate, and safe environment.