A letter from Anne –
looking ahead

A letter from Anne –
looking ahead

March 24, 2021

As the calendar crosses one year since much of the world began staying home, I wanted to take this opportunity to reach out to share our plans looking ahead. While there is hope on the horizon as we inch closer to some semblance of normalcy, you and your loved one’s health and safety remain our highest priority.

As we continue to navigate these challenging times and look to the future, family feedback is critical. We appreciated their responses to our most recent survey where we asked them to share their thoughts on our virtual programming – and here’s what families said:

• 90% feel that the Center’s online grief support groups have been helpful for themselves and/or their child/children during the time of Covid-19.  
• 85% reported attending the Center’s peer support groups has helped their child/children feel more connected and less isolated.
• 93% feel better able to support their child/children in their grief.
• 90 % reported that they definitely will continue to participate online if the Center cannot return to in-person meetings for an undetermined amount of time.

Another recent survey from our program facilitators shows that 94% are either “very concerned” or “somewhat concerned” when asked how concerned they are contracting or exposing others to Covid-19 if returning to in-person.

These insights from our families and facilitators are crucial in informing how the Center plans our programming for the remainder of the year and into 2022. To devise that plan, our Board’s Building Committee is working to determine what changes are needed in our physical spaces to allow groups to be held safely in-person.

Our Board has also created a Planning Committee comprised of members of our program team, facilitators and Physicians solely focused on outlining the steps necessary over the next 6, 9, and 12 months to safely return in-person. Both committees are continuously monitoring Maine CDC recommendations, are taking into consideration how schools and other youth and family service organizations are proceeding, and will continue to incorporate feedback received from you through periodic  surveys, because most importantly, we are here for you.

I cannot emphasize enough how preliminary plans are to return to in-person. Put simply, we are in no rush as the safety of our families and facilitators is of utmost importance. However, I am excited at the possibilities that come with planning for it.

If you have any questions about our plans going forward, please always feel welcome to reach out to any of our staff, including myself, at any time to ask questions, provide feedback, or seek clarity on our plans looking ahead.

With love,

Anne Heros, Executive Director