A pilot study of a new bereavement program for children: Lionheart Camp for Kids

Abstract

We assessed the acceptability and effectiveness of a new childhood bereavement service known as Lionheart Camp for Kids. Using a pre-post-follow-up design, data pertaining to 12 bereaved children (aged 5–12 years) and their primary caregivers were obtained. Results showed that caregivers reported decreases in children’s peer relationship problems, improvements in parental consistency, and reductions in coercive parenting, and there was a trend toward lower self-reported grief by the children. Caregivers were highly satisfied with the program. There is a need for a wait-list or randomized controlled trial over a longer time period to determine the full benefits of the camp.

Acknowledgements

We offer our sincerest gratitude to the bereaved adults and children who so generously gave of their time and experiences to participate in this research, and without whom this project would not have been possible. We thank Lionheart Camp for Kids. Lionheart Camp for Kids had no role in the design of the study or in the analysis and interpretation of data.