Mary Washington Grief Support Services provides bereavement services to the Fredericksburg Area. They offer more than 15 groups per month, provide comfort and care to anyone grieving the death of a loved one, and provide children and teenagers in the area with camps and support groups in the schools. All of their services are free and open to the community regardless of how a loved one died. Programs are peer led, and volunteer facilitators receive the appropriate training, supervision, and ongoing support from qualified bereavement staff.
Duties
Interns will participate in some of the activities listed below depending on the needs of the organization as well as the student’s interest, experience, availability, and access to transportation.
- Supporting the facilitator of Kids Helping Kids school groups, an 8-week, school-based bereavement program (own transportation to area schools required)
- Promoting and recruiting schools and students as well as coordinating with school staff
- Preparing materials and leading group activities
- Setting-up and cleaning-up before and after group
- Collecting data and assessments on students by taking pre/post surveys, tracking numbers, attendance and by feedback from both participants and school staff
- Assisting with Camp Rainbow and Camp Brandon Bereavement camps
- Assisting bereavement coordinator with the planning and coordination of camp
- Participating in camp weekend by serving as a “Big Buddy,” mentor, or coordinator
- Setting-up and cleaning-up before and after camp
- Conducting research on therapeutic interventions, group activities, and educational materials for participants and guardians
- Helping facilitate bereavement groups at the Bereavement Center
- Assisting bereavement coordinator with the planning and coordination of group
- Preparing materials and leading group activities
- Setting-up and cleaning-up before and after group
- Conducting research on therapeutic interventions, group activities, and educational materials for participants and guardians.
- Providing general administrative support to the Bereavement Center and its programs
- Creating spreadsheets and documents, typing, and filing
- Assisting with public relations of special events, camps, groups, etc.
- Answering phones and returning phone calls, e-mails, and written requests for information
- Organizing bereavement center by documenting donations and putting them away and ensuring supplies stay neat and orderly
NOTE: All interns must pass a background check and must participate in required Mary Washington Healthcare training and grief support services training.
Prerequisites
Must meet all UMW and Department of Psychological Science internship requirements.
- Required courses:
- PSYCH 231 – Infant and Child Development
- PSYCH 211 – Psychopathology
- Recommended courses:
- PSYCH 315 – Foundations of Clinical Psychology
Assessment
- 42 hours of work per credit hour (most interns do 3 credits with 126 hours of work)
- Grade is based on agency evaluation, on-campus supervision, reflective journal, and a final paper.
Agency Contact
Anna Maria Lewis
Manager, Community Programs Outreach
Hospice, Palliative, Grief Support Services
Mary Washington Healthcare
2103 Washington Ave. (across from JMHS)
Fredericksburg, VA 22401 (540) 741-1658
Email: Anna.Lewis@mwhc.com or griefsupport@mwhc.com
Website: www.hospice.mwhc.com