ChiPPS Pediatric Palliative Care Newsletter Issue #11: Spirituality and Pediatric Palliative Care

Primary Author: National Hospice & Palliative Care Organization (NHPCO)

This issue of the Children's Project on Palliative/Hospice Services (ChiPPS) Pediatric Palliative Care Newsletter focuses on Spirituality and Pediatric Palliative Care.

Articles include:

- Faith & Family: Religious Rituals when a Baby or Child is Dying by Ann Fitzsimons
- The Spirituality of Compassionate Presence by Mark Power, BCC
- Faith Communities: A Hand of Mercy by Randy Johnson, M.Div.
- Assessing Cultural and Religious Diversity in Pediatric Palliative Care by Rev. Paula J. Teague, D.Min., BCC, ACPE, CPE Supervisor

Palliative Care Perspectives: Chapter 7: Psychosocial and Spiritual Aspects of Care

Primary Author: James L. Hallenbeck, Stanford University and VA Palo Alto Health Care System

This is chapter 7 of the book Palliative Care Perspectives, published by Oxford University Press. This chapter covers spirituality in relation to palliative care, the FICA spiritual assessment tool, depression, anxiety, grief, and bereavement, among other topics.

Improving Care for the End of Life: A Sourcebook for Health Care Managers and Clinicians

Primary Author: Joanne Lynn, Center to Improve Care of the Dying

Improving Care for the End of Life is a comprehensive guide to quality improvement for end of life care within health care systems, written for health care managers and clinicians. Section 6.0 covers Relationships, Spirituality, and Bereavement and includes a case study.

Spiritual and Cultural Aspects of Palliative Care and The Interdisciplinary Team

Primary Author: Yale School of Medicine

A Lion in the House DVD Modules for Health Care Education

Primary Author: A Lion in the House, Community Media Productions, Inc.

A compelling set of teaching modules is available from the Emmy Award-winning documentary about children with cancer, A LION IN THE HOUSE. Based on real-life case studies, where things do not always go so well, the stories offer a forum to consider and discuss approaches to helping families navigate life and death issues related to cancer.

The Case Studies in Spirituality and Childhood Cancer Module offers specific, complicated case studies around issues of spirituality during a pediatric medical crisis. The Institute of Medicine defines pediatric palliative care to include the spiritual needs of a family, with a broad view of spirituality as the search for meaning and purpose in life and in death. Many families rely on spiritual resources in times of health-related crises, especially at end-of-life. Yet the majority of medical caregivers do not address issues of spirituality with their patients, with many feeling ill-equipped to do so. This module offers the insight of several veteran pediatric oncologists around spirituality issues.

-Each DVD module contains mini movies shot over a course of six years, competencies & objectives, discussion questions, a recommended resource list, and a PowerPoint presentation.