ABSTRACT
This article explores, using Wilensky's Model of Professionalization, the emergence of professional organizations within the thanatology. The authors review the history of four organizations--The Foundation of Thanatology, Ars Moriendi, The Forum for Death Education and Counseling (now the Association for Death Education and Counseling: A Thanatology Organization [ADEC]), and The International Work Group on Death, Dying, and Bereavement (IWG). The authors speculate on some of the reasons that the first two failed while IWG and ADEC remain viable-while noting challenges that these remaining thanatological organizations will experience as they seek to continue to stay relevant.
Subject(s)
Bereavement , Clinical Competence/standards , Practice Patterns, Physicians'/organization & administration , Societies, Scientific/organization & administration , Thanatology , Attitude to Death , Humans , International CooperationABSTRACT
The need to facilitate healthy bereavement, resulting from both deaths from life-threatening illnesses as well as violent, sudden deaths, is great. For the past 9 summers, Bereavement Services at Calvary Hospital, Bronx, New York, has sponsored a week-long day camp for bereaved children and adolescents. Each year the program expands by adding new activities to meet the needs of grieving children in therapeutic ways congruent with current research and timely clinical interventions. This article reflects on our experience, which has evolved and become stronger over the past 9 years. It is believed that this program is replicable and can be initiated and developed by other hospitals and organizations interested in developing similar programs.
