Healing Patch looking for volunteer facilitators

The Healing Patch Children's Grief Program is recruiting volunteers to serve at family group sessions at the Blair Healing Patch, 20 Sheraton Drive, Altoona.

Volunteers serve as facilitators for groups of grieving children aged 3-18, young adults aged 18-25 or adults who bring children or adolescents to the program.

"I am there to guide discussions," explains Adult Room volunteer Joe Bilka. "It takes a special person to volunteer at the Healing Patch, but it's very rewarding."

Trained as a high school teacher, Bilka transitioned to a career in sales but has remained active in the lives of young people as a cross-country coach and basketball referee.

He decided to continue his education later in life and attended Penn State Altoona for human development and family studies. When he noticed a Healing Patch volunteer opportunity shared on Facebook, he thought it would be a great way to utilize what he was learning to serve families.

"I didn't realize how perfect a fit the Healing Patch would be when I first applied in 2017," Bilka said. "Volunteers are kind of a guide, and we help to facilitate discussion. We review three basic rules every group night: confidentiality, safety and 'I pass.' We use some starter questions and help participants to share about their loss, grief journey and how they are coping. They're able to identify that they are not alone in their loss."

As the children are broken into age groups with their own trained volunteers, they participate in projects and complete crafts that can spur conversations regarding loss and grief in an age-appropriate way.

Adults are made aware of these activities so they can understand how the children and adolescents are being helped with their grieving process and potential conversations that may arise as a result.

"Although the losses are different in terms of relationship to the person who died, there is common ground, and we have good discussion," Bilka said. "There is some crying and some laughing. Although it can be heavy, we usually end on a positive note."

Ideal Healing Patch volunteers may be identified by several defining qualities, such as the ability to be emotionally present for those who are grieving, actively listen to provide support and empathy with understanding that grief cannot be "fixed" and demonstrate compassion for people from diverse backgrounds.

"Volunteers are truly the heart of the Healing Patch program," said Shalen Steinbugl, Healing Patch volunteer coordinator and grief specialist. "They provide kindness, compassion and stability for those whose lives may feel so unfamiliar and out of their control. We are fortunate at the Healing Patch to have such a close-knit group of caring individuals who go out of their way to make sure families feel safe and supported."

New volunteers must have clearances completed and participate in training during the summer to equip them before group sessions begin in September.

Group nights take place two evenings a month from September to May (16 evenings total).

"I enjoy being an instrument in helping someone deal with their grief," said Bilka. "The people I meet through the Healing Patch are an inspiration to me, and I am more grateful in my life. It's a very rewarding, fulfilling and challenging experience."

For more information about volunteer opportunities, call Steinbugl at 814-947-7140 or email steinbugl

sm@upmc.edu. Interested individuals can complete a volunteer application online at https://www.homenursingagency.com/services/childrens-services

/healing-patch/volunteer.