07 Aug Learning to Move Forward: Fund Supports Bereavement Group
In July 2024, the Gaeddert Family Fund, administered by the McPherson County Community Foundation, provided funding to purchase book sets focused on grief for a local bereavement support group.
The group, led by Cedars Chaplain Chris Whitacre, offers support to individuals navigating the grieving process. Whitacre has led bereavement groups in McPherson for 15 years and received a certificate of training from the Center for Loss and Life Transition. He said the program is based on principles taught by the center and that the newly acquired books were written by its founder, Dr. Alan Wolfelt.
“The books are written to be very accessible,” Whitacre said. “There’s a lot more material out there now than there used to be, but (Dr. Wolfelt) was on the cutting edge of loss and life transitions.”
The books are a critical part of the program, Whitacre said, and the grant allows each participant to receive their own set. He said the shared materials help create a common language participants can use to discuss their grief.
The program operates in small groups of six. Whitacre leads one group per quarter, taking a break during the holiday season.
“I think one of the most important teachings from Dr. Wolfelt is his companioning model,” Whitacre said. “He teaches us to support one another, to be a companion on this journey.”
One of the group’s main goals is to address how rarely grief is talked about in society. Whitacre said that part of the challenge is that grief has not been normalized as a regular part of life.
“The book helps each person approach that conversation in their own way,” he said.
Participants also receive a companion journal, which includes prompts to help them explore their grief in writing. Whitacre described it as a guiding hand throughout the process.
“You know, we don’t ever get over our grief,” he said. “We learn how to move forward with it.”
For more information about the program, contact Chris Whitacre: cwhitacre@thecedars.org