The Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center provides therapeutic support to pediatric patients of BMC who have experienced an important loss such as the death of a significant person, divorce, or separation from a primary caregiver. After a loss, children need the support of caring adults to help them make sense of their loss, to support their grief, and to strengthen their strategies to cope. The Good Grief Program offers a steadying and supportive force for children who are grieving as they respond to their loss or losses.
The program accomplishes this work through a variety of efforts, including:
- Offering consultation appointments to caregivers searching for the best ways to support their grieving children.
- Providing grief therapy.
- Providing grief-sensitive training and consultation to community agencies
- Connecting individuals to grief resources.
Through these services, the Good Grief Program seeks to meet the needs of children who are grieving and promote lifelong resiliency.
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Getting Connected to Services
The Good Grief Program provides services to children and youth who:
- Are patients of Boston Medical Center or an affiliated health center,
- Are between the ages of 0-17,
- Have experienced an important loss, and
- Currently reside in Massachusetts.
When a child or youth is referred to our program for services, our team works closely with the child's caregiver to discuss needs and develop personalized options for support.
Effective October 1, 2024, the Good Grief Program will be merging referrals with the Child Witness to Violence Project. Please call 617.414.7425 to make a referral to either program.
Contact Information
Maureen Patterson-Fede, MSW, LICSW
Program Manager
Maureen.Patterson@bmc.org
Maureen Patterson-Fede is a Licensed Independent Clinical Social Worker who brings years of working with children and families to her work with the Good Grief Program. The central pillar to Maureen’s work has been supporting children and their caregivers as they heal from trauma and loss. She has worked with families in a variety of settings including domestic violence shelters, Children's Advocacy Centers, clinic-based settings, and home-based work. Across these environments, she has learned that families deeply benefit from kind, empathetic, and attentive care that is led by their needs and illuminates their strengths and resiliency.
In her work with the Good Grief Program, Maureen brings her experience to provide developmentally informed, responsive consultation and support services to caregivers and their children in the wake of an acute loss. Maureen also works collaboratively with school communities to provide training on how to support resiliency and well-being for students who are grieving.
Laura Ochoa, MHA
Program Coordinator
Laura.Ochoa@bmc.org
Laura Ochoa is a bi-lingual (Spanish/English) professional who provides management support to the Good Grief Program at Boston Medical Center. Laura holds a B.A in Psychology and a Master in Healthcare Administration from Suffolk University. Previous to Good Grief, Laura spent four years as an Associate Case Manager in the Patient Navigation Program at BMC’s Cancer Center, where she developed a passion for working with vulnerable populations and advancing health equity. In her role, Laura hopes to support families in need of our services, increase awareness and accessibility to our program, and apply her bi-cultural and bi-lingual skills to better serve our patient population.
Administrative Office
255 River Street
Mattapan, MA 02126