Exploring Spiritual Needs Of Children Facing Life-threatening Illness
Title
Exploring Spiritual Needs Of Children Facing Life-threatening Illness
Creator
Waldman E; Handzo G
Identifier
DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.jpainsymman.2015.12.194
Publisher
Journal Of Pain And Symptom Management
Date
2016
Description
Objectives
Summarize the current state of our understanding
of spiritual needs of children facing lifethreatening
illness.
Learn basic skills for being a spiritual generalist
and how to begin exploring spiritual needs of
children facing life-threatening illness.
Many of those who work with children facing lifethreatening
illness report that these children have
complex spiritual needs. Yet, little is known about
the nature of these needs and what approaches
might be most suitable, especially for the generalist
without any training in pastoral care. There is
increasingly robust literature on the spiritual needs
of adults facing life-threatening illness. But the
literature from pediatrics remains limited; the subject
is particularly challenging because of developmental
issues, diverse cultural backgrounds, and a
hesitance on the part of many parents and clinicians
to explore this sensitive territory. After reviewing
the adult literature, we will review theories of
children’s spiritual development as well as review
in detail what peer-reviewed literature on spiritual
needs of children facing life-threatening illness
does exist. Having identified what we do and
don’t know, and where we may benefit from more
350 Schedule with Abstracts Vol. 51 No. 2 February 2016
research, we will go on to review some practical tips
and approaches to exploring spiritual needs of
these children. Skills reviewed will include approaches
to being a spiritual generalist, partnering
with other practitioners (such as chaplaincy and
child life), and adapting tools such as FICA in an
age- and developmentally-appropriate way to screen
for spiritual distress and to evaluate needs. We will
also introduce several examples of situations where
generalists might encounter challenges surrounding
evaluation of spiritual needs of children facing
life-threatening illness, along with discussion and
suggestions as to how such situations might be
safely navigated. Participants should emerge with
a basic understanding of spiritual needs of children
facing life-threatening illness, a grasp of what it
means to be a spiritual generalist, and some basic
tools for evaluation.
Summarize the current state of our understanding
of spiritual needs of children facing lifethreatening
illness.
Learn basic skills for being a spiritual generalist
and how to begin exploring spiritual needs of
children facing life-threatening illness.
Many of those who work with children facing lifethreatening
illness report that these children have
complex spiritual needs. Yet, little is known about
the nature of these needs and what approaches
might be most suitable, especially for the generalist
without any training in pastoral care. There is
increasingly robust literature on the spiritual needs
of adults facing life-threatening illness. But the
literature from pediatrics remains limited; the subject
is particularly challenging because of developmental
issues, diverse cultural backgrounds, and a
hesitance on the part of many parents and clinicians
to explore this sensitive territory. After reviewing
the adult literature, we will review theories of
children’s spiritual development as well as review
in detail what peer-reviewed literature on spiritual
needs of children facing life-threatening illness
does exist. Having identified what we do and
don’t know, and where we may benefit from more
350 Schedule with Abstracts Vol. 51 No. 2 February 2016
research, we will go on to review some practical tips
and approaches to exploring spiritual needs of
these children. Skills reviewed will include approaches
to being a spiritual generalist, partnering
with other practitioners (such as chaplaincy and
child life), and adapting tools such as FICA in an
age- and developmentally-appropriate way to screen
for spiritual distress and to evaluate needs. We will
also introduce several examples of situations where
generalists might encounter challenges surrounding
evaluation of spiritual needs of children facing
life-threatening illness, along with discussion and
suggestions as to how such situations might be
safely navigated. Participants should emerge with
a basic understanding of spiritual needs of children
facing life-threatening illness, a grasp of what it
means to be a spiritual generalist, and some basic
tools for evaluation.
Rights
Article information provided for research and reference use only. PedPalASCNET does not hold any rights over the resource listed here. All rights are retained by the journal listed under publisher and/or the creator(s).
Citation List Month
March 2016 List
Citation
Waldman E; Handzo G, “Exploring Spiritual Needs Of Children Facing Life-threatening Illness,” Pediatric Palliative Care Library, accessed April 23, 2024, https://pedpalascnetlibrary.omeka.net/items/show/10565.