hospicechesapeake.org
HOSPICE OF THE CHESAPEAKE FOUNDATION NEWSLETTER | AUTUMN 2021
LetterLetter fromfrom our President our President Dear Friends,Dear Friends, I was hoping Ithat wasby hoping the time thatI sat by the down time to Iwrite sat down the letter to write for this the edition letter forofthis Caring edition for Life, of Caring we’d for Life, we’d be seeing COVID-19 be seeinginCOVID-19 our rearview in our mirror. rearview We had mirror. hoped Wetohad be talking hoped to about be talking our upcoming about our upcoming gala. We were gala. looking We were forward looking to returning forward to large returning and to joyful largeholiday and joyful gatherings holidayingatherings warm, in warm, crowded rooms. crowded rooms. Then, the Delta Then,variant the Delta happened. variantWe happened. aren’t missing We aren’t out on missing the irony out on thatthedelta ironymeans that delta means “change.” And “change.” so, we And must so, change we must plans. change Again.plans. We are Again. postponing, We are postponing, rescheduling,rescheduling, and and rethinking — back rethinking to virtual — back we go to virtual with most we go of our withevents. most ofThe ourreassuring events. The smiles reassuring of our clinical smiles of our clinical teams remain,teams for now, remain covered for now by face covered masks byto facemasks protect everyone’s to protecthealth. everyone’s health.
I don’t want Itodon’t dwellwant on the to dwell impact onofthetheimpact pandemic, of thebut pandemic, it does provide but it does testimony provide to testimony the to the resilience, expertise resilience, andexpertise commitment and commitment of everyone connected of everyonetoconnected Hospice oftothe Hospice Chesapeake. of the Chesapeake. Despite the challenges Despite theofchallenges the last 20ofmonths, the lastwe 20continue months, to weexcel. continue In the to pages excel. In that thefollow, pages that follow, you’ll learn about you’llour learn enthusiastic about ourparticipation enthusiastic participation in a nationwide in aquality nationwide improvement quality improvement program program with the National with theHospice National andHospice PalliativeandCare Palliative Organization. Care Organization. You’ll read You’ll about read how about how Chesapeake Chesapeake Supportive Care Supportive has gone Care to the hasnext gonelevel to the of telehealth next level of with telehealth an interactive with anapp interactive app that allows our that patients allowsto ourhave patients moreto control have more in theircontrol healthcare in theirplans. healthcare You’ll see plans. howYou’ll we strive see how to provide we strive equal to provide access equal to anyone access who to needs anyone wh hospice, supportive hospice, orsupportive bereavement or bereavement care, regardless care, of regardless inability to of pay. inability to pay.
We are proudWe to be areyour proud go-to to be community your go-tononprofit, community your nonprofit, hometown yourhospice hometown providing hospice theproviding most advanced the most care, advanced the mostcare, responsive the most service, responsive the most desired the most expertise desired to patients expertiseand to patients families inand every families part of in the every counties part ofwe thehave counties served weand havedeveloped served and over developed the last 42 over years. the last 42 years.
Knowing that we have your support means that you have chosen this nonprofit as an important part of your contribution to your community. I don’t know what Knowing the future that we holds have butyour I cansupport promisemeans you that thatyour youhometown have chosen hospice this nonprofit will not be asdaunted an important by whatever part ofconditions your contribution we musttoface. your com We are madeI for these times. don’t know what the future holds but I can promise you that your hometown hospice will not be daunted by whatever conditions we m We are made for these times. With gratitude, With gratitude,
Michael J. Brady President and CEO Michael J. Brady Chief Executive Officer
Strategic Strategic Approach approach to Giving to giving to to Hospice Hospice of theofChesapeake the Chesapeake
for more Married thanfor 30more years, than Karen 30 and years, Steve Karen Kratzer and Steve proveKratzer prove ge that the opposites adage thatattract. opposites “I’m attract. the talker,” “I’m Karen, the talker,” a Karen, a ccountant, retired said. accountant, “He’s the said. nodder,” “He’s the she nodder,” said of Steve, she said of Steve, rked in who computer worked science. in computer Onescience. topic both Onearetopic quick both to are quick to however, discuss, is philanthropy. however, is philanthropy.
napolis The couple Annapolis use their couple donor-advised use their donor-advised fund to support fund to support causes. favorite “Hospice causes. of the “Hospice Chesapeake of the Chesapeake provides dignity provides dignity ps people and helps have the people besthave quality theofbest life,”quality she said. of life,” “We’ve she said. “We’ve nds and hadfamily friends in and hospice family andinwant hospice hospice and want available hospice for available for need all it.” who need it.”
ce volunteer A hospiceprior volunteer to COVID-19, prior to Steve COVID-19, pointedSteve out, pointed out, zations “Organizations we support with we support our time, withweour alsotime, support we also support ly.” financially.”
-advised A donor-advised fund can be afund great can way beto a great give and wayrealize to givetax and breaks, realizeagrees tax breaks, Margoagrees Cook,Margo PartnerCook, and Director Partner and of Financial DirectorPlanning of Financial at Planning at rth Wealth One North Services. Wealth “It’sServices. like a charitable “It’s like savings a charitable account savings that account can earnthat interest can earn and investment interest andreturn.” investment Opening return.” a donor-advised Opening a donor-advised an organization, fund at an organization, such as a community such as afoundation communityorfoundation a commercial or agift commercial fund, begins gift fund, with abegins tax-deductible, with a tax-deductible, irrevocable donation irrevocable of donation of ocks, or cash, non-publicly stocks, or traded non-publicly assets.traded Fundsassets. can beFunds opened can with be aopened few thousand with a few dollars thousand and grow dollars tax-free. and grow tax-free.
ur timeline, “On your you timeline, make grant yourecommendations make grant recommendations on where to distribute on wherethe to distribute money,” Cook the money,” said. Donors Cook said. may “bunch” Donors may fund“bunch” contributions fund contributions ar forinincreased one year for taxincreased savings; eliminate tax savings; capital eliminate gains capital taxes bygains funding taxes with by highly funding appreciated with highlystock, appreciated real estate, stock,and realsimilar estate,assets; and similar and assets; and estate enhance planning. estate planning.
Kratzers, For the theirKratzers, fund provides their fund a sensible, provides organized a sensible, way organized to be thoughtful way to be about thoughtful giving.about “We can giving. focus “We more canonfocus the charity more onand theless charity on and less on hanicstheofmechanics making a donation,” of making Karen a donation,” said. “It’s Karen important said. “It’s to important help hospice to patients help hospice and patients families at and their families time ofatneed.” their time of need.”
Learn about Learn using about a donor-advised using a donor-advised fund for your fundfavorite for yourcauses, favorite causes, including including helping patients helpingand patients families andatfamilies HospiceatofHospice the Chesapeake. of the Chesapeake. Watch: https://bit.ly/4WaysDAF Watch: https://bit.ly/4WaysDAF Read: hospicechesapeake.planmygift.org Read: hospicechesapeake.planmygift.org Contact: foundation@hospicechesapeake.org Contact: foundation@hospicechesapeake.org or 443-837-3385. or 443-837-3385
We’rWe’r e quality e quality focused focused : :
Why itWhy matters it matters to patients to patients and families and families By Lisa Griffee, By Lisa Director Griffee, of Director Quality Improvement, of Quality Improvement, Hospice of Hospice the Chesapeake of the Chesapeake
That is why inThat January, is whyit in was January, an it was an easy decisioneasy for Hospice decision offorthe Hospice of the Chesapeake Chesapeake to join hundreds to join of hundreds of Have you everHave wondered what the difference is between hospices? you ever wondered what the difference is between hospices? hospice andhospice palliative and care palliative care Do some provide betterprovide care than others? Howothers? would you choose Do some better care than How would you choose organizationsorganizations and providers and providers a hospice if you or your ifloved oneyour needed a hospice you or lovedit? one needed it? nationwide in nationwide a program in ato program to establish and establish exceed and quality exceed quality These questions many more are faced andpatients and Theseand questions and many morebyarepatients faced by expectations.expectations. By enrolling in Bythe enrolling in the families everyfamilies day in our Knowing when to choose everycommunities. day in our communities. Knowing when to choose new Quality new Connections Quality Connections hospice care hospice can be care a daunting and overwhelmed families can betask a daunting task and overwhelmed families program withprogram other members with other of members of often don’t know turn.where to turn. oftenwhere don’ttoknow the National the Hospice National and Hospice and Palliative Care Palliative Organization, Care Organization, we we As the Director Improvement, it is my job toitguide As of theQuality Director of Quality Improvement, is my our job to guide our declared ourdeclared commitment our commitment to to organization’sorganization’s teams in constantly at how we design teams inlooking constantly looking at howorwe design or sharing our achievements sharing our achievements and to and to redesign our systems to best meet the needs of our redesignand our processes systems and processes to best meet the needs of our Lisathere. Griffee Lisa Griffee demonstrate demonstrate how we got how there.we got patients andpatients families.and Wefamilies. know that We any knowfocus that on anyquality focus on quality In turn, we willInlearn turn, from we will others, learn from others, improvementimprovement will only strengthen care we the provide will onlythe strengthen care to weour provide to our grow with them grow andwith ultimately them and findultimately each nextfind stepeach of excellence next step of in exce patients and patients our community. and our community. our mission ofour caring mission for life of caring throughout for lifethe throughout journey with theillness journey and with illn loss. loss.
Quality Connections Quality Connections seeks to compare seekscare to compare in a far more care reaching in a far more reaching way in how we way care in how for patients we careand for patients families. and It also families. asks how It also do asks how do we care for veterans? we care for What veterans? programs What doprograms we have in doplace we have for in place for of theHospice Chesapeake of the has Chesapeake always had hasaalways focus onhad quality a focus care on quality care grievers? Howgrievers? can we improve How caninwe creating improve a more in creating diverse, a more inclusive diverse, inclusive this new but with program, this new we program, seek to achieve we seek continuous to achievequality continuous quality and equitableand organization? equitable organization? Just like hospice Justislike a team hospice approach is a team approach mentimprovement by enhancing by our enhancing knowledge our base, knowledge skills base, and skills and to caring for atopatient’s caring for body, a patient’s mind and body, spirit, mind thisand newspirit, program this new is program is ency in competency a broader in way. a broader It standardizes way. It standardizes benchmarks so benchmarks we so we a team approach a team to improving approach the to improving body, mind theand body, spirit mind of hospice and spirit of hospice way to have learn a way and to grow learn and and ultimately grow and share ultimately our success share our success organizations.organizations. stories.
What is most What remarkable is most about remarkable this about this organizations Hospice organizations have limitedhave limited program is that program it is something is that it iswesomething all we all compare ways to themselves compare tothemselves one to Toone supportToour support qualityour improvement quality improvement want. Not just want. we,Not the just hospice we, the carehospice care The another. Centers for TheMedicare Centers for andMedicare and but we, the community. but we, the community. please contact please contact professionals,professionals, d Services Medicaid gathers Services datagathers that it data that it programs,programs, Patients and Patients families and deserve families to know deserve to know 443-837-3385 443-837-3385 or or which organizations through sharesits through Care Compare its Care Compare which organizations exceed care goals exceed care goals but unfortunately, website but unfortunately, its scope is its scope is foundation@hospicechesapeake.org. foundation@hospicechesapeake.org. based on a framework based on aofframework benchmarks of benchmarks o comparing limited toa comparing small portion a small of portion of developed bydeveloped colleagues, by researchers colleagues, researchers , primarily our care, when primarily the patient whenisthe patient is and industryand experts. industry Theyexperts. need to They need to d. Asadmitted. you can imagine, As you can there imagine, are so many there are facets so many of carefacets of care know if there knowis ifa there Veteran-to-Veteran is a Veteran-to-Veteran volunteer program volunteer program needthat to always we need seektotoalways improve, seekadjust, to improve, and enhance. adjust, and An enhance. An established, established, if bereavement if bereavement services include servicesone-on-one include one-on-one of this example is preventing of this is patient preventing falls. patient falls. consultations,consultations, if there are team if there members are team whomembers can provide whoSpanish can provide Spanish language skills. language We know skills. people We know have choices. people have By participating choices. By participating in in alls are Patient one falls of our aregreatest one of our concerns greatest because concerns as illness because as illness this program,this Hospice program, of the Hospice Chesapeake of the Chesapeake is demonstrating is demonstrating that that es nearing progresses end of nearing life, patients end of may life, patients lose theirmay stability lose their or stability or we are committed we areand committed invested and in making invested sure in making we are providing sure we are providing ons medications may contribute maytocontribute a lack of to balance. a lack The of balance. hospice The hospice the kind of quality the kind careofand quality services care that and set services us apart thatand set us provide apart and provide has not industry agreed hasonnot how agreed to define on how a fall, to define so whilea we fall,have so while we have the care patients the care and patients families want and families and need. want and need. oricalour data historical to review, datawetohave review, notwehadhave the not ability hadtothe ability to e to acompare nationally to aaccepted nationally benchmark. accepted Ifbenchmark. we know how If we know how We are committed We aretocommitted continuoustoimprovement, continuous improvement, always takingalways a taking a re doing others when are itdoing comes when to preventing it comes tofalls, preventing we can falls, learnwe can learn fresh look atfresh carelook as at wellcare as our as well processes. as our processes. Especially inEspecially in em. from If we them. are achieving If we arebetter achieving outcomes betterthan outcomes other than other healthcare, we healthcare, should always we should be asking alwaysourselves be asking what ourselves can wewhat can we , we hospices, can in turnweteach can inthem turnwhat teachwethem havewhat learned we have to dolearned to do learn, how dolearn, we improve, how do we what improve, can wewhat do better? can weWe do should better? We should ly. Adifferently. focus on quality A focus care onimproves quality care outcomes improves foroutcomes patients for patients always be growing alwaysand be growing most importantly, and, mostlistening importantly, to our listening patientsto our patients ilies. and families. and their families and their aboutfamilies the care about we provide. the care we provide.
Old Old friends friends meetmeet newnew friends friends in the in the
Charles Charles County County Community Community
Exciting things Exciting have been thingshappening have beenathappening your hometown at yourhospice! hometown hospice! After an hourAfter of networking an hour ofover networking breakfast, over thebreakfast, ceremonythe began ceremon This month marks This month a yearmarks since atheyear merging since the of two merging like-minded of two like-minded with our President with our andPresident CEO Mike andBrady CEOthanking Mike Brady the thanking community the com and the sharing two organizations’ the two organization’s plans for bringing plans for more bringin community nonprofits, communityHospice nonprofits, of Charles Hospice County of Charles and Hospice County and of Hospice of sharing and hospice, supportive hospice, and supportive bereavement and bereavement care to the care people to of the pe the Chesapeake. the Chesapeake. We started offWe running, startedworking off running, with working community with community Charles County. Charles “Nothing County. is more “Nothing important is more to important us — and when to us — I an partners andpartners some oldand andsome new old patrons and new to expand patrons and to enhance expand and enhance say everyone us, I mean at everyone Hospice of at Charles Hospice County of Charles and Cou services for those services livingforwith those illness living and with lossillness in Charles and loss County. in Charles Our County. say Our us, I mean now combined now leadership combinedwas leadership encouraged was by encouraged the overwhelming by the overwhelming Hospice of the Hospice Chesapeake of the Chesapeake — than knowing — than everyone knowing whoeveryone needs wh hospice and hospice supportive andcare supportive has access care tohasthose access services to those and servi support, moving support, swiftlymoving to implement swiftly toa implement plan to make a plan significant to make significant understands how understands we can support how wetheir can support family,” Brady their family,” said. Brady said investments including investments technology includinginfrastructure, technology infrastructure, staffing, physical staffing, physical and decorative and updates. decorative updates. District 28 Delegate District 28 Edith Delegate J. Patterson Edith and J. Patterson Senator and Arthur Senator Ellis Art In June, we finally In June, gotwe to finally turn offgot thetovideo turn off camera the video on our camera laptops on our laptops each presented each proclamations presented proclamations on behalf of the on behalf state honoring of the state the hono and celebrate andin celebrate person byin hosting person abyribbon-cutting hosting a ribbon-cutting on our on ribbon-cutting our ribbon-cutting event. It was event. with their It was support with their as well support as that as of well a other state Maryland legislators state representing legislators Charles representing County Charles that Cou Waldorf campus. WaldorfA campus. beautiful Aday, beautiful social day, distancing social and distancing other and Maryland the hospice was theable hospice to secure was able a $200,000 to secure abond. $200,000 That bond bond. and That b vaccinations vaccinations afforded us the afforded opportunity us thetoopportunity gather withtomembers gather with members donations from donations the community from the have community helped have fund helped upgrades fundto upg of the CharlesofCounty the Charles community Countythat community includedthat healthcare, includedcivic, healthcare, civic, infrastructureinfrastructure and renovations and inrenovations progress on in every progress flooronofevery the floo legislative andlegislative business and leaders business as wellleaders as ouras own wellteam as our members, own team members, three-level building three-level on Davis building Road. on Davis Road. volunteers and volunteers longtimeand friends. longtime friends.
Connie and Jordan Connie Burick andofJordan the LaPlata Burick Lions of theClub LaPlata flankLions CEOClub flank CEO Mike Brady at the Mike breakfast Brady athour the breakfast precedinghour the ceremony. preceding the ceremony.
Hospice of the Hospice Chesapeake of theboard Chesapeake memberboard Delegate member EdithDelegate PattersonEdith Pat and Senator Arthur and Senator Ellis present Arthur proclamations Ellis present proclamations on behalf of theonstate behalf of the to CEO Mike Brady to CEO andMike Board Brady Chairman and Board BrianChairman Gibbons.Brian Gibbons.
Charles County Charles Volunteers CountyVictor Volunteers and Sharon Victor and KlineSharon and Ann Kline and Ann pose for a pre-ceremony pose for a pre-ceremony photo. photo. ate EdithDelegate PattersonEdith stands Patterson with herstands familywith afterher thefamily ceremony. after the ceremony. Ringenberg Ringenberg
speak Lastwasto Noel speakCervino, was Noel President Cervino,andPresident CEO ofand the CEO of the ty of University Maryland of Charles Maryland Regional Charles Medical Regional Center Medical and aCenter and a of the member hospice’s of the board hospice’s of directors. board ofHedirectors. spoke ofHe thespoke of the longcenter’s history long of collaboration history of collaboration with Hospicewith of Charles Hospice of Charles and the County moreand recent theformal more recent partnership formalbetween partnership Hospice between Hospice hesapeake of the Chesapeake and the medical andcenter the medical and what center thatand means what that means community. for the “When community. the time “When comes the for timefamilies comes facing for families facing d illness advanced or endillness of life,orI end am secure of life, in I am knowing securethat in knowing our that our partnership ongoingwill partnership provide the willhighest providequality the highest and seamless quality and seamless ilablecare to the available CharlestoCounty the Charles community,” County Cervino community,” said.Cervino said.
To supportTohospice supportcare hospice in care in Charles County, Charles County, please contact please301-861-5315 contact 301-861-5315 or or giving@hospiceofcharlescounty.org. giving@hospiceofcharlescounty.org.
Pictured in the Pictured front row in the from front leftrow arefrom Hospice left are of the Hospice Chesapeake of the Chesapeake board members boardJoyce members Phillip,Joyce TriciaPhillip, Lehmann, TriciaBrian Lehmann, Gibbons, Brian Gibbons, President and President CEO Mike andBrady, CEO Mike Delegate Brady,Edith Delegate Patterson, EdithSenator Patterson, Senator Arthur Ellis, Arthur board member Ellis, board Jimmember Humphrey Jimand Humphrey University andofUniversity of Maryland Charles Maryland Regional Charles Medical Regional Center Medical President Center and President CEO and CEO Noel Cervino. Noel Cervino.
and Stephen Kathleen Fitzgerald and William are twoCooke outstanding are twoCharles outstanding Charles y residents County who are residents longtime whosupporters are longtime of Hospice supporters of of Hospice of University of Maryland Charles Regional Medical Center Chief University Maryland Regional s County. Charles President County. and CEO President Mikeand Brady CEO wasMike honored Bradytowas honored to Financial Officer AlbertofZanger talksCharles with Mike Brady. Medical Center Chief Financial Officer Albert Zanger talks with Mike Brady. me themwelcome to the ceremony. them to the ceremony.
When When living Living withwith advanced Advanced illness, Illness,
there’s There’s no place no Place like home. like Home.
Holy Name Medical Holy Name Center Medical in Teaneck, CenterNew in Teaneck, Jersey, was NewinJersey, one ofwas the in nation’s one ofepicenters the nation’s in epicenters the beginning in the of beginning the pandemic of the when pandemic it madewhen a it life-saving decision. life-saving Senddecision. their patients Send their home. patients home.
While this wasWhile a frightening this was adecision, frightening theydecision, were ablethey to care werefor able many to care of them for many with VitalCare, of them with a remote VitalCare, patient a remote monitoring patientsystem monitoring that tracked system tha their vitals and their keptvitals themand connected kept them with connected their carewith teams. theirBy care June teams. 2020,Bythe June hospital 2020,had the cared hospital forhad 5,400 cared COVID-19 for 5,400patients COVID-19 at home patients withat ho more than 21,000 more telehealth than 21,000 visits. telehealth In a casevisits. study, In aGlenn case C. study, Hamilton, Glenn C. MD, Hamilton, Chief Medical MD, Chief Advisor, Medical VitalTech Advisor, Affiliates VitalTech wrote, Affiliates “One consistent wrote, “One co message throughout messagethis throughout experience thiswas experience by addingwas remote by adding patient remote monitoring patientand monitoring its sense and of ‘connection’ its sense ofit‘connection’ decreased the it decreased anxiety and thefears anxiety a of the patientsofatthe home patients and at their home families. and their The families. statement, The‘Holy statement, Name really ‘Holycares Nameforreally andcares aboutfor us,’and wasabout echoed us,’by was many echoed remotely by many monitored remotely m patients during patients this crisis.” during this crisis.”
When Dr. EricWhen Bush,Dr. ourEric Chief Bush, Medical our Chief Officer, Medical read Officer, about the read results aboutachieved the results by Holy achieved Name byusing Holy VitalCare Name using heVitalCare knew immediately he knew our immedia patients couldpatients benefit could from such benefit a program. from suchReducing a program. emergency Reducingroom emergency visits asroom well as visits patient as well andascaregiver patient and anxiety caregiver were two anxiety driving werefactors two driving behind Chesapeake behind Supportive ChesapeakeCare’s Supportive decision Care’s to implement decision totheimplement VitalCarethe program VitalCare this program fall. The kit thispatients fall. Thereceive kit patients includes receive a tablet includes whicha tabl connects to aconnects home’s Wi-Fi to a home’s along with Wi-Fia pulse/ox along with meter, a pulse/ox thermometer meter, thermometer and blood pressure and blood cuff pressure that transmit cuff that datatransmit to the tablet data via to the Bluetooth. tablet via Bl For patients who For patients are at riskwho of falling, are at risk there of isfalling, also athere personal is also emergency a personalresponse emergency system response device.system device. The clinical teams The clinical can setteams thresholds can set forthresholds certain vital forsigns. certain Forvital example, signs. For if a patient’s example,blood if a patient’s pressure blood begins pressure elevating, begins theelevating, system willthe alert system our will team so we team can respond so we can andrespond stabilize and the stabilize patient before the patient symptoms beforeescalate symptoms andescalate a trip toand the aemergency trip to theroom emergency is necessary. room isMedical necessary. information isinformation confidentialisand confidential can only and be accessed can onlywith be accessed patients’with permission. patients’ permission.
We believe VitalCare We believe willVitalCare empowerwill ourempower patients, our theirpatients, families their and families the clinical andteams the clinical by keeping teamsthem by keeping all connected them alland connected in line with andthe in line patient’s goals patient’s of care.goals For the of care. right patient, For the right it is an patient, extra layer it is anofextra support layer in of easing support the in anxiety easingthat thecomes anxietywith thattroubling comes with symptoms troubling such symptoms as shortness of breath shortness or pain. of breath Knowledge or pain.isKnowledge power. Seeing is power. your vital Seeing signs your andvital other signs statistics and other whilestatistics talking while in a video talking chat in with a video yourchat carewith team your ca on how to manage on howthose to manage symptoms those is what symptoms patient-centered is what patient-centered medicine is allmedicine about. is all about.
To supportToChesapeake support Chesapeake SupportiveSupportive Care, please contact pleasefoundation@hospicechesapeake.org contact foundation@hospicechesapea or 443-837-3385. or 443-837-3
A little bit of this and that goes a long way with
Children’s Summer Grief Programs During the last 20 months, we have watched schools change decades of “this is how we always do it” into a race to adapt so children could continue to learn while staying protected from the coronavirus. Millions upon millions of laptops went out to schoolchildren so they could attend classes from homes, private and smaller public schools established outdoor learning spaces, cohorts or pods of students and teachers were created to allow for in-person learning in limited numbers. At the start of this fall 2021 school year, schools are meeting in person, with adults, adolescents and teens able to be vaccinated and everyone is required to wear a face mask. The Chesapeake Life Center took a similar path with its children and teen grief programs. First, groups were canceled, with youth meeting with counselors via telehealth. As we approached the summer of 2020, we went ahead with a summer program for teens that met outdoors and a program for children ages 6 to 11 that met online via Zoom for Healthcare. Susan Coale, the center’s director said the Zoom program was a bit of a struggle. “Part of what we learned last year is kids don’t want to do stuff on screens with us,” Coale said. “So, we really branched out this year to include more programs, so that we could have more youth participate.”
This year the center offered programs at Terrapin Adventures in Savage — one for teens and one for younger children, a music-based program at Watkins Park in Prince George’s County, and an art program in partnership with Artsy Partsy in Pasadena. The variety helped to introduce our family-centered bereavement services to more people in the community. Of the 31 children who participated, 17 had never used our center’s grief services. Four have enrolled in our fall support groups for youth. One new face came in unannounced to the art program. She wasn’t registered, but when her parent walked in with her, the team welcomed her. She started out quiet and reserved, her head down, hair covering her face. By the end of the day, she had pulled her hair back in a ponytail and was taking part in activities, even laughing. Coale smiled as she shared this story and said, “If she was the only kid all summer long who benefited, I’m good with that.”
To support children’s grief programs, please contact foundation@hospicechesapeake.org or 443-837-3385.
A Terrapin Adventures guide coaches a participant in the Adventures in Grieving program for teens, one of four Saturday grief programs offered this summer for children and teens living with loss.
Reaching people in need through the Community Investment Tax Credits As a nonprofit caring for people regardless of their inability to pay, we are always seeking ways to raise money so that anyone who needs hospice, supportive or bereavement care has access to it. One of the most successful ways is with Community Investment Tax Credits, a program of the Maryland Department of Housing and Community Development.
Community Investment Tax Credits have helped us to reach more programs for children and teens living with the loss of a loved one. Programs like our Preteen Monthly Grief Support Group who spent one summer afternoon expressing their grief with chalk art.
Some might wonder how we might be connected to this particular state department. The key word to explain that is “community.” The tax credits are an incentive for donors to give cash support to projects that support residents living in state-identified Priority Funding Areas who are particularly vulnerable due to lack of financial resources. Past Hospice of the Chesapeake projects approved to participate in the CITC program have been able to fund medical equipment and supplies; drug therapies and diagnostics; bereavement care and other services for those who are underinsured or impoverished.
The way the program works is businesses or individuals donating to a CITC project are eligible to receive a state tax credit that is equal to half the value of the donation. This is in addition to federal or state charitable tax deductions. The program has leveraged nearly $27 million in charitable contributions to approximately 700 projects across the state. The annual application process is very competitive for 501(c)(3) charities to have their projects qualify, so donors can feel confident their gift is serving a project with vital community purpose. Since 2013, we have received $450,000 through the CITC program, resulting in $225,000 in tax credits for our donors. This money has supported:
• At-risk families of pediatric hospice patients by providing medical and grief support services. • At-risk families in Prince George’s County and at-risk critically ill elderly residents of Anne Arundel and Prince George’s County by providing free or reduced cost clinical services, increasing volunteer support for patients and caregivers as well as building community partnerships and education initiatives so more people are aware of our services.
• Grieving children and teens by increasing access to family-centered grief services to help families struggling with loss, including traumatic loss.
As your community nonprofit, we are incredibly grateful for the tremendous opportunity this state-sponsored program offers as an incentive for donors. We are proud to provide services that Maryland considers important enough to include in this community-building program.
Help our Chesapeake Kids pediatric hospice families
Celebrate the Holidays We all know how stressful holiday shopping can be and even worse while dealing with COVID-19. Imagine what it must be like for families with a child living with an advanced illness. Since 2016, our team, volunteers and community members have raised money to support families by providing and delivering holiday gifts. This way, families could spend more time with each other and less time in stores or online, allowing them to stay safe, healthy and at home where they are most comfortable. This year is once again significantly different since we have been unable to host our primary children’s programs fundraising event, Fashion for a Cause, since 2019. Each year this event raises close to $150,000 to support the overall program and specifically, the holiday sharing event. WE NEED YOUR HELP! We have 10 families in need and your support will lighten their already heavy load through the upcoming holiday season. To support our holiday sharing program, please contact foundation@hospicechesapeake.org or 443-837-3385.
We are listening! As providers of supportive, hospice and grief support, we believe we are great listeners to those we serve. We hear so many times from families that having someone listen to them, listen to their fears and needs, was one of the most valuable elements of the care we provide. Using that feedback is a critical part of our process, but we also have more formally designed feedback by creating advisory committees for our underrepresented communities.
Prince George’s County Advisory Council Carlesa Finney, Prince George’s County Public Schools Theresa K. Hussman, Hussman Foundation
In 2018, we created the Prince George’s County Advisory Council with members from different segments and communities to advise our Board of Directors and our leadership team on needs and issues unique to Prince George’s County. We’re grateful to advisory council members for sharing their purposeful contributions, intentional insight, and vast knowledge of the communities they serve and love. The council meets quarterly with leadership to discuss new outreach opportunities, design plans to address disparities and inform our teams on shifts or changes in their communities. We couldn’t do this work without you. We are absolutely listening! Thank you!
Shelly Gross-Wade, President and CEO, Prince George's Financial Services Corporation Sharon Moore Jackson, President and Strategist, S.M. Jackson Government Business Solutions, LLC Edith Perry, Community Liaison, State Del. Joseline Peña-Melnyk
I was able to care for my husband at home. Hospice being there was such a comfort as you truly care for the patient and family. hospicechesapeake.org
Support Our Hospice Heroes Give dignity and compassion for patients at end of life. Offer comfort to loved ones who grieve. Build a caring community. Your care is needed now, more than ever, during COVID-19 and beyond. Learn more about individual gifts, monthly giving, bequests, sponsorships, and other ways to make a difference in the lives of others. Visit www.hospicechesapeake.org/giving or 443-837-3385 to give by phone or to learn more. Thanks to you, so much is possible for patients, families, and our community.