As previously mentioned, the study has gone through some drastic changes. The first step for the participating families will now be to fill out a Family Profile that will include questions about their background, the loss, and the children’s interests. The surviving caregiver will fill this out prior to receiving their Disney tickets.
Here are some of the questions from the profile:
What kinds of treatment has your child received since the death? Please check all that apply.
1.__ individual counseling
2.__ group therapy
3.__ New Hope for Kids
4.__School guidance counselor
5.__ Summer camp for bereaved children
6.__ Other: Please specify_________________
Is your child spending time with their friends?
1.__Yes, there has been no change since the loss.
2.__Yes, but they are spending less time with friends than before the loss.
3.__No, they avoided spending time with their friends since the loss.
4.__No, but they never spent time with friends before the loss.
Your family was chosen to participate in this study because the opposite parental figure has died. How long ago did the death occur?_______________________
The data gleaned from the family profile will be summarized in the final report and used to compare the families’ reactions to the theme park visit.
I will need to verbally defend my proposal in a month in front of my thesis committee. Until then, I expect to be making constant revisions and continuing to wade through my IRB application and CITI training (Wow, that’s time consuming!-Interesting though)
I’m running out of time now, but there’s so much more to tell. I will update again very soon.
