About The Centre

Max and Beatrice Wolfe Centre for Children’s Grief and Palliative Care

Joseph and Wolf Lebovic Centre
60 Murray Street
Fourth Floor, Box 13
Toronto, Ontario M5T 3L9
416-586-4800 ext.6664
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Supporting and educating children and their families about dying, death and grieving

Like adults, children often don’t know how to express their feelings when someone close to them is dying or has died. They may not even recognize what their feelings are. They do not know who to ask for help, and often don’t ask.

Failing to help children during these times has a long-lasting impact. They may start missing school, acting out, or appearing depressed and isolated. As they grow older, their overall emotional health and relationships may be affected.

Adults will sometimes recognize that children need extra support when someone close to them dies, but often, they do not know what to do or say. Adults may feel it’s best to protect children when a loved one is dying by not telling them, and may put off speaking to them until they feel the children are “ready” for the news. Or, they may fail to share the information in honest and direct ways that the children can understand. Though well meaning, “protecting” children in this way doesn’t prepare them for the death of a loved one.

If this sounds familiar to you, you are not alone. Many people do not have the skills or the willingness to deal with death. When we are young, many people teach us how to walk and talk, but no one teaches us to grieve. Our staff can help you and the children in your life when a loved one is dying or has died.

What services do we provide?

Our grief services educate and support children and families who have a loved one who is dying or has died.

We help adults speak to children about dying and death. Whatever the child’s age, we will help you learn what to say and what words to use. We will build your confidence in speaking to them openly and honestly, and in keeping the lines of communication open.

We also work directly with children to provide support in their grieving. We use creative approaches to help them learn about dying and death. Through storytelling, play, music, movement, and visual expressive arts, we encourage them to ask questions and to explore their own feelings.

We host special group events to bring together children and their families who have had a similar experience. This gives them the opportunity to meet other kids and lets them know that they are not alone.

The Centre also works closely with doctors at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care to provide medical and counselling services to dying children and offering families the option to be helped to confidently and safely care for their children in their own homes.

Who do we serve?

We work with children of all ages – infants to young adults – and their families who have a loved one who is dying or who has died.

Where do we provide our services?

We are located at the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital in Toronto. We have a dedicated program room designed especially for children.

It is a place where they can be comfortable, active, and creative.

We will also arrange home visits if the family member is dying at home. If the child is young or is nervous about coming to our offices, we will visit your home until they get to know our staff and feel comfortable with them.

If necessary, we can also arrange to meet the family at the hospital or other health-care facility where the loved one is being cared for. In addition, our staff can provide you with support and guidance over the phone. We sometimes find that one phone call is enough.

How do I make an appointment?

For more information or to make an appointment, call us at 416-586-4800 ext. 6664.

Who are we?

The Max and Beatrice Wolfe Centre for Children’s Grief and Palliative Care is a program of the Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care at Mount Sinai Hospital.

Our staff has lots of experience in helping children and their families deal with dying and death. Their backgrounds include social work, nursing, expressive arts therapy, child life, spiritual care, and paediatric medicine. As leaders in the field of children’s grief and palliative care, we also provide consultation and education sessions for health professionals, teachers, and boards of education.

The Temmy Latner Centre for Palliative Care provides palliative care to those who are living with or dying from an advanced progressive illness. We also support their families, Whether in home or in the hospital, our team works with your family doctor and other members of your health care team to provide the best possible end-of-life care.

We are also a teaching and research facility affiliated with the University of Toronto. Our goal is to improve education and research, and to advance the quality of palliative care services across the health-care system.