1. Bereaved Families of Ontario- Durham Region (BFO)
Summary
INTRODUCTION
In 1978, this organization was started by four bereaved mothers with the help of chaplaincy
department of hospital for sick children. Bereaved Families of Ontario- Durham Region (BFO) is a
non-profit organization. This organization receives donations they receive from members and
fundraisers. This organization works with families of bereaved parents, teens and adults. They
provide the support progamme for the parents and young adults so that they can learn to adjust and
cope up with the situations every day.
MANDATE
The primary mandate of this organization is to help or support families who have lost their children. It
runs the programme for self help, mutual aid support services and on death of child. In the BFO-
Durham programs, the group facilitators who support the bereaved families, are bereaved individuals
themselves. This makes the BFO-Durham programs distinctive because their facilitators have
participated in a Bereaved Families of Ontario Support Group and received professional training.
“The Bereaved, helping the bereaved learn to live with grief. We can help the healing begin.”
PROGRAMS AND SERVICES
Programs
Closed infant loss group( 1 to 3 per year)
Closed mothers group( 1 to 2 per year)
Closed couples group (as needed)
Closed mixed group (as needed)
Closed fathers’ group (as needed)
Siblings drop-in and one-on-one (as needed)
Reconnect group/infant loss-6 yearly odd month
Reconnect group/older children loss-6 yearly even months
Drop ins-5 monthly
Family support night

2. Services
One on One support - Talking or meeting one facilitator by bereaved parents and telling them about
their conditions. This one to one support is available only when the situation cannot be shared in
groups. This service is available only by requesting for an appointment.
Telephone – A bereaved person can call this organization anytime they want so that they can to
share their feelings and situations and can ask for solutions.
Small group session – The meeting is held in groups by trained facilitator for 2 hours. The groups
include bereaved parents who lost their child before birth, after birth or from childhood to adulthood.
Support group – Family support nights are held throughout the year and the topics covered are like
time affects the grief journey, summer family care, sibling loss or extended family member loss etc.
Newsletter – All families and professionals who are BFO-Durham members receive a newsletter
which contains information of on-going activities, anniversary dates of the death of the members’
children, etc.
CONTACT INFORMATION
Bereaved Families of Ontario – Durham Region e-mail - admin@bfodurham.net
1050 Simcoe Street North Charitable registration-
861619880RR0001
Oshawa, Ontario L1G4W5
Telephone – 905-579-4293
Toll Free – 800-387-4870
Fax – 905-579-7403
Website
http://www.bfodurham.net/
http://widowed.ca/bereaved-families-of-ontario-durham-region/
Pictures taken by: Jennifer Singh (Group Member)

3. Assignment: Family Support Systems Report and Presentation
Prepared for:
Dwayne Locke
Prepared by:
Jennifer, Issabel, Yasmeen, Tahmina,
Neena, and Jeraldi
Due Date: 02/11/2012