CHPCA and the Canadian Network of Palliative Care for Children (CNPCC) are proud to mark October 12th, 2023 as National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day in Canada.
This National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day, we celebrate how health care workers of all stripes and palliative care teams across Canada are Weaving the Fabric of Care!
In the delicate tapestry of a child’s life, every thread counts. National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day celebrates the art of “Weaving the Fabric of Care,” applauding the dedication, compassion, and advocacy of those caring for children with serious illnesses.
This day is a call to action, a chance to embrace the essential threads of care that comfort and support families navigating a child’s serious illness when they need it most. It’s about recognizing that children’s hospice palliative care is not just a specialty; it’s a shared responsibility across healthcare and communities.
We invite you to join this heartfelt movement. It’s a journey of awareness, empowerment, and care. Together, we can make a difference in the lives of youth and their loved ones through a holistic and family-centered approach to care.
Become an advocate – for each child, for every family. Discover the world of children’s hospice palliative care and equip yourself with the knowledge to identify those who would benefit most from its supportive embrace. You can be the voice that echoes through the corridors of healthcare, championing this approach to care, and the professionals of all stripes that provide it.
“Weaving the Fabric of Care” is not just a slogan; it’s a promise. A promise that anyone can integrate a palliative approach into every facet of their care. A promise that we can improve the quality of life of a seriously ill child and their family together through this approach, whether you are a nurse, allied health professional, social worker, or even a volunteer.
Let us unite our hearts, weave our stories, and together, create a quilt of care that enfolds every child in warmth, comfort, and dignity. Join us on this journey, as we weave the fabric of care, one thread at a time.
Show your support on social media using the hashtags #FabricOfCare and #HPCForChildren!
About Children's Hospice Palliative Care
Children’s hospice palliative care (or pediatric hospice palliative care) is an active, holistic approach to care which focuses on relieving the physical, social, psychological, and spiritual suffering experienced by children and families who face a life-threatening condition, and helping them fulfill their physical, psychological, social, and spiritual goals. This approach to care can benefit any child with a serious illness regardless of their prognosis – particularly if it is a life-threatening or progressive condition.
- Reduce the impact symptoms have on their life
- Provide a place for them to develop friendships with other kids with similar experiences.
- Prioritize their quality of life – regardless of their prognosis.
- Provide a team of care providers dedicated to ensuring their specific priorities and needs are met.
- Support families in all the areas of their lives impacted by a child’s illness.
- Facilitate times for families to enjoy quality time and fun together.
- Social, spiritual, emotional support for the entire family.
- Walk them through their child’s illness trajectory to help prepare and plan for potential future health care or support needs.
- Connect them to a community of other parents, siblings, and children who are facing similar struggles.
- Connect families to services in the community based on their unique needs.
- Provide or facilitate access to respite care or other supportive services.
In 2022, CHPCA and the CNPCC compiled a repository of resources on pediatric hospice palliative care for families and for health care workers thanks to the support of GSK Inc. and Purdue Pharma (Canada). The resources include topics like what pediatric palliative care entails, anticipatory grief, and supporting siblings of children with a life-threatening illness, among many others.
Downloadable Campaign Resources
Campaign Kit Elements
The campaign kit includes: campaign poster (Letter & Legal size), images and post templates for social media – including for Stories and Reels, customizable Canva templates for social media images, and educational infographics on children’s hospice palliative care.
Images for Social Media
Have your own picture you want to use on social media?
Add your own picture or logo using one of these free customizable Canva templates of the above social media image to make the campaign your own!
Social Media Post Templates
Download templated social media posts you can use and modify to engage online for National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day!
Infographics - Children's Hospice Palliative Care
Weaving the Fabric of Care with Children’s Hospice Palliative Care
Who is it for?
Children with…
- A life-threatening illness, where curative treatment is available but may be unsuccessful
- An expected long period of treatment to prolong life, but premature death is anticipated
- Progressive conditions where treatment is palliative from diagnosis
- Severe disability leading to extreme vulnerability to complications and premature death
Healthcare Workers: Would you be surprised if…
- The child died in the next 12 months? No?
Or if…
- The child were alive in 12 months? Yes?
They may benefit from children’s hospice palliative care.
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2023 – www.chpca.ca/HPCforchildren
Weaving the Fabric of Care with Children’s Hospice Palliative Care
What is it?
An active, holistic approach to care to enhance the quality of life of children facing life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Beyond symptom management
It also helps children and families to fulfil their psychological, social, and spiritual needs and goals.
It’s a team sport!
Children’s palliative care is provided by multidisciplinary teams that can include:
- physicians
- nurses
- allied health professionals
- social workers
- volunteers
- and others!
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2023 – www.chpca.ca/HPCforchildren
Weaving the Fabric of Care with Children’s Hospice Palliative Care
What is the Palliative Approach to Care?
This holistic approach assesses physical, social, spiritual, and family needs to identify and provide added support that enhance quality of life.
Did You Know?
Any health care worker can integrate it into the care they provide!
How can I use the palliative approach? ACT!
A – Ask the child and their family: What are your goals? Your worries? Your sources of strength? Your challenges?
C – Care: Provide individualized care to improve quality of life based on the child and family’s unique goals and needs.
T – Together: Identify and refer to partners, services, or groups to provide additional care or support needed for each child and family.
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2023 – www.chpca.ca/HPCforchildren
Images for Social Media Stories & Reels
Other Activities
- Submit articles online to The Palliative Approach blog or ehospice.
- Participate in the Hats On for Children’s Palliative Care Campaign (#HatsOn4CPC) led by the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN) held annually on the 2nd Friday of October. Join us and our hats on Friday, October 13th, 2023, to raise international awareness of the need for children’s palliative care and the work of Children’s Palliative Care (CPC) services worldwide.
- Volunteer with a community organization such as a walking or gardening group, your local children’s hospice or hospital, schools, community centers and other groups that provide essential services in your neighbourhood.
- Hospice Palliative Care and Advance Care Planning: get informed about what your options are so you can focus on what’s important in your life.
Friday, October 13th is the 10th anniversary of Hats On for Children's Palliative Care led by the International Children’s Palliative Care Network (ICPCN).
Join online and share a photo of you wearing your hat for children’s palliative care!
National Children's Hospice Palliative Care Day 2023 is brought to you in partnership with:
Upcoming National Children's Hospice Palliative Care Day Dates
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2024: October 10, 2024
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2025: October 9, 2025
National Children’s Hospice Palliative Care Day 2026: October 8, 2026