Compassion & Courage – Hospice & Bereavement
NorthStar Care Community Partners with Beads of Courage, Inc. to Launch Beads of Courage® NorthStar Bead and Carry a Bead® Initiative – Providing compassion and connection to people in hospice care
“Every bead tells a story of courage, and the Beads of Courage® NorthStar Bead will honor the profound courage of those in hospice care,” – Jean Gribbon, RN, BSN, PhD, Founder and Chief Mission Officer of Beads of Courage, Inc, and President for the Center of Arts in Nursing.
“We are excited to collaborate with NorthStar Care Community and invite the public to join us through our Carry a Bead® initiative featuring the Beads of Courage® NorthStar Bead, spreading love and encouragement to those who need it most during hospice care”
The Beads of Courage® Carry a Bead initiative offers a meaningful way for individuals, groups, and communities to show support. Participants can carry the BOC NorthStar Bead and return it with a note of encouragement. These beads and messages are then gifted to people in hospice care, offering compassion and connection during difficult times. The Carry a Bead® initiative is open to everyone, fostering a nationwide movement of compassion and solidarity.
“We are honored to partner with Beads of Courage to bring this powerful experience to those we serve,” – Patrick Miller, President and CEO of NorthStar Care Community. “The BOC NorthStar Bead is a symbol of compassion, dignity, and strength, acknowledging the bravery of individuals and families navigating hospice care. This partnership reflects our mission to provide personalized, mission-driven care that uplifts and supports our community.”
If you are a clinician supporting a child, teen or adult in hospice care and would like to learn more about gifting the Beads of Courage NorthStar Bead or Beads of Courage experiences to support people in hospice care, please complete this form.
Honoring and remembering loved ones by transforming beads into metaphors of hope and remembrance.
Beads of Courage Arts-in-Medicine workshops and supportive materials for Compassion and Courage provide opportunities to experience the important reflective work that a bead can facilitate when grieving the death of a loved one.
Strand for Strength and Remembrance Workshop
The Strand for Strength and Remembrance Workshop was created for those who are coping with the death of a loved one and is intended to be facilitated by a caring clinician. A goal is to help find strength as the bereaved moves through their grief process. During this symbolic and creative arts program, participants are encouraged to express their memories, fears, courage and hope for the future, while honoring family and self using symbolic beads that become metaphors of remembrance:
The bead strand created during the session is meant to be kept by the participant. It serves as a visual and tangible symbol for reflection on the legacy of and love for the person they are grieving and their strength throughout their bereavement journey.
Strand for Strength is a wonderful compliment to existing bereavement support programs or if you are looking for something new. It can be used during bereavement groups, remembrance ceremonies, as well as one-on-one with a family or individual. It is appropriate for children and adults.
Can’t provide these services in person? Please ask our team about using Strand for Strength virtually.
*Beads of Courage is grateful to all of the caring artists from the International Society of Glass Beadmakers for creating and donating handmade glass beads that have been made exclusively for Beads of Courage, Inc.
Please contact us for more information or to order.
The Beads of Courage Elephant Bead
The Beads of Courage Elephant Bead supports moms who need a dose of encouragement as they grieve the death of their child. This bead could be gifted during the Beads of Courage Strand for Strength and Remembrance Program (below), as a follow up booster bead, or stand alone. It also includes two beads for mom to gift to two people to call upon in her “tribe” for support. The Elephant Bead is available in our Shop to Support and also in our Member Hospital Refill Store .
The Beads of Courage Feather Bead
The Beads of Courage Feather Bead is an exclusive, custom-made pewter feather charm for anyone who needs a dose of encouragement as they grieve the death of a loved one. The intention card opens to reveal an encouraging quote from Chelsey Magness, mom and professional athlete, who shares her story coping with the death of her son in the documentary film “With Spirit”. The Feather Bead is available in our Shop to Support and also in our Member Hospital Refill Store.
Beads of Courage, Inc. is honored to partner with Hayden’s House of Healing in creation of the Elephant and Feather Beads. We are committed to supporting people during life’s most difficult moments.
Beads of Courage Flagship Program
Butterfly Bead for Bereavement*
Beads of Courage members receive beads during their treatment experience to represent the amazing strength and courage displayed throughout this challenging time. These same beads can become a source of comfort, strength, and remembrance for families after the death of their child or teen.
The Butterfly Bead for Bereavement is intended to be given by caring clinicians to families after the loss of their child or teen as a continued sign of support, love, and remembrance. These can be ordered in the Hospital Refill Store.
For more information on incorporating Beads of Courage into your bereavement support practice, please contact us.
*Beads of Courage is grateful to all of the caring artists from the International Society of Glass Beadmakers for creating and donating handmade glass beads that have been made exclusively for Beads of Courage, Inc.
Bead Strong
Bead Strong is an interactive program intended to to provide an experience in mindfulness by incorporating mantras, art, breathwork and beads to support psychosocial and emotional well-being of anyone experiencing stressors in their lives. Participants end the session with a bead stringing activity to leave with a tangible reminder of the time taken to care for oneself. Please contact programs@beadsofcourage.org for ordering information.
If your organization is interested in sponsoring Beads of Courage Compassion & Courage resources, please contact jean@beadsofcourage.org
Thank you to all of our partners in caring that have integrated the Strand for Strength Workshop into their clinical support services over the years including:
- Arms Wide Open Childhood Cancer Foundation
- Banner Health
- Children’s Hospital at Sinai
- Children’s Hospital of Michigan
- Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia
- Children’s Medical Center, Dallas
- Diamond Children’s Hospital
- George Mark Children’s Home
- Hayden’s House of Healing
- Iowa City Schools
- Jay’s Hope
- Johns Hopkins Children’s Center
- Kaiser Permanente Roseville
- MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital
- Monroe Carell Children’s Hospital at Vanderbilt
- Our Clubhouse
- Pediatric Brain Tumor Foundation – Georgia Chapter
- Ryan House
- St. Louis Children’s Hospital
- The Punt Foundation
- Tucson Medical Center
- University of New Mexico Children’s Hospital
- University of North Carolina Hospitals
- USA Women and Children’s Hospital