Kids are philanthropists! CaringMatters was one of the local nonprofits researched, nominated, and chosen by multiple schools to receive $1000 grants through the Giving Square and its Kids for Kids Fund. We were so honored to receive these grants and be involved with recent Kids for Kids Celebrations. During each of the events, the 4th grade students interviewed CaringMatters staff to learn more about the organization and how their grant would be utilized to support grieving children. Thank you to The Giving Square and to all the students who organized these special celebrations and helped highlight the importance of grief support for children and teens.

The Giving Square believes that all children have the potential to positively impact their community as philanthropists. Through the Kids to Kids Fund program children develop a stronger philanthropic identity, develop new skills, and gain new tools. For more information, visit https://www.thegivingsquare.org/

Allison Stearns, Chief Executive Officer of CaringMatters, was the guest on M&T Bank Presents CEO's You Should Know, a weekly iHeart Radio program feature that profiles the businesses that drive the Washington, D.C. area economy. CEO's You Should Know airs each Monday in prime morning drive across five iHeart Radio stations: 97.1 WASH-FM, HOT 99.5, DC101, 98.7 WMZQ and BIG 100. CEO’s included in these segments represent small, large, local and international firms, because all play a part in driving Washington’s business community.

Gilly Cannon, Senior Director of Children's Bereavement Services at CaringMatters, was interviewed on the first episode of the 2nd season of the podcast, "Kids are Philanthropists, Too!," The series includes two episodes about grief, the most pressing concern amongst 3rd-5th grade participants in the Giving Square program in 2023. CaringMatters was one of the top non-profit organizations chosen by the students to receive $1,000 grants this season. Thank you to Giving Square and to all of the kids for supporting CaringMatters' important mission!

Listen to the podcast HERE.

A Public News Service article and audio clip on school support for grieving students features Gilly Bayes Cannon, Director of the Children's Bereavement Services at CaringMatters.

"If schools were going to do three things," said Cannon, "they need to show that they care about the students, I want them to show that they can listen deeply without judging, and I'd want them to let the student know that school is a safe place for them to be present in, with their grief."

Read and listen HERE

Jamie Phannavong, our amazing Chief Financial Officer, suddenly passed away in September. Jamie served CaringMatters at the heart of our operations for 21 years. Her skilled guidance and practical approach to everything from financial management, accountability, governance, and transparency helped the organization evolve in critical ways. As a result, CaringMatters has met the challenges of the pandemic and continues serving the community through times of complicated illness and unprecedented grief.

In Jamie’s honor and memory, the CaringMatters Board of Directors has created a special fund, The Jamie Phannavong Memorial Fund, designated for staff development to perpetuate Jamie’s example of excellence.

Thank you to our community for your steadfast and compassionate support as we grieve the loss of a dear friend and cherished colleague. Through this fund, we pledge to honor Jamie’s memory through our work and uphold her legacy of devoted service to the community.

The November, 2022, issue of Washington Parent Magazine features an informative article, "A Parent's Guide to Supporting a Grieving Child," by our Director of Children's Bereavement, Gilly Cannon. Read the full article here:

https://washingtonparent.advanced-pub.com?shareKey=onSDUY

CaringMatters is proud to announce that it was selected by the Community Care Corps to receive funds for volunteers assisting local family caregivers, older adults, and adults with disabilities in Montgomery County, Maryland. The amount of the grant is $180,000 for the period of October 1, 2022, through March 31, 2024.

CaringMatters is among the awardees of Community Care Corps. This unprecedented program is a momentous leap forward in facilitating older adults, adults with disabilities, and family caregivers with much-needed nonmedical assistance. CaringMatters’ aid will benefit countless local individuals and families, generating a lasting impact on those served, as well as the volunteers serving our community.

Allison K. Stearns, MS, MPH, LCPC, Chief Executive Officer of CaringMatters , noted that “this grant presents an extraordinary opportunity for CaringMatters to expand the reach of our volunteers to provide compassionate support services to individuals and families in Montgomery County confronting a wide range of challenges due to illness, caregiving and disabilities.”

CaringMatters’ model includes in-home visits to economically vulnerable 60+ seniors who have difficulty living independently; volunteers will provide companionship, shopping for essentials, light housekeeping, food preparation; and transportation to medical appointments and social services. Caregivers of the in-home senior clients and other recruited family caregivers will participate in volunteer-facilitated support groups and/or receive check-in contacts from volunteers. The model also will work to connect seniors and caregivers with formal and informal community resources. A total of 40 seniors and 70 caregivers will be served by 50 newly recruited, trained and supported volunteers, all coming from the Montgomery County Maryland’s diverse populations.

“We are pleased to make this award to CaringMatters. Their excellent volunteer model was chosen over other outstanding programs across the country,” said Paul Weiss, President of The Oasis Institute which administers Community Care Corps.

Community Care Corps grants are being awarded to local organizations across the country to establish, enhance, and grow innovative volunteer models. Community Care Corps is granting $2.85 million to 23 innovative local programs nationwide, including CaringMatters. The program was extremely competitive. In all, 171 organizations requested funding for their programs. The organizations selected serve a mix of urban, suburban, rural, and tribal communities from across the country.

Tens of millions of Americans are in critical need of nonmedical assistance to continue living in their homes. Many also need companionship to avert the devastating effects of isolation. Volunteer support is vital for individuals to maintain the ability to live independently and stay connected within their communities.

Community Care Corps, through a cooperative agreement with the federal Administration for Community Living(ACL), is led by three national non-profit organizations: The Oasis Institute,Caregiver Action Network, and USAging. For more information about Community Care Corps and a list of the 2022 grantees, please visit www.communitycarecorps.org.

Read News Release Below.

We are devastated and heavy-hearted to share that Jamie Phannavong, our amazing Chief Financial Officer, recently passed away after experiencing an unexpected catastrophic health incident. Jamie served CaringMatters for 21 years and along with Penny Gladhill, our founder, had been the institutional memory and heart of our operations. Her skilled guidance and practical approach to everything from financial management, accountability, governance, transparency and strategic planning helped the organization grow and evolve in critical ways. As a result, the organization has been able to meet the challenges of the pandemic and continue serving the community through times of complicated illness and unprecedented grief. Jamie touched so many of us in profound ways during her time with CaringMatters. Her loyal friendships, her deep professional expertise, and her unwavering dedication to the CaringMatters mission are only a few of the ways she will be remembered. Thank you to our community for your steadfast and compassionate support as we grieve the loss of a dear friend and cherished colleague. We pledge to honor Jamie’s memory through our work and uphold her legacy of devoted service to the community.

We are thrilled to announce that an article, “I’m Not Alone”: A Group Intervention for Grieving Children," detailing a study of CaringMatters' Good Grief Clubs was published by SAGE Publishing in the Journal of Prevention and Health Promotion. Karen M. O’Brien and Erin Hill of the University of Maryland, Department of Psychology, collaborated with CaringMatters staff members, Gilly Cannon, Director of Children's Bereavement Services; Allison Stearns, Chief Executive Officer; Carol Walsh, Grants Specialist, to produce this significant research study of important interventions established through community partnerships that serve to prevent negative outcomes associated with unattended grief in childhood. The key finding of the research was that school-based grief groups are an effective way for grieving youth to learn coping skills.

Congratulations to this dedicated group of professionals on this stellar accomplishment that shines a bright light on the importance and impact of grief support for children and teens.

Read the complete accepted version of the research manuscript HERE.

Please join us in congratulating Kenneth Nelson, a member of the CaringMatters Board of Directors, for being named one of the 2022 Montgomery Serves Awards honorees. Along with his fellow honorees, Ken has has demonstrated remarkable commitment to service and volunteerism in our community, earning him one of Montgomery County's highest recognition for his contributions. Congratulations, Kenneth!

We are proud to recognize the hard work and innovative spirit of our staff and members our CaringMatters community, who are affiliated with the University of Maryland, for their advancement of resources in the field of children's bereavement support services.

Erin M. Hill, Karen M. O’Brien, Gilly Cannon, Allison Stearns, Carol Walsh, Shereen Ashai, Madelyn Harris, & Karoline Trovato collaborated on a study of CaringMatters' Good Grief Clubs resulting in findings presented in a poster session at a recent conference of the Association of Death Education & Counseling - The Thanatology Association. Entitled "“Five Deep Breaths” Helping Children Learn to Cope with Grief," the key finding of the research was that school-based grief groups are an effective way for grieving youth to learn coping skills. The research presents the REST framework to help educators and counselors equip grieving children with a coping toolkit.

R Remember Them

E Engage in Activities

S Seek Support

T Take Care of Yourself

Erin M. Hill is the author of REST acronym. View the conference poster presentation HERE.

We are pleased to release our Fiscal Year 2021 Annual Report, which represents the scope and impact of our services, and documents our progress and accomplishments. This analysis only tells part of the story. Fiscal year 2021 was the first full year of the pandemic, requiring diligence and care to pivot our services to meet the growing and changing needs of the community. Also, behind each one of the numbers in this report is an actual person, a family or a child – a community member who allows themself to drop the forced smile and the friendly small talk to reach out and accept support during times of illness, loss and grief. We never lose sight of this reality and the powerful impact of our work.

As we move into our 33rd year of service to the Montgomery County community, we pledge to remain focused on this mission of compassionate support. Thank you to our Board members, Trustees, volunteers, donors and community partners, who work with our staff on this very important and special mission.

Read the report HERE.

We are proud to announce that The Montgomery County Commission for Women and Montgomery Women named Allison Kramer Stearns, CaringMatters CEO, as one of the recipients of the 2022 Women Making History Award. The award is given in recognition of outstanding women in Montgomery County making significant contributions in their vocation and in our community.

“Allison is so masterful at forging partnerships, connecting with people and bringing out the best in them,” said Audrey Rothstein, CaringMatters’ Board Chair. “As a community member, I see her leadership over the past eight years as a true gift. As the Board Chair, I deeply value her partnership and continue to be inspired by her insightful perspectives and unwavering commitment to this critical work.”

“Allison came to our organization when it was Hospice Caring, and over eight years, transformed it into CaringMatters – an organization that lives up to its name, fit and ready to meet the challenges of the 21st century and the pandemic,” said Penny Gladhill, current Director of Volunteer Helping Hands and founder of Hospice Caring.

Read about the award and the other recipients here: https://bit.ly/374mhcg

CaringMatters is proud to be selected as one of 30 grief-centered organizations selected by Judi’s House/JAG Institute to participate in the Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program to build capacity for data collection and program evaluation through a series of trainings, workshops, and collaborative learning sessions.

Over the course of a year, CaringMatters, as a member of Changemakers, will receive guidance and practical recommendations to address data and evaluation needs big and small that can inform strategic planning, support funding opportunities, and enhance the overall impact CaringMatters has on children in our community who experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18.

“By establishing a culture that values and supports data for successful design and implementation of evaluation strategies, the Changemaker initiative will move the childhood bereavement field closer to a vision of no child alone in grief,” said Laura Landry, PhD, director of evaluation and research for Judi’s House/JAG Institute.

The Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program was conceived by Judi’s House/JAG Institute, a Denver-based grief care organization with philanthropic support from New York Life Foundation – the largest corporate funder in the childhood bereavement space – and in collaboration with the National Alliance for Children’s Grief, the only professional member organization specifically addressing issues about childhood bereavement.

Read more about The Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program HERE.

CaringMatters is excited to partner with Nancy A. Scherl Fine Art to promote a new book, Dining Alone in the Company of Solitude, published by Daylight Books and slated for a May 1st release. Ms. Scherl is generously donating 50% of the proceeds for books purchased through her website to CaringMatters. Ms. Scherl was drawn to support CaringMatters because so much of our work revolves around support for seniors to alleviate social isolation during times of illness, caregiving and grief.

"Although all of us were effected by the COVID-19 pandemic, I have a particular soft spot for the elderly," said Ms. Scherl. "My mother, who lived in an eldercare facility in New York City, was in her 90's during the pandemic. Though she was a trooper, the lockdown took a heavy toll on her. The programs that CaringMatters offers to older adults are wonderful and help combat the effect of social isolation on so many older adults, many just like my mom."

Dining Alone: In the Company of Solitude highlights the experience of being alone in public. She chose to use peopled restaurant interiors as a metaphor to explore the complexities of the subject of solitude. The subtle nuances of these lone diners visually define their experience. Dining Alone is a long-term project spanning three decades, culminating in 2020 with photographs taken during the COVID-19 pandemic when restaurants moved their diners to makeshift structures outdoors to avoid contagion. The humanistic photographs shine a light on the existential and complex aspects of dining alone which have been thrown into sharp relief by COVID-19.

​

Visit the Nancy A. Scherl Fine Art website to learn more and pre-order a signed, special edition of the book for $100.00.

Nancy Scherl is a fine art photographer based in New York City. Stylistically, Nancy emulates cinema verité, often posing her subjects, offering subtle direction, and asking them to “act out” what they experience when they’re in a specific setting. The setting is frequently enhanced with formal lighting to create a specific ambience. Nancy’s more candid portraits blur the boundaries between pictorial and street genres; she draws from Cartier-Bresson’s “decisive moment.” Her camerawork may include a predetermined background and sometimes controlled lighting, but she will capture her subjects more spontaneously, once they appear within her camera frame. Nancy refers to her reality-based narratives as being staged or partially staged realities. Read more about Nancy Scherl HERE.

In honor of CaringMatters Silver Linings Virtual Celebration, Congressman Jamie Raskin (D-Md) and Montgomery Councilmember Craig Rice, a member of the CaringMatters Board of Directors, sat down for a conversation with Susan Kenedy of County Cable Montgomery to talk about grief, loss, healing and the role of nonprofits, like CaringMatters, in providing critical support to the community. They discussed the importance of sharing their stories of loss as public figures in hopes of empowering others who are grieving to seek support.

Eva Cowen, CaringMatters' Community Resource Specialist with The Whole Program, was the guest on the latest episode of Engage@Home, the YouTube Channel of the Montgomery County Caregiver Support Program. Lylie Fisher, the host, talked with Eva about this new program - a partnership between CaringMatters and The Aquilino Cancer Center, funded by a grant from the Healthcare Initiative Foundation.

They spoke about how the partnership has been working through these challenging times to help support the patients newly-diagnosed with cancer and their families connect with community resources. The pandemic has brought in additional complicating factors for cancer patients and families, such as social isolation and the loss of jobs and health insurance. This innovative partnership, which includes CaringMatters volunteers, has been addressing many of these issues to ensure people receive support to help ease the cancer journey.