London Homeless Coalition (LHC) Death Communication Protocol
In 2014, the Memorial Committee of the London Homeless Coalition (LHC) established the Death Communication Protocol to acknowledge, share, and address the loss of individuals experiencing homelessness. The protocol aims to inform partnering organizations of confirmed or unconfirmed deaths, support grieving processes, and facilitate communication for providing necessary assistance. The structured approach includes specific procedures for handling rumoured deaths and confirmed deaths, emphasizing the importance of collective grief and healing. Various documents and templates are available on the LHC website to guide organizations in implementing the protocol effectively.
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LONDON HOMELESS COALITION (LHC) Death Communication Protocol PROTOCOL FOR COMMUNICATING THE LOSS OF AN INDIVIDUAL
In 2014, the Memorial Committee, a temporary subcommittee of the London Homeless Coalition (LHC) created the Death Communication Protocol.
Its PURPOSE To acknowledge and respect lives lost as a result of homelessness. To formally and courteously share the news of an individual's passing from one partnering organization to another so that all who have provided service to the individual may be made aware of the death. To diminished or verify rumoured deaths in a timely manner. To identify the potential need for an organization to support staff and clients affected by these losses.
Sharing losses through the protocol also helps us to remember that grief is prevalent, that it has impact and that it is compounded. Communicating between organizations in this way is a form of healing through a collective grieving process.
Its STRUCTURE There are two occasions when a community partner would initiate the Death Communication protocol (note that communication occurs via e- mail). 1. When there is a rumoureddeath which is then followed-up within 4 dayswith an e-mail that states that the death remains unconfirmed orwith an e-mail that states that the death has been confirmed. 2. When there is a confirmed death (confirmation may come from London Health Sciences Centre, London Police Service, Coroner s office, Director or designate of agency, or other (including next of kin).
Its DOCUMENTS Death Communication Protocol Appendix A Death Notification Process Appendix B Participation Agreement Appendix C E-mail Template - Rumoured Death of an Individual Appendix D E-mail Template -Unconfirmed Death of an Individual Appendix E E-mail Template Confirmation of Death of an Individual Documents found on LHC website: http://londonhomeless.ca/information/memorial- committee/ Bimonthly e-mail as reminder with documents and updates to individuals on communication list
WHAT TO DO WHEN When you hear about the passing of a person/rumoured passing of a person, please follow the process of your organization for communicating this death/rumoured death. Generally, this would include the following: Share with leadership/designate for the protocol the name of the person whose life has been lost/rumoured to have been lost, their date of birth, how you learned of their passing and whether or not there are details known about a memorial service The designate will then confirm any necessary details The designate will then send an e-mail communication out to community partners involved with the protocol to share with them that a life has been lost/rumoured to have been lost You and/or the designate will complete the Tracking Form if the loss has been confirmed and the designate will forward the Tracking Form to the appropriate members of the LHC Steering Committee Your organization will provide support to you, as well as to other persons affected by the loss in the way that is consistent with your organization s capacity
PARTNERING ORGANIZATIONS Addiction Services of Thames Valley (ADSTV) London InterCommunity Health Centre (LIHC) Street Level Women at Risk (SLWAR) Anova London Police Service (LPS) Unity Project At^Lohsa Native Family Healing Services Middlesex London Health Unit (MLHU) WISH Youth Opportunities Unlimited (YOU) City of London Homeless Prevention Mission Services of London Regional HIV/AIDS Connection Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA) Middlesex - My Sisters Place & Coffee House The Salvation Army -Centre of Hope St. Leonard s Community Services (Project Home) London CAReS
LOST LIVES INFORMATION SHEET
QUESTIONS?! What should I do if I hear of someone s passing from someone who works at another organization? Please ask that person if they have reported to their leadership/designate for the protocol about this loss and if they know whether or not an e-mail has been sent out to partnering organizations about it. If they have not reported the loss, encourage them to do so. If they have reported the loss, but no e-mail has been sent, encourage them to inquire with their leadership/designate about whether or not they plan to send out a notification. If they have reported the loss and a notification has been sent from their organization, inquire with your organization s leadership/designate about their intention to share the loss with staff. Please do not share the loss with others in your organization or with others from other organizations until speaking with your leadership/designate. What should I do if a person from an organization has told me that they would like to be a designate for the protocol? Please encourage that person to speak with leadership about this desire. If this person is in a leadership position, please encourage them to complete the Partnership Agreement (found as Appendix B on LHC website under Death Communication Protocol documents) and submit to the LHC Steering Committee for approval What should I do if someone has expressed a need for financial support in order to honour a life that has been lost? Where all other financial resources, including those offered from Discretionary Benefits, have been exhausted or are considered unavailable, please consider applying for funds via the LHC Memorial Fund Practice through the LHC Steering Committee (find Memorial Fund Cheque Request Form as Appendix A on LHC website under Memorial Fund Practice documents) All documents related to the Death Communication Protocol can be found on Memorial Committee page of the LHC website: http://londonhomeless.ca/information/memorial-committee If any other help related to the protocol is needed, please connect with the Chair of the LHC Steering Committee and/or designate. This person s information can be found on the LHC website: http://londonhomeless.ca
GRIEF SUPPORT FOR YOU & OTHERS Grief Loss Resource Committee of London and Area https://www.grieflossresources.ca/groups-agencies Bereaved Families of Ontario Southwest Region Phone: (519)686-1573 www.bfolondon.ca Grief Text Line and Online Chat Support Grief Text Line: (289)278-1885 Text Website Chat Address: https://www.resourceconnect.com/dbkh/chat Indian Residential School System Survivors and Family 24 hr Crisis Line Phone: 1-800-721-0066
