Dear friends,

I was 10 years old when my mom died, and the grief and trauma my siblings and I experienced set a course of confusion, guilt and uncertainty that hung over us for many years.  At that time there was very little in the way of grief support for children. It could have alleviated years of pain for all of us if we had had a way to process what we were going through.  

At Hospice of Santa Barbara, we understand the complicated and sensitive process for helping children cope with the loss of a family member or friend. We are active on local campuses providing professional weekly counseling to elementary through high school age students. HSB’s on-campus counseling services provide a critical venue for honest communication, support and coping skills reducing the negative coping mechanisms such as drugs, alcohol, and other self-medicating and harmful behavior. Our work with the schools extends to educating teachers and staff on how to deal with students’ questions about traumatic death, such as a peer’s suicide. We are poised to respond immediately to any and all of the 65 schools from Carpinteria to Goleta who call on us when a traumatic death occurs within the campus structure.

Each year, about 300 children and teens receive HSB services when experiencing the death of a family member, the suicide of a friend, or a disaster that affects the entire community. Licensed counselors help the whole family system, anchoring children to simple concrete answers in order to understand the big changes happening.

Often, those most in need are the Littles (4-8 year olds) and the Middles (8-12 year olds). Imagine trying to find the words to explain a terminal disease or death itself while anticipating the absence of a parent or relative who is central to a child’s sense of safety, home, and family. This is something that I don't have to imagine, as I lived it. That is one of the reasons why our children's programs are so important to me personally.

Be well,

David Selberg



There is a Light

by Mother Teresa

There is a light in this world,

a healing spirit more powerful

than any darkness we encounter.

We sometimes lose sight of this force

when there is suffering,

too much pain.

Then suddenly the spirit will emerge

through the lives of ordinary people

who hear a call

and answer in extraordinary ways.

Volunteer Opportunities

Join us in making a meaningful impact in our community by becoming an Advance Care Planning Facilitator! This training will take place on Tuesday, March 12, 19 & 26, from 1-5 PM at HSB, 2050 Alameda Padre Serra. Advance Care Planning is a crucial step in guiding families and preventing unnecessary stress, join us in making a difference!

Register today by emailing CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.

Volunteer Spotlight:

Sue Willner

It’s a long way from the Bronx to Santa Barbara. On the way, through a 55+ year marriage, two children, three grandchildren, a rewarding healthcare career, and 6 years of volunteering for HSB, Sue Willner has learned several valuable tenets.

First, be an attentive listener. Next, act with compassion in all situations. And finally, know your own beliefs, and never impose them or any personal agenda on HSB’s patient/clients.

Sue’s journey began in New York City, where she grew up and earned her BA in History and Political Science. Later, she added an advanced degree in Health Information Management. Sue met her husband Art in college, and their long marriage led them to live and work around the country including the San Francisco Bay Area, Massachusetts, Oregon and finally, southern California. Sue worked as Cottage Hospitals' Director of Health Information Management and Associate Professor and Director of SBCC's online Health Information Technology Programs. Prior to that, she was Assistant Director of Massachusetts General Hospital 's Medical Record Department and the top medical records administrator for Kaiser Permanente.

When Sue was looking for volunteer opportunities after retiring, Art told her how much he enjoyed being a volunteer at HSB. Sue joined the patient care training program in 2018 and has helped many patients since then. She also trained to be an Advanced Care Planning Specialist and has been very active helping people complete their MyCare document.

Happy work anniversary to Sally Turvey!

Thank you to Sally Turvey for all of your contributions to Hospice of Santa Barbara! We are eternally grateful for the dedication and passion of our staff.

To learn more about our wonderful staff, please visit our website.

Sally Turvey, Volunteer Services Coordinator, celebrates her 9-year anniversary.

Get It Done SB! and Mi Regalo are HSB’s Advance Care Planning (ACP) programs, focused on bringing awareness and education in English and Spanish to ensure that all of our community members have a completed Advance Directive before they need one.

RSVP to Attend an Upcoming Community Workshop:

●     2/27 and 3/5 1:00-2:30 PM at Presidio Springs (ENGLISH)

Only need notary services? Join us at Part 2 of any of our community workshops and get your document notarized or schedule a one-on-one appointment with one of our trained facilitators.

For more information on Advance Care Planning, upcoming workshops or to request one-on-one help from our experienced volunteers, visit Get It Done SB! or Mi Regalo. You can also call us at 805-563-8820 or email us at CommunityACP@hospiceofsb.org.