health & wellness >> Helping Children Local philanthropist helps expand pediatric hospice program statewide. Barbara Lewis I Contributing Writer A It may be beautiful on the outside but it's what's on th inside that counts REGEN STREET ASSISTED LIVING regentstree tbl ield.com Call us today at (248) 683-1010. 4460 Orchard Lake Road West Bloomfield, MI 48323 Ask about our dedicated Memory Care Lin' 48 November 26 2015 JN lransformative" gift from a local Jewish woman has enabled Hospice of Michigan (HOM) to expand its pediatric services statewide. Jo Elyn Nyman, a Birmingham psycho- therapist who specializes in treating ado- lescents, used funds from a foundation established by her parents, well-known Detroit philanthropists Samuel and Jean Frankel. The donation will enable Hospice of Michigan, which serves most of the Lower Peninsula, to make a significant start on a planned $25 million expansion of its pedi- atric services, said Marcie Hillary, vice president for resource development. The programs, collectively called the Jo Elyn Nyman Anchors Programs for Children, include: • The James B. Fahner Pediatric Hospice, named for the Grand Rapids pediatric oncologist who started it. • Compass Palliative Support for Children: for children, adolescents and young adults with serious illnesses who are continuing curative care and thus not eligible for traditional hospice care. • Perinatal Hospice Care, which sup- ports families anticipating life-threatening conditions for their unborn child. • The Center for Pediatric Research and Education, which will be under the umbrella of the HOM Institute. It will be the first research center in the nation dedicated to exploring and teaching about the unique end-of-life issues faced by chil- dren and families. An earlier gift from Nyman helped expand the Compass program, which started in Western Michigan, to the Southeast part of the state. The social work-based program provides support services for children and families that are typically not reimbursed by insurers. Hospice of Michigan opened the state's first pediatric hospice program in 1995, but closed the Southeast Michigan service 10 years later when other local hospices started offering pediatric care. HOM continued offering pediatric services in Western Michigan. One by one, the other Southeast Michigan hospices stopped handling pediatrics, Hillary said. "It's very special- ized, very expensive" The Anchors program was a long time coming. Nyman first reached out to HOM four years ago to say she wanted to do something to help children. Jo Elyn Nyman with pediatric oncolo- gist Dr. James B. Fahner Hospice of Michigan researched the need and then presented Nyman with a program description, a 20-year plan and $25 million budget. Dr. Kenneth Pituch, medical director of pediatric palliative care at the University of Michigan's C.S. Mott Children's Hospital, will chair HOM's expanded pediatric service. Nyman has funded other child health programs, including the Frankel Psychotherapy Training Program and the Frankel Psychotherapy Access Initiative at the University of Michigan Health System, designed to improve access to help for youth and families struggling with mental health issues. "We are deeply indebted to Jo Elyn Nyman for her incredibly generous finan- cial support, which will allow Hospice of Michigan to expand our services and offer pediatric palliative support and hospice care to families across the state said Robert Cahill, HOM president/CEO. "Her vision will allow us to better meet the needs of Michigan families facing the toughest of challenges: the serious illness or death of a child." Nyman is reluctant to talk about her philanthropy. "I give mostly anonymously. I like to be in the background:' she said. "I do this because I'm passionate about children who can't advocate for themselves. I'm just the vehicle. "There wasn't a program like this in Southeast Michigan and now there is, and that's what matters." * Hospice of Michigan was the first and is now the larg- est hospice in the state, caring for more than 1,700 patients daily. For more information, call (888) 247- 5701 or visit www.hom.org.