GRIEF TOPIC OF EXTENSION TELECONFERENCE

JACKSON -- The Cape Girardeau County Extension Office in Jackson held its annual teleconference on grief Wednesday. The program, produced by the Hospice Foundation of America, focused on dealing with grief during and after a long-term illness.

Teressa Meier of the Extension office said people from the area joined over 150,000 hospice workers, nurses, social workers, counselors, physicians, clergy members, funeral directors and others to watch the program nationwide. The teleconference was hosted by Cokie Roberts. Panel participants included Dr. William M. Lamers Jr., pioneer of the American hospice movement.

Meir said a teleconference on early childhood development has been confirmed for today by the White House office of media affairs. The teleconference will feature a live session with President and Mrs. Clinton in addition to a panel discussion featuring leading researchers and child experts.

Moderator for the sessions will be Dr. David Hamburg, president of the Carnegie Corp. of New York. Panel participants will include Dr. T. Berry Brazelton of Harvard University and Dr. Donald Cohen, director of the Yale Child Study Center.

Today's teleconference will be held at 9:30 a.m. in the Extension office at 815 S. Hope in Jackson.