Liana Bailey is a Research Associate with Roger Neilson Children’s Hospice and Canada’s Pediatric Palliative Care Alliance, where she leads and supports national and local research initiatives in pediatric palliative care, including a recent study on the evolution and current state of Canadian specialized pediatric palliative care programs. Her doctoral research extends these interests through an ethnographic study of children’s moral experiences in hospice, funded by the Ontario Graduate Scholarship and the Social Sciences and Humanities Research Council. Liana is dedicated to fostering compassionate communities through advances in pediatric palliative care, childhood ethics, and grief literacy.
Research Projects
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Caring for Grievers: A Scoping Review of Bereavement Practice Approaches and Support Strategies
22/11/2025
Bereavement support is a core component of palliative care social work, yet approaches to assessment and intervention remain highly variable. This scoping review, conducted in response to a Canadian children’s hospice seeking to expand bereavement services, examined evidence syntheses published between 2015 and 2024 to identify assessment tools and professional approaches used with bereaved children, youth, and adults. Findings reveal substantial diversity in tools and practices, alongside notable methodological and conceptual gaps, underscoring the need for integrated, systems‑based bereavement care grounded in palliative care social work values.
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Mending the gaps: A systems-focused rapid review on paediatric palliative care for health leaders
03/11/2025
In Canada, Paediatric Palliative Care (PPC) delivery is challenged by vast geography and dispersed populations, creating barriers to equitable access. This rapid review of literature published between 2014 and 2024 identified key challenges—including unclear team roles, limited PPC familiarity, and fragmented health systems—alongside strategies such as enhanced education, streamlined access, and increased awareness. The findings emphasize the need for coordinated leadership and system integration to ensure accessible, high‑quality PPC for all children and families, regardless of location.