Children experience overwhelming feelings when someone close to them dies – sadness, confusion, shock, fear, anger, guilt and worry. In the midst of these reactions, children must also struggle with the reality of what has happened and manage a multitude of changes in their daily routines that accompany loss.
Children look to adults for cues on dealing with their new circumstances following a death. Yet parents and guardians often are overwhelmed or unsure about how to help them. Supporting Kidds can help!
Healing Pathways
Group based program that helps children and teens understand death and the normal grief process. Through group discussion, artistic expression, movement activities, and more, participants learn positive coping skills and develop a sense of community. Caregivers learn about healthy grief and ways to support their grieving children and teens.
Guiding Pathways
Individual counseling program giving the support to help children and families through the loss of a loved one. Consultation, assessment, and individual and family support services help address the unique challenges and concerns of grieving families.
Grounding Pathways
Nature focused bereavement support groups that aim to help children and teens to understand the normal grief process and provide a safe space where they can develop positive nature focused coping skills and a sense of community.
Survival Kits for Families and Schools
Our Family Survival Kit, Tools for Healthy Grieving, provides information about the impact that the death of a loved one may have on children and families, and ways that parents and children can cope with the changes in your family.
Our School Survival Kit entitled, Helping Students Cope with Grief in the School Setting, provides information on how schools should address bereavement in the school setting.
Community Support
Sometimes finding the right words to talk to a child about death is hard. Supporting Kidds offers education and consultation services to community members who may come into contact with grieving children and families. We provide support and education to teachers and other school professionals, psychotherapists, funeral home staff, day care providers, religious leaders, pediatricians, and nurses.