Thursday, July 16, 2009

Child Bereavement Support Groups

Grieving child


You and your child had a family member or loved one die recently. You want your child to get help working though this deep pain. Many communities offer support groups for children dealing with grief and loss. Your child's experience of grief is individual, but knowing others also facing grief can help him cope.


The Dougy Center


When Dougy Turno was dying of brain cancer at age 13, he was able to talk with other sick children and help them talk about their situation. After he died, one of the hospital staff who worked with Dougy started support groups for children and family members facing death. The Dougy center is now 28 years old and serves nearly 400 children and their family members each month. Children, teens and adults meet every other week in groups with others who have experienced the death of a sibling or parent. People are grouped by age, the type of death (murder, suicide, illness, sudden death), and relationship to the deceased.


The Dougy Center


PO Box 86852


Portland, OR 97286


866-775-5683


dougy.org


The Healing Place


Leaders in three Northwestern Alabama counties started The Healing Place after learning about The Dougy Center on a television program. In less than a year they had incorporated, built a building, hired a director and opened for business. The Dougy Center provided training to help them get started. They serve children ages 3 to 19 and their families who have lost a loved one. The services are free.


The Healing Place: A Center for Loss and Change


Tuscumbia Alabama Location:


5604 Ricks Lane


P.O. Box 740356


Tuscumbia, Alabama 35674


256-383-7133


thehealingplaceinfo.org


Michael's Place


Michael's Place provides grief support for children and families at a facility in Traverse City, Michigan. Weekly groups start with a meal at 6 p.m., followed by 75-minute support sessions. The services are at no cost. People of all faiths or no faith are welcome.


Michael's Place


1055 Carriage Hill Drive, Suite 4,


Traverse City, MI 49686


231-947-6453


mymichaelsplace.net








The Center for Grief and Loss for Children


The Center for Grief and Loss for Children has four sites in the Los Angeles area. Therapists and volunteers provide support to children who have lost someone they loved. Play activities help children communicate as they work through their feelings.


The Center for Grief and Loss for Children


924 West 70th St. Los Angeles, CA 90044








1010 N. Central Glendale, CA 91202


37 N. Holliston Ave. Pasadena, CA 91106


33 S. Catalina, Pasadena, CA 91101


1-866-74GRIEF


griefcenterforchildren.org


Find grief support where you live


Dougy Center provides a search engine for 500 grief counseling centers. Enter your location to find listings in your area. For example, entering London, England in the search engine found three programs:


Barney's Support for Bereaved Young People


1B King St


Kempston Bedfordshire, MK42 8BW


012 34301510


St. Christopher's Hospice


Candle Bereavement Project


51-5g Lawrie Park Road


London, SE26 6DZ


00 44- 8778-9252


stchristophers.org.uk


Winston's Wish


Westmoreland House


80-86 Bath Rd.


Cheltenham, GL537JT


440 1242 515157


www.winstonswish.org.uk

Tags: Dougy Center, Center Grief, Center Grief Loss, Grief Loss, Grief Loss Children