Seasons Centre for Grieving Children is a charitable organization serving Simcoe County. We opened our doors in 1995 and have been serving our community with their grief and bereavement since. We offer a variety of no cost peer to peer support groups for children, teens, young adults and their caregivers grieving the death, or life threatening illness of an immediate family member. Participants are supported through the grief process by trained volunteer grief facilitators and program staff in a safe, non-judgmental, home like atmosphere. Our programs are unique and are designed to provide children with the opportunity to express their feelings in appropriate ways. We discuss and identify coping strategies and how we can replace the negative strategies with positive ones. Several of our participants have expressed that Seasons Centre is the only place where they feel comfortable, understood, and not alone when talking about and expressing their grief. There are no fees for our services. Children are able to attend programs regardless of their family’s financial situation. (Read More...)
The Canadian Hospice Palliative Care Association (CHPCA) is the national association, which provides leadership in hospice palliative care in Canada. The CHPCA offers leadership in the pursuit of excellence in care for persons approaching death so that the burdens of suffering, loneliness and grief are lessened. (Read More...)
Mission & Vision Kara’s mission is to provide grief support for children, teens, families and adults. Our guiding values are empathy and compassion. Every day we provide caring support to children and adults affected by loss and grief. Our vision is to see people of all ages compassionately supported on their journey through grief so they can move toward renewed hope and meaning. We serve individuals who are grieving a death as well as those managing a terminal illness (their own or another's). History Kara' s founding is rooted in the early 1970s, when a growing awareness swept through the United States, England and other countries that the way contemporary society handled death, based in the medical establishment, was inadequate. The seminal work of Dr. Elizabeth Kubler-Ross and the emerging hospice movement stimulated discussions about death and dying in Palo Alto and other communities. During this same period, Dr. Charles Garfield established the Shanti Project in San Francisco to train and engage volunteers to serve and support dying patients. Palo Alto Projects, modeled after the Shanti Model of Peer Support, was incorporated in December 1976, with 17 peer counselor volunteers. In February of 1978 the organization's name was officially changed to Kara to more accurately reflect its grief support focused mission. Today, our staff and over 150 trained volunteers serve and support those who are grieving in our community. Kara does not espouse a particular religion or philosophy. We encourage those we serve to draw strength from their own personal spiritual beliefs, family, friends and other community resources to build sustaining support. (Read More...)
The Compassionate Friends is a self-help support organization that provides highly personal comfort, hope, and support to every family experiencing the death of a son or a daughter, a brother or a sister, or a grandchild, and helps others better assist the grieving family. Each chapter, along with the supporting National Office, is committed to helping every bereaved parent, sibling, or grandparent who may walk through our doors or contact us. TCF has over 600 chapters serving all 50 states plus Washington D.C., Puerto Rico, and Guam, that offer friendship, understanding, and hope to bereaved parents, siblings, grandparents, and other family members during the natural grieving process after a child has died. Around the world more than 30 countries have a Compassionate Friends presence, encircling the globe with support so desperately needed when the worst has happened. To find a local chapter: www.compassionatefriends.org/find-support/chapters/chapter-locator/ (Read More...)
Peter’s Place is a center for grieving children and families located in Radnor, PA. At our center, we offer age-appropriate peer support groups for children ages 4–17. While the children meet, their parents and caregivers have an opportunity to participate in their own peer support group. Additionally, Peter’s Place offers a group for young adults, ages 18-25, and a specialized peer support group called Ryan’s Hope, which is for parents who have experienced the death of a child as a result of addiction. (Read More...)
Brighter Days Grief Center is a nonprofit organization serving grieving families in the state of Minnesota. They provide free grief support resources, services and programs to adults, young adults, teenagers and children who are grieving the death or terminal diagnosis of a beloved family member. Through their many partnerships and gracious donors, they tailor compassionate resources for each family member including access to grief and trauma support, legal and financial guidance, peer-based connections and youth/family events and workshops. Their signature program, Embrace-A-Family, provides financial assistance for basic necessities, academic support and psycho social care. Additionally, they work with schools, churches and community organizations to ensure grieving children and families receive compassionate and appropriate support in all settings. To learn more, visit their website at www.brighterdaysgriefcenter.org (Read More...)
The Erika Whitmore Godwin Foundation, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit corporation, has five primary goals: (1) to provide hope and support to any parent who loses a child; (2) to support siblings, family members, and friends impacted by the death of a child; (3) to educate the public about the loss of a child, letting them know how they can support parents in rebuilding their lives; (4) to educate and collaborate with professionals who deal with the death of a child; and, (5) to provide ways for parents to honor their child. (Read More...)
The Walking Through Grief product line is divided in to two sections. One is a series of single short DVDs with a variety of different focuses. Each DVD is designed to stand-alone and be used by individuals or groups around a specific topic. The second section is a grief program designed to be used in a facilitated environment that includes everything you need to run and facilitate a successful grief support group. (Read More...)
GRIEF WATCH is a publisher and manufacturer of bereavement books and materials used by families and professionals around the country. They are probably most well known for their beloved Tear Soup products which you can check out here: https://griefwatch.com/collections/tear-soup-home. They also create many beautiful ceramics that are the perfect gifts for those who are grieving. From pocket hearts to necklaces to customizable ornaments, they have something for everybody: https://griefwatch.com/collections/ceramics. (Read More...)
Bereaved Parents of the USA has chapters across the country that help grieving parents and families rebuild their lives after the death of a child. We want you to know you are not alone on your grief journey. BPUSA understands and cares about you and knows that as bereaved families, we truly share “A Journey Together.” Once a year we sponsor a National Gathering Conference that offers speakers, workshops, and special events to honor and remember our children. (Read More...)