The Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families

The Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families offers grief support groups for young people and their families. The groups, which meet in the Nelson Pavilion at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children, provide peer support for children and teens who have experienced the death of someone close, including a family member or friend, due to violence, illness, accident or other causes of death. The groups are open to all children and families in the Philadelphia area and surrounding counties.

An important part of the program is its outreach to area schools and agencies, providing training for teachers, counselors, nurses and other key personnel to help them refine their skills in supporting the bereavement needs of at-risk youth. In addition, The Center serves as a clearinghouse for children's grief support services in the region, offering referral assistance to support groups and grief therapists. As a result of the outreach of The Center, young people who are facing the emotional pain and stress of grieving the death of someone close have a greater chance of receiving the help necessary to survive the turmoil in their lives both at home and at school.

Rob Sheesley, Director of The Center, says, "Grieving the death of a sibling, a parent or a friend can be a monumental task for a child and can disrupt the already challenging process of growing up in today's world. Given proper care and support, though, with adults and peers to companion them through their grief, many children are remarkably resilient. Addressing children's bereavement needs now is important preventative work for future healthy functioning."

For a schedule of grief support groups offered at St. Christopher's Hospital for Children by The Center for Grieving Children, Teens and Families or more information on educational programs, training workshops, literature on grieving or referral assistance, please contact Rob Sheesley, M.Div., CT, Director at 215-427-6767, or check The Center's website at www.grievingchildren.org.