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| Children's Issues |
In this section will endeavor to provide resources to help you help your children cope with their loss and manage their grief. For those with children, whatever their age, the grief process has an added element of sorrow and sometimes helplessness as we bear witness to the many facets of our children's grief. No matter the distance between a child's age and adulthood, there is anxiety for not being able to "fix" all the problematic issues which are directly or indirectly a result of their parental loss.
The listing of this information should not be considered an endorsement by Grief's Journey.
Adolescent Directory On-Line is an electronic guide to information on adolescent issues. It is a service of the Center for Adolescent Studies at Indiana University. Educators, counselors, parents, researchers, health practitioners, and teens can use ADOL to find Web resources.
A Little HOPE is a 501(c)(3) charitable foundation which grants funds in order to provide grief counseling and bereavement support services to children and teens who have experienced the loss of a parent or loved one, regardless of the circumstances of the death. The organization was founded by Whitney Siderman Michaels in New York City after the tragic events of September 11th, 2001. The organization funds bereavement programs and camps that offer grieving children and teens many opportunities for sharing and self-expression in healthy and positive ways. A Little HOPE has grown into a national granting organization. In January 2005, we granted funds to eleven Organizations and will impact the lives of 2,500 children and teens in nine states: New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maine, Pennsylvania, Virginia, Florida, and Illinois.
Amanda The Panda provides support to grieving children and their families through a variety of services. Extensive support is provided to children, teens, and adults who are grieving the death of a family member through accident, illness, suicide, or homicide. This support is provided through weekend camps, support groups, home visits, fun days, school presentations, pen pal programs, Halloween and Christmas parties, birthday cards, and remembrances on the anniversary of the death. Amanda the Panda's mission is to restore grieving children and families back into the mainstream of their lives supported, validated, encouraged and empowered to go on. Extensive, year-round services are provided to achieve this purpose.
The Center for Grieving Children provides loving support to grieving children, teens, families and the community through peer support, outreach, and education. We honor and encourage the safe expression of grief and loss. We provide a loving community to foster the discovery and development of each child's own resiliency and emotional well-being.
Children's Bereavement Center provides families in South Florida loving support in a safe place where children, teens and their families grieving a death can share their experiences as they move through the healing process. The Children's Bereavement Center provides peer support groups for children, teens, and young adults (elementary through college) who are grieving the death of a loved one. The Children's Bereavement Center also extends supportive services and resources to families, caregivers, schools, and the community. All peer support groups are free of charge.
Children's Yoga offers a service called Children in Crisis (be sure to click on the "Try Yoga Now" menu item). In these times of crisis, grief, and uncertainty, children, being sensitive beings, will be especially aware of the pain and confusion surrounding them, though they may not directly express their feelings. When you notice a ripe opportunity to open a space for talking, perhaps after something they say in reference to what is happening in our country and our world, open the space in your heart first, so that truth may prevail in your words.
Comfort Zone Camp® is the nation's largest independent bereavement camp, located in the Richmond, Virginia metropolitan area. Currently, camps are offered in Virginia and the New York metropolitan area for grieving children from across the country. Camps are held for children ages 7-12 and a separate camp for teens age 13-17. One of the most difficult parts of grieving as a child, is the feeling of loneliness. After spending a weekend at Camp, campers realize they are not alone - there are many others who will face the same milestones without a parent and who understand the awkward silences of friends. This understanding is tremendously comforting for children.
Erin's House is a center for grieving children, was founded to provide support services that promote healing and recovery of children, teens, and young adults affected by death. Through partnerships with schools and community organizations, Erin’s House works with families to prevent the negative consequences of unresolved grief. Through peer-support services, Erin’s House provides a safe environment for those who are grieving the terminal illness or death of a loved one. Erin’s House offers age-appropriate peer-support groups to children ages 3 to 25 who experience the terminal illness or death of someone they love.
The Dougy Center was the first center in the United States to provide peer support groups for grieving children. Through helping your child, they'd like to share with you what they have learned from over 14,000 children, teens and families they've served since 1982. Through their National Center for Grieving Children and Families they provide support and training locally, nationally, and internationally to individuals and organizations seeking to assist children in grief. Read their Child and Teen Developmental Grief Responses to help you gain an age appropriate perspective. Review The Bill Rights for Grieving Teens as written by teens from The Dougy Center to gain a teenager's perspective.
FernsideOnline is a non-profit, non-denominational organization serving grieving children and their families. At Fernside, they know that the grieving child has the capacity to rebuild and so, they gently encourage sharing of stories, feelings, and memories with trusted friends, while honoring each one's search for a new beginning.
Fire In My Heart, Ice In My Veins is designed to assist teenagers in journaling to soothe their grief. The site lets teens share their stories, illustrations, help items, and other information that is shared in the journal, "Fire In My Heart, Ice In My Veins," in a online anonymous environment. Stories and illustrations can help and that is why they should be shared.
Hospice Net has a section devoted to grieving children. Read their introductory page and then click the children's link to learn more about their services.
The Karuna Project, founded by Claudia Coenen, is a work in progress, just as grief healing is. Ms. Coenen endeavors to help you discover how your own creativity can assist you in working through the pain caused by loss. Having lost her husband to sudden death in May 2005 and as a mother of three children, she can shine the light of experience on the path, from a little further down the road.
KIDSAID is a safe place for kids to share and to help each other deal with grief about any of their losses. It's a place to share and deal with feelings, to show artwork and stories, to talk about pets, and to meet with one's peers. KIDSAID is owned and run by GriefNet.
KidsPeace is a private, not-for-profit charity dedicated to serving the critical behavioral and mental health needs of children, preadolescents and teens. Since 1882, KidsPeace has been helping kids develop the confidence and skills they need to overcome crisis. KidsPeace provides specialized residential treatment services and a comprehensive range of treatment programs and educational services to help families help kids anticipate and avoid crisis whenever possible. There is a PDF file, a time to grieve, that parents may find helpful for themselves or worth directing their child(ren)'s school(s) towards.
Olivia's House is a free of charge program, is intended for York County, PA children aged 5 to 18 whose parent, sibling, or close friend has died. A child may begin the program approximately six months after the death of the loved one. In this way the acute emotional trauma of the loss has lessened and the child is better able to focus on grief work.
Touchstone, the center for grieving children and adolescents was established to promote and support the special needs of these grieving children and their families. It appears the site is no longer being maintained, but there is some beneficial information within the "old" data.
Willow House is a social service organization dedicated to helping children, teens, families and communities who are coping with death and dying. Services include support groups, educational resources and referrals, community outreach and special programs and workshops. These programs are community based so that they are easily accessible and foster peer support and interaction among the bereaved within the comfort and familiarity of their own communities.
Winston's Wish for Grieving Children and their Families helps bereaved children and young people rebuild their lives after a family death. They offer practical support and guidance to families, to professionals and to anyone concerned about a grieving child.
Other
In this section will endeavor to help you help your children in their grief journey through resources other than organized bereavement support groups.
The listing of this information should not be considered an endorsement by Grief's Journey.
CHECK FOR CHILD ABUSERS/SEX OFFENDERS IN YOUR AREA
Family Watchdog is a tool for those with children (infants to teenagers) in the family. It too could be an information tool for us all. Don't forget to check out your areas of destination when you travel.
When you visit this site you can enter your address and a map will pop up with your house (an icon of a house will denote your house) and red, blue, and green dots surrounding your entire neighborhood. When you click on the dots, a picture of a person will appear with an address and the description of the crime he or she has committed.
If you choose, depending upon the age of the child, you can show the child the picture so they know the potential danger if they ever encounter the individual.
CLUBS AND ORGANIZATIONS (and other things to do)
Big Brothers Big Sisters was founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters is the oldest and largest youth mentoring organization in the United States. In 2004, the organization served more than 225,000 youth ages five through 18, in 5,000 communities across the country, through a network of 470 agencies. National research has shown that the positive relationships between Big Brothers and Big Sisters and their Littles have a direct, measurable, and lasting impact on children’s lives. To experience the difference Big Brother or Big Sister can make, read about real life matches.
Boys and Girls Clubs of America know that in too many communities, boys and girls are left to find their own recreation and companionship in the streets. An increasing number of children are at home with no adult care or supervision. Young people need to know that someone cares about them. Boys & Girls Clubs offer that and more. Club programs and services promote and enhance the development of boys and girls by instilling a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence. Boys & Girls Clubs are a safe place to learn and grow – all while having fun. They are truly The Positive Place For Kids.
Gratefulness.org is a worldwide community dedicated to gratefulness as the core inspiration for personal change. Sometimes to help with our "helplessness" to help our children, it's the little things that might help the most...maybe the simple act of lighting a candle in memory or in honor of a loved one would be just the thing to help your children (of any age) feel a closeness to or something tangible with their deceased parent. They also have a small section on grief and joy.
Kids.Net.AU is a searchable database of more than 30,000 sites designed specifically for kids, that also contains an English dictionary and a thesaurus. The website was the creation of 23 Year old university student, Nathan Rose, who created the search engine in his spare time between studying management at the University of Western Sydney and volunteering at Sydney’s Children Hospital. "I conceived the idea of a kids safe search engine through my involvement with children at the hospital, and while taking an IT sub-major at University," said Nathan.
Parents Without Partners was founded in 1957 in New York City by two single parents. Parents Without Partners provides single parents and their children with an opportunity for enhancing personal growth, self-confidence and sensitivity towards others by offering an environment for support, friendship and the exchange of parenting techniques.
PBSKids It's My Life deals with (you guessed it) life and the stuff kids deal with every day. Whatever problem you're dealing with, believe it or not, other kids and teens have gone through the same thing. Here at It's My Life, you can read informative articles, share your stories, play games, and activities, take quizzes and polls, watch video clips of other kids talking about their feelings and experiences, get advice from older kids and experts, and contribute your own comments and questions. It's My Life also features interviews with celebrities about stuff they had to go through when they were kids. There's even a section on dealing with death.
The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a website you can peruse and possibly find a way to begin to build a social awareness foundation and to get your children involved in social issues. Check out the link for What People Are Doing to get inspiration and if you find something of interest and "randomly and kindly" act upon it, you can creat your own website to promote it. The Foundation was established in 1995 as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, The Random Acts of Kindness Foundation is a resource for people committed to spreading kindness. They provide a wide variety of materials on their website, including activity ideas, lesson plans, project plans, teacher's guide, project planning guide, publicity guide, and workplace resources on their website all free of charge.
World Kids Network is an awesome site run mostly by kids for kids. It includes chat rooms, clubs, mailing lists, news, an art gallery, an area for girls, a chat forum, games, puzzles, and a school service. The site also teaches kids about Internet etiquette and safety. This site is very creatively put together with some great graphics! The pages have lots of variety in color and layout to keep interest high. Many of the story pages have a striking black background, which is a signature of the site.
YMCA stretches beyond the United States. YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. About 230 U.S. YMCAs maintain relationships with Ys in other countries. So the YMCA really does build strong kids, strong families and strong communities -- worldwide. Did you know that together, the nation's more than 2,500 YMCAs are the largest not-for-profit community service organizations in America, working to meet the health and social service needs of 18.9 million men, women, and children in 10,000 communities in the United States? Ys are for people of all faiths, races, abilities, ages, and incomes. No one is turned away for inability to pay. YMCAs' strength is in the people they bring together. Because all communities have different needs, all YMCAs are different. A YMCA in your community may offer child care or teen leadership clubs. A Y in the next town may have swimming lessons or drawing classes. Every Y makes its own decisions on what programs to offer and how to operate. YMCAs are at work in more than 120 countries around the world, serving more than 45 million people. About 230 U.S. YMCAs maintain relationships with Ys in other countries. So, the YMCA really does build strong kids, strong families and strong communities -- worldwide.
YWCA is the oldest and largest multicultural women's organization in the world. Across the globe, they have more than 25 million members in 122 countries, including 2.6 million members and participants in 300 local associations in the United States. More important than the numbers, is their mission to eliminate racism and empower women. They provide safe places for women and girls, build strong women leaders, and advocate for women's rights and civil rights in Congress. Women to to the YWCA in times of crisis, as survivors of rape or domestic violence. They come for job training and career counseling. They come for childcare. They come for health and fitness. They come for a variety of reasons. But they come. And they leave with a renewed spirit, new skills, and stronger lives.
ywca victoria,au is the leading advocate for young women in Victoria. As the longest running women's organization in Victoria, they have a proud history of achievements. YWCA Victoria was formed in 1882 by a group of 15 women who were led by a common purpose ‘to give help to women by women’. At this time, women could not vote, serve on juries, stand in parliament and married women could not own or dispose of property in their own right. The YWCA has continued to serve the Victorian community for over 120 years by improving the opportunities and life skills of women, especially young disadvantaged women who have been marginalized economically, socially, and politically.
JOB OPPORTUNITIES
JobDoggy.com was launched in July of 2002. It was brought to the web to help teenagers find jobs and to serve as a resource tool for those needing help with upcoming interviews or those who wanted to write a resume. A site started by teens, for teens, is still operated by teens. Finding a job is hard. JobDoggy.com is commited to making it easy for teens and students to find a job, making their site a one stop shop for jobs. You can write a resume and apply right there on their site.
Youth Career Site is a branch of JobCentral.com specifically designed to provide youth job assistance.
PEER ISSUES
Bucking Peer Pressure article - 10 Ways to Help Kids Really Say No and Buck Peer Pressure from keepkidshealthy.com and provides links to relative websites and articles.
Bully Prevention from JaredStory.com resources such as links and articles.
Center for Parent/Youth Understanding is a nonprofit organization committed to building strong families by serving to bridge the cultural-generational gap between parents and teenagers. At a time when an already confusing youth culture is changing quickly, CPYU helps parents, youth workers, educators, and others understand teenagers and their culture so that they will be better equipped to help children and teens navigate the challenging world of adolescence. The pressure’s on, an article by Walt Mueller, is one of the many offerings from the site to assist youth and their parents deal with peer pressure issues.
Children, Youth, and Women's Health Services is a website for child and youth related issues. Age appropriate peer pressure related issues are addressed by subsection on the website. Parenting and Child is the prenatal to age 5 subsection. Kids' Health is the age 6-12 subsection. Teen Health is the age 12-17 subsection. Young Adult Health is the age 19-25 subsection.
Dear Lucie is the official site of Adolessons, Lucie Walters' syndicated teen advice column. Advice categories include •Abuse •Alcohol & Drugs •Death •Depression/Suicide •Eating Disorders •Education •Families •Friends •Fun •God •Health •Love •Pregnancy •Self Value •Sexuality •Sports •Work
How To Tie a Bow Tie gives you instruction on how to do just that...tie a bow tie.
How To Tie a Neck Tie gives you instruction on how to do just that...tie a neck tie. Hugs for all you moms who have this special moment with your sons...it was something I too had to learn. If you want to get fancy, learn how to tie a Royal Crown Knot.
Kids in Trouble Help Page provides resources and links to assist children and teens confronting peer issues such as abuse, depression, suicide, and other difficult issues.
National Inhalant Prevention Coalition serves as an inhalant referral and information clearinghouse, stimulates media coverage about inhalant issues, develops informational materials, produces ViewPoint (a quarterly newsletter), provides training and technical assistance, and leads a week-long national grassroots inhalant education and awareness campaign. NIPC works with state agencies, schools, businesses, trade associations, media, civic organizations, law enforcement, Poison Control Centers, and interfaith groups throughout the USA to educate and devise multifaceted awareness and prevention campaigns designed to educate youth and adults about the debilitating effects of these dangerous gateway drugs. NIPC also provides inservice training for educators.
Puberty offers information for adolescents and their mom's and dad's about their changing bodies. iwannaknow.org also offers like information and is broken down into Puberty for Boys and Puberty for Girls sections.
Shaving techniques (from the Velvet Dragon) to help your son or daughter with their first shave. Also for leg and underarm shaving, check out iVillage's articles on the Best Way to Shave and Close Shave. It doesn't have to be a daunting (or bloody) task. And remember - for the guys, there's always electric. For the girls, old fashion shaving with "newly fashioned" manual razors still works best.
TeenCentral.net is an anonymous help-line web site for pre-teens, teens, and young adults. It was developed by experts in teen counseling and psychology. It is professionally monitored and is a password protected, safe cyber-space for teens to try to work out their issues. It was created by KidsPeace, the leader in teen crisis counseling.
Teen Driving is a site full of tips to help new drivers.
PRODUCT RECALL
Product Recall Finder helps you learn the latest updates on product recalls by doing your own product search or by viewing their archived database by recent month, year, product type, etc.
READING MATERIAL
35 Ways to Help a Grieving Child by the Dougy Center for Grieving Children.
Centering Corporation and Grief Digest Magazine Grief Resources offers a listing of suggested reading material to support children in their grief.
Children and Grief is an article from The American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry.
Compassion Books has over 400 resources to help children and adults through serious illness, death, loss, grief, and bereavement. Reviewed and selected by knowledgeable professionals.
Cooperative Children's Book Center has 40 book titles for children on the topic of grief and loss.
GriefNet's Book List is an extensive resource for the topic of children and grief.
The Grieving Teen, by Helen Fitzgerald, CT, Training Director, American Hospice Foundation, © October, 2000, offers insight into the complexities of teen grief.
Grieving the Death of a Mother, by Harold Ivan Smith. A mother’s death can make a shambles of schedules, priorities, agendas, commitments, and, sometimes, even our most important relationships. A mother’s last breath inevitably changes us. Drawing on his own experience of loss, as well as those of others, Harold Ivan Smith guides readers through their grief, from the process of dying through the acts of remembering and honoring a mother after her death. Reader reviews for this book are of the "excellent" variety.
Healing A Child's Grieving Heart: 100 Practical Ideas for Families, Friends and Caregivers is for families, friends and caregivers who want practical, day-to-day "how-tos" for helping the grieving children they love. Some of the ideas teach about children’s unique mourning styles and needs. Others ideas suggest simple activities and "companioning" tips. A compassionate, easy-to-read resource for parents, aunts and uncles, grandparents, teachers, volunteers- and a great refresher for professional caregivers.
Healing the Bereaved Child: Grief Gardening, Growth Through Grief and Other Touchstones for Caregivers is part textbook, part workbook, part meditation, this exhilirating guide is a must-read for child counselors, hospice caregivers, funeral directors, school counselors and teachers, clergy, parents - anyone who wants to offer support and companionship to children affected by the death of someone loved.
Helping Teenagers Cope With Grief an article by Alan D. Wolfelt, Ph.D.
On Grieving the Death of a Father by Harold Ivan Smith. Not many books have been written to help the grieving son or daughter deal with the new reality of a deceased father. Smith has combined personal stories from Frederick Buechner, Norman Vincent Peale, Corrie ten Boom, James Dobson, and many other well- known people to help others through their grieving process. Reader reviews for this book are of the "excellent" variety.
The Club No One Wants to Join from A Dozen Lessons I've Learned from Grieving Children and Adolescents, by Donna L. Schuurman, Ed.D. National Director, The Dougy Center
Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child, by Earl A. Grollman, drawings by Susan Avishai. Why do people die? How do you explain the loss of a loved one to a child? This book is a compassionate guide for adults and children to read together, featuring a readalong story, answers to questions children ask about death, and a comprehensive list of resources and organizations that can help. Reader reviews for this book are of the "excellent" variety.
Three Myths of Children's Grief is an article from the TLC Group, affiliated with GriefNet.
VACATION PLANNING
Rascals In Paradise began offering superb quality vacations to families traveling with children in 1987. Since then, they have been instrumental in initiating children's programs worldwide. Their offerings have changed over the years reflecting the demands of you, their valued clients. Their selections now include many hand picked properties that offer well managed, on-site kids' programs, not previously available. Because of these hotel-based programs, their Special Family Escorted weeks will now be on a request basis only.
www.TravelingWithChildren.co.uk provides information, planning, and products making traveling with children fun!
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Created on 09/16/2005 07:33 PM by admin
Updated on 09/07/2010 09:22 PM by Branch
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