The Loss and Bereavement Program for Children and Adolescents at The Jewish Board can help grieving children and teens by providing group-based services that teach children, teens, and those who support them about loss and grief, along with healthy ways to cope.
Youth Grief Groups
Children and adolescents ages 3-18 who have lost someone significant in their lives through death are brought together in groups to decrease their sense of isolation, develop a language of grief, and reduce some of the challenges that commonly occur after a death. Groups and workshops can also be offered for the adults who are caring for their grieving child. These youth groups provide an opportunity to learn about common symptoms of child and teen grief, ways to help them cope with grief, and a chance to speak with other parents and caregivers who are supporting a grieving child. Groups are free of charge, typically last 10-12 weeks in duration, and are provided by trained professionals in a number of locations, including onsite at schools across boroughs as well as on Zoom.
Training and Consultation
We can deliver training, consultation, and workshops to support the development of grief programs in schools, as well as provide informational sessions regarding childhood loss and bereavement. Please call us if interested.
Community Education
Our staff educates parents and professionals about the impact of loss on children and families and acquaints them with the services available in their communities through the program’s Information and Referral line (212.632.4692). These outreach efforts help to identify and effectively meet the needs of those suffering from a loss.
Resources
We hear a lot from parents, caregivers, teachers, therapists, and other members of the community that they don’t know what to say or do for kids and teens when someone has died. Many folks are also unsure if a child is grieving “right.”
Check out the links below for tips that can help you gain a better understanding of what grief looks like for kids at different ages and stages, what you can say to a child to help, and how a child’s grief looks different than an adult’s.
For Parents, Caregivers, and Community Members
- Early Childhood (Birth to 5 years) – Download the PDF
- Littles (5 to 8 years) – Download the PDF
- Middles/Tweens (9 to 12 years) – Download the PDF
- Teens (13 to 18 years) – Download the PDF
For Clinicians
- Early Childhood (Birth to 5 years) – Download the PDF
- Littles (5 to 8 years) – Download the PDF
- Middles/Tweens (9 to 12 years) – Download the PDF
- Teens (13 to 18 years) – Download the PDF
Contact Us
If you or someone you love lives in the New York metropolitan area and need help coping with grief and loss, we can help. Contact our Loss and Bereavement Team by emailing griefsupport@jbfcs.org, calling 212.632.4692, or filling out our referral form.