Grief Support Services
GriefShare
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GriefShare is a friendly, caring group of people who will walk alongside you through one of life’s most difficult experiences. GriefShare seminars and support groups are led by people who understand what you are going through and want to help.
Sign up at https://www.griefshare.org/dailyemails to receive an encouraging email message every day for a year.
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The Grief Coach: Personalized Text Support
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Grief is hard. Getting good grief support doesn't have to be. We'll text you personalized support, all year long. If your friends want to help, but aren't sure how, we'll text them tips and reminders too (annual fee $100).
Sign up at https://grief.coach/jodylavoie/ to access Jody’s Grief Coach discount (total annual cost $89).
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Camp Widow
Camp Widow is an innovative program which provides practical tools and research-informed resources for widowed people of any gender, race, religion, age, or sexual orientation. Weekend-long camps, Pop-Up (one-day) programs and Virtual camps are available.
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If you would like a more comprehensive list of
nationwide grief resources, click here.
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Camps for Kids Experiencing Loss
Camp Kesem
At Kesem, we are committed to creating a world where every child who has a parent with a cancer diagnosis or has lost a parent to cancer is never alone. We support these children through and beyond their parent’s cancer with free, fun-filled creative programs and a lasting community.
Camp Sheilah
https://www.sadfund.org/camp-sheilah/
Camp Sheilah, an annual bereavement camp founded by the Sheilah A. Doyle Foundation in 2011, helps children ages 7-17 whose parent, legal guardian or sibling have been victims of homicide on their healing journey. Campers who attend the three-day event participate in fun activities like rock climbing and zip lining that challenge them to do things that they normally wouldn’t do, building resilience and helping them learn how to navigate difficult situations. They also take part in small group discussions and art therapy to help them remember and honor their family member, as well as assist them in working through the trauma they’ve experienced.
Camp Kita
Camp Kita is a summer bereavement camp located in Maine. Open to children ages 8-17 who are survivors of a loved one’s suicide. Camp Kita provides all of the quintessential experiences of a rural summer camp. In addition, the camp provides clinical professionals who lead small peer support sessions and offer 24/7 trauma support. The camp is tuition free for all campers.
TAPS Good Grief Camps
The TAPS (Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors) Good Grief Camp for children and teens provides support and comfort for children and teens facing the loss of a loved one in military service. The safe and supportive atmosphere offers opportunities to learn coping skills, establish and identify support systems and create awareness that they are not alone in the grief of their loved one. Each Good Grief Camp participant has a military mentor who serves as a companion throughout the weekend, providing them with special one-on-one attention and showing them that the military has not forgotten about them. Other summer camps are offered across the US.
Hearts to Art
This unique performing arts camp brings together young people between the ages of 7 and 14 who have experienced the death of a parent to encourage the healing power of creative play. Through the exploration and creation of dance, theatre, and music, Hearts to Art inspires communication and collaboration, fosters emotional growth, and provides friendship, compassion and community. Small group creative activities are facilitated by professional healing counselors, providing campers a safe time and place to express and share their feelings with peers. There are also healing counselors on site throughout the duration of camp.
Camp Erin
https://elunanetwork.org/camps-programs/camp-erin
Camp Erin is the largest national bereavement program for youth grieving the death of a significant person in their lives. Children and teens ages 6-17 attend a transformational weekend camp that combines traditional, fun camp activities with grief education and emotional support, free of charge for all families. Led by grief professionals and trained volunteers, Camp Erin provides a unique opportunity for youth to increase levels of hope, enhance self-esteem, and especially to learn that they are not alone. Camp Erin is offered in every Major League Baseball city as well as additional locations across the U.S. and Canada.
Experience Camps
Experience Camps, founded in 2009 and held in several states, is a national, no-cost program for grieving children who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling or primary caregiver. Our one-week, overnight summer camp, year-round programs, and content help to reframe the experience of grief, and empower kids with the necessary coping skills to move forward with their lives. Through compassion, connection, and play, Experience Camps allows grieving children to embody a life full of hope and possibility.
Circle Camps
Circle Camps provides free summer camp for girls ​who have experienced the death of a parent. Through multi-year camp and leadership programming, ​Circle Camps prepare girls to become confident young women. Our Leaders in Training program offers four years of leadership-building, skill-building, and community engagement for grieving teens.
National Alliance for Children’s Grief
https://childrengrieve.org/find-support/camps
This site provides links to several other bereavement camps for kids and teens, organized by state.
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Age-Appropriate Resources
Books for Children:
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When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown
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The Rabbit Listened by Cori Doerrfeld
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Books for Teens or Young Adults:
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Fire in My Heart, Ice in My Veins: A Journal for Teenagers Experiencing Loss by Enid Samuel Traisman
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Books for Adults:
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Guiding Your Child Through Grief by James P. Emswiler
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The Hot Young Widows Club by Nora McInerny
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It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine
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Triggers: How We Can Stop Reacting and Start Healing by David Richo
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How To Do The Work: Recognize Your Patterns, Heal From Your Past and Create Your Self by Dr. Nicole LePera
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We Plan, God Laughs. What to Do When Life Hits You Over the Head by Rabbi Sherre Hirsch
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Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations For Working Through Grief by Martha Whitmore Hickman
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Journaling for Adults:
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Writing Your Grief: 30-day e-Course https://refugeingrief.com/writing-your-grief/
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Books for Supporting Friends or Loved Ones:
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A Friend Indeed: Help Those You Love When They Grieve by Amy Florian
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Documentaries, Webinars, Podcasts, Etc.
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Free Documentary: Speaking Grief is a public media initiative aimed at creating a more grief-aware society by validating the experience of grievers and helping to guide those who wish to support them.
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Recognizing and Responding to Children’s Grief: In this webinar, experts discuss some of the ways children’s grief can manifest and provide guidance on how to respond and support grieving children.
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TED Talk: We Don’t “Move On” From Grief. We Move Forward With It by Nora McInerny, TED Women 2018
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The Widowed Parent Podcast: Jenny Lisk is a widow with young kids whose podcast helps widows navigate the challenging chaos of solo-parenting.
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The Dougy Center’s Grief Out Loud Podcast brings you a mix of personal stories, tips for supporting children, teens and yourself, and interviews with professionals.
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What’s Your Grief Podcast—otherwise known as ‘gabbing about grief,’ ‘chatting about coping,’ and ‘gossiping with the grief gals.’
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The Widow 180 Podcast: Jen Zwinck interviews people who have turned tragedy, loss and fear into strength and a new passion for life.
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The Filled with Gold Podcast: Melissa Pierce's guests talk about topics ranging from navigating finances to self-care to dating again to family dynamics, and every episode offers hope and encouragement.
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The Widowed Mom Podcast: Krista St-Germain covers topics like dealing with toxic people, people-pleasing and forgiveness, offering concrete examples of how our thoughts affect our behaviors, why we can and should alter our perception, and what's possible in the aftermath of loss.