THE PROGRAM

Since 1991, Pathways has provided Changes, a unique grief support program designed specifically for children, teens, their families, and education professionals.

Parents and other caregivers often want to “protect” children from death and the grief it produces. In reality, however, the best “protection” for kids is allowing them to experience their grief while adults admit the reality of its pain. Experience shows that a supportive network, which is involves family, school, faith group, and the community working together, is the best environment to provide this protection.

Changes provides a structure and routine for children as they learn to grow through their grief. Of course, the skills children learn as they cope with this current loss become skills that they can use for a lifetime – a life that will undoubtedly include other losses. Changes helps children and families turn loss into opportunities for growth, growth that produces real changes. �

THE GROUPS (age 6-18 with parent or primary caregiver)

Changes brings together a unique team of grief professionals and volunteers to help children and adolescents realize they are not alone in grief and that their experiences are normal. Under the direction of Tina Porter, Bereavement Coordinator, and William (Bill) G. Hoy, Bereavement Program Advisor and a nationally respected grief professional, Pathways’ bereavement team uses a diversity of activities designed to meet the specific needs and abilities of each group. Although most children express their grief in healthy ways, our team can provide further resource and referral in the case of complicated bereavement.

• Children 5-18 meet in appropriate age groups while their parent or caregiver meets concurrently. This gives the adults the opportunity to talk about their own grief and the behaviors and attitudes of their children. Together, they often find a common bond in their shared losses and discover practical tools and resources for dealing with their own grief while understanding and helping their children. �
• Grieving families are often concerned about the costs involved in getting help for their children, but Changes is provided completely free of charge to all families thanks to donations by previous satisfied participants
• During the seven-week program, varieties of activities are used, including arts, crafts, storytelling and discussion to help them develop life-skills for managing grief.

Feel free to join this program. Details about the meeting time and location of this program is below:

Family Support Group
New group begins September 2011
Tuesday evenings at 6:45 p.m.

CONTACT US to join our support group or for further information.