Dear Friends,
Providing a caring and judgment-free place for grieving students is a very important task. Throughout the years, research has shown that children struggling through grief are at a greater risk of additional challenges at school such as behavioral and academic issues, as well as feeling isolated from their peers.
In 2022, Tides began a collaboration with local school districts to facilitate school-based grief and loss peer support groups. These groups, facilitated by Evelyn Wald and me, brought children together who had experienced the death of a loved one. Those in the groups talked about their unique stories of loss. They learned that although their journey may be different from others, they are not alone. By giving children and teens the opportunity to participate in a grief and loss group, not only are they able to share openly with others, but they’re also forming new relationships with their peers who have an understanding of what they are experiencing.
School-based grief and loss peer support groups were held at Philipsburg-Osceola Middle school, Mount Nittany Middle school, Penns Valley Junior/Senior high school, Bellefonte Elementary, Marion-Walker Elementary and Bald Eagle Middle school. In total, there were seven groups at six schools, with 47 individual participants (22 boys and 25 girls).
We will miss the students over the summer, but look forward to reuniting with them and others this upcoming fall as we continue to expand our programming into additional schools.
Sincerely,
Angie
Angie Kempf
Program and Outreach Manager
