NYC Children’s Grief Connection

Child HELP Partnership, in partnership with grief centers across New York City, formed the New York City Children’s Grief Connection (NYC-CGC; funded by the New York Life Foundation). The NYC-CGC is a consortium of sites in Queens, Manhattan, Brooklyn, and the Bronx, that are providing and studying a range of services for bereaved families throughout New York City. Child HELP Partnership leads as both study oversight for the overall program – and provider of services for the Queens community. The NYC-CGC begins with a comprehensive assessment of the family.  Based on the assessment findings, families are offered grief group counseling (Making Connections) or Trauma-Focused Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (TF-CBT) for Traumatic Grief.

Making Connections was developed under the leadership of Dr. Robin Goodman, a national expert in children’s grief and advisor to Child HELP Partnership. Making Connections consists of 10 sessions, with separate co-occurring groups for 5-7 year olds, 8-12 year olds, teenagers, and parents. We focus on identifying and building coping skills to minimize the anxiety, sadness, and anger families feel after the death of a family member or friend. We’ve found that families find great comfort in meeting one another and working together. Knowing that others are experiencing the same struggles can normalize our feelings and thoughts about our own struggles. Social connections help the children and parents heal.

Making Connections sessions are led by highly-trained group leaders and selected volunteer assistants. Our facilitators are trained to be sensitive to the specific mourning practices of the family’s religion and culture.

Eligibility

Who’s invited? Children, ages 5-17, who had a loved one die, and their families or caregivers

What do we do?

• Children and caregivers meet in separate groups
• Children talk, learn how to handle anger and anxiety, and create art
• Caregivers talk about parenting and grief, and how to help their children

When? Once a week for 10 weeks

Our groups are free of charge funded by the generosity of the New York Life Foundation. Contact us at (718) 990-2367 for more information.

FAQs