Today, as we recognize National Children’s Grief Awareness Month, New Castle County and Supporting Kidds, Inc. announce their partnership with the Building Better Communities Initiative to provide funding for grief groups in schools and individual counseling for children who have lost a parent, sibling, or special person in their life. New Castle County has awarded $175,500 to assist Supporting Kidds in its mission to provide a compassionate pathway to hope for grieving children and their families, and to empower the community to support them in the grieving process.
“We understand this funding is critical to help those young people access the resources they need in such a crucial time in their lives,” said County Executive Meyer. “During National Children’s Grief Awareness Month, we are more aware, and more appreciative of our continued partnership with Supporting Kidds and the challenging, yet critically imperative support they provide to our young people.”
The funding is focused on school grief groups and individual therapy that will provide a wraparound service focused on meeting children where they are in their grief journey. This is especially important during the pandemic and given the statistics in Delaware and the need for awareness and action in childhood bereavement. Our target population includes grieving children of all racial, ethnic and socio-economic backgrounds, ages 5-18 in Delaware who are at risk for complicated grief reactions due a limited capacity of family and community support.
Supporting Kidds has 2 core programs Healing Pathways (support groups) and Guiding Pathways (individual therapy). The core programs accomplish 3 things: (1) to intervene to reduce the current suffering of grieving children and their families/caregivers; (2) to prevent development of behavioral and emotional problems that are associated with unresolved grief; (3) to empower the community to support children and their families in the grieving process.
Childhood bereavement is a critical issue and increasing national priority. Delaware ranks 10th in the nation in childhood bereavement. In 2021, The Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model reported (based on 2015-2019 data) an estimated 18,000 children in DE (1 in 11) will lose a parent or a sibling by age 18; that number more than doubles to 43,000 by age 25. The problem surrounding the number of children grieving the loss of a loved one is of a grand magnitude in Delaware. The reality is many people do not know where to go for help, what type of help they need, or how to address death and dying as an adult, never mind with a child. This project allows the children to get help while in school and applies no financial, transportation or other barrier to receiving these services.
About Supporting Kidds, Inc.
Originally established in 1989, Supporting Kidds is dedicated to serving the needs of bereaved children in Delaware. The Center for Grieving Children and their Families in Hockessin provides a safe place to participate in healing programs that bring hope for their future. It also serves as the central hub for our outreach programs that engage the community to support them in the grieving process. For more information, please visit us online www.supportingkidds.org.