Resources for Grieving Families

When a child loses someone they love, the whole family feels it. Children need support to understand their feelings, and the adults caring for them need support too. The organizations below are dedicated to helping grieving children, teens, and the families who love them. This list is shared for informational purposes; please reach out to any organization directly to learn how they can help.

National Organizations

Dougy Center, The National Grief Center for Children and Families

A pioneer in children's grief support, Dougy Center created the first peer support model of its kind. Its mission is to provide grief support in a safe place where children and families can share their experiences, and to train others to do the same. All of their resources and support are offered at no cost. Their groups are divided by age, type of death, and who died, with concurrent adult support groups that meet at the same time for the caregiver of the child or teen who is attending. Dougy Center also offers free downloadable activities and toolkits, including Spanish-language resources through its Esperanza program.

National Alliance for Children's Grief (NACG)

A national organization of professionals, institutions, and volunteers dedicated to supporting children who are grieving and those who support them. If you are supporting a grieving child, their Find Support page can connect you to resources and local support. They also offer short guides to help with conversations with a child who is grieving, including key points to remember when talking to children about death and dying.

Foundation for Grieving Children, Inc. (F4GC)

The first national nonprofit public charity which raises funds for the benefit of children, teens, and young adults who have experienced a loved one's death, regardless of how their loved one died. The foundation also helps families locate services in their communities and works to create awareness of the challenges grieving children face.

Evermore

A national nonprofit whose grief directory is one of the nation's leading resources for grieving children and families. Evermore also advocates for policies that better support bereaved families.

Community-Based Children's Grief Centers

Many regional centers offer peer support groups and counseling for grieving children and their families, often at no cost. A few examples include:

  • Brooke's Place, which offers grief support for children who are grieving the loss of a loved one, including peer support groups and individual and family counseling.

  • Erin's House for Grieving Children, whose mission is to provide support for children, teens, and their families who have experienced the death of a loved one.

  • Buddy's Place, which provides family-based support groups for children and teens ages 4 to 18 and their families who are grieving the death of someone significant in their lives.

  • The Children's Room, which offers grief support services for children and families, including peer support groups, parent groups, teen programs, and Family Night.

To find a center near you, the National Alliance for Children's Grief and Dougy Center both maintain directories of local programs on their websites.

Support for Caregivers

“Caring for a grieving child while grieving yourself is one of the hardest things a parent can do. Dougy Center offers resources specifically for this, including guidance on supporting your child when a parent or caregiver has died, along with resources on caring for yourself while caring for others. You do not have to have all the answers; reaching out for support is a sign of strength.” - Dougy Center

A Gentle Note

Grief has no timeline and no single "right" way to move through it. As Emil discovers in The Magic of Papi, the feelings can be heavy and confusing, and leaning on family, friends, and people who understand can help the weight grow lighter over time. If your child or your family is struggling, please consider reaching out to one of the organizations above or to a licensed grief counselor.

If you or someone you love is in crisis or experiencing thoughts of self-harm, you can call or text the 988 Suicide and Crisis Lifeline (U.S.) at any time by dialing 988.

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