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Children’s Grief Services

Children’s In-School Bereavement Services

At Avow Hospice, we understand that children have unique reactions to grief and loss. They need guidance to navigate their complex feelings and to understand loss in the larger contexts of their lives and family relationships. As young persons with limited life experiences, our children need special tools to cope with grief. It is our mission to provide them.

Our services, designed for children ages 5-18, provide support and companionship to children who are grieving the loss of a parent, sibling, friend or relative through illness, accident, suicide or homicide. With the help of trained counselors, bereaved children are given an opportunity to move through their unique experience of loss in a safe, nonjudgmental environment. All services are offered free of charge.

We provide:

  • Children’s grief workshops held in Collier County schools (public and private) during the school day for children of similar ages and similar losses. Workshop activities include art projects, videos, storybook discussions and the sharing of photos and memories as a way to express emotions and concerns in a safe, nonjudgmental environment.
  • School assistance during times of crisis (for example, the death of a student or teacher).
  • Defusing sessions with children exposed to a traumatic event.
  • Consultations with parents to help them support their child in age-appropriate ways.
  • Individual support for children anticipating a loss through illness and death, or when a group is not currently available for a bereaved child.
  • Community education on children’s grief issues.

Who we serve:

  • Any youth, aged 5-18, who is grieving the loss of a loved one.
  • Children who are facing the anticipated loss of a significant person as a result of illness or death.
  • Children who have been exposed to a traumatic event which resulted in death or severe harm to another.
  • School personnel who want assistance with crisis intervention when there
    has been a death of a student or faculty member.
  • Parents of bereaved children.

For more information about this service or to speak to a counselor, call (239) 261-4404.