© Judi’s House 2012 Supporting Grieving Youth in Schools Micki Burns, Ph.D. Director of Programs Brook Griese, Ph.D.

© Judi’s House 2012 Judi’s House Nonprofit, community-based bereavement center founded in Denver in 2001 in memory of Judith Ann Griese Nonprofit, community-based bereavement center founded in Denver in 2001 in memory of Judith Ann Griese Vision: A community in which no child has to feel alone in grief Vision: A community in which no child has to feel alone in grief Mission: To help children and families who are grieving the death of a loved one find hope and healing within themselves Mission: To help children and families who are grieving the death of a loved one find hope and healing within themselves Provide free, comprehensive care to approximately 1,000 individuals annually Provide free, comprehensive care to approximately 1,000 individuals annually

© Judi’s House 2012 Comprehensive Grief Care at Judi’s House Assessment of Individualized Needs Assessment of Individualized Needs Pathfinders: 10-Week Bereavement Groups Pathfinders: 10-Week Bereavement Groups Connections: Continuous Grief Support Groups Connections: Continuous Grief Support Groups Specialized Groups (Spanish-Speaking, Suicide) Specialized Groups (Spanish-Speaking, Suicide) Individual and Family Counseling & Therapy Individual and Family Counseling & Therapy Care Coordination and Referrals for Additional Resources and Services Care Coordination and Referrals for Additional Resources and Services Education and Training in Community Education and Training in Community

© Judi’s House 2012 Overarching Goals of Our Programs Promote resilience, growth and healthy adjustment to loss Promote resilience, growth and healthy adjustment to loss Prevent complications of unaddressed grief and trauma associated with the death Prevent complications of unaddressed grief and trauma associated with the death

© Judi’s House 2012 Grief Programming in Schools In January of 2007, Judi’s House began collaborating with schools to provide support groups to grieving students during the school day In January of 2007, Judi’s House began collaborating with schools to provide support groups to grieving students during the school day To date, Judi’s House has facilitated 134 school-based bereavement groups To date, Judi’s House has facilitated 134 school-based bereavement groups – 17 Groups in 12 Elementary Schools – 55 Groups in 24 Middle Schools – 62 Groups in 25 High Schools

© Judi’s House 2012 Why did we bring Judi’s House to schools? We will continue to exceed capacity within the four walls of Judi’s House We will continue to exceed capacity within the four walls of Judi’s House It is estimated that over 30,000 youth in the Denver Metro area will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 18 (Judi’s House, 2013) It is estimated that over 30,000 youth in the Denver Metro area will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 18 (Judi’s House, 2013) As income decreases, the likelihood of parental bereavement as a child increases substantially ( As income decreases, the likelihood of parental bereavement as a child increases substantially (

© Judi’s House 2012 Why did we bring Judi’s House to schools? Schools are natural partners providing: Schools are natural partners providing: – A safe, trusted, community space for services – A caring environment focused on well-being – Access for students/families who may not seek support due to stigma, cost or other barriers – Peer relationships that foster connectedness – Collaborative, trained, mental health professionals and other caring adults

© Judi’s House 2012 Why did we bring Judi’s House to schools? Grief care professionals have an opportunity to be proactive in supporting grieving youth Grief care professionals have an opportunity to be proactive in supporting grieving youth – Not waiting for a tragedy to take action (e.g., Aurora theater shooting) – Promoting positive social and emotional health – Increasing awareness regarding grief and trauma benefits the entire community – Training school personnel in the process of identifying, assessing and addressing the needs of grieving children

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews Members of the University of Colorado/Judi’s House Research Team interviewed school personnel to explore: Members of the University of Colorado/Judi’s House Research Team interviewed school personnel to explore: – School resources for addressing grief – Options for assessing and gathering information from grieving families – Interest in grief/trauma training and services – Benefits and challenges when implementing a school-based group

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews Interviewed 12 school counselors Interviewed 12 school counselors Interviews lasted approximately 30 minutes Interviews lasted approximately 30 minutes Transcripts of interviews where analyzed by four research team members Transcripts of interviews where analyzed by four research team members Qualitative themes were identified Qualitative themes were identified

© Judi’s House 2012 Resources available to schools: Resources available to schools: – Local grief care center (Judi’s House) – Hospice organizations – Private or individual therapists – Community social service agencies – Medicaid partnerships – Local Children’s Hospital – In-school support – Home-visit initiated by school School Staff Interviews

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews Additional resources that would be helpful: Additional resources that would be helpful: – Training for teachers and other school staff – Educational materials on grief to provide to students and families – Workshops for parents – Interactive website – Local referral/provider lists

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews Expressed mixed feelings about assessing grieving students prior to group Expressed mixed feelings about assessing grieving students prior to group – Concerned students would resist opening up – Recommended using a pen and paper survey or conducting brief face-to-face interviews Acknowledged difficulty getting additional information from caregivers at any point Acknowledged difficulty getting additional information from caregivers at any point – Recommended using pen and paper survey or brief phone interviews

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews School counselors varied in level of interest in involvement with grief groups School counselors varied in level of interest in involvement with grief groups – Some wanted to co-facilitate while others wanted to provide the students a private space without school representation – Most felt comfortable collaboratively addressing red flags with other professionals

© Judi’s House 2012 School Staff Interviews Benefits of grief groups in schools Benefits of grief groups in schools – Peer support – Connecting with other grieving students – Ease of access Challenges of grief groups in schools Challenges of grief groups in schools – Scheduling without hurting academics – Finding a consistent time/space – Obtaining caregiver consent and involvement – Needing enough students to start a group

© Judi’s House 2012 Creating Effective School Partnerships: Laying the Groundwork Be clear about expectations and limitations Be clear about expectations and limitations Involve family and school systems Involve family and school systems – caregivers AND teachers Identify a primary school contact, preferably a mental health professional Identify a primary school contact, preferably a mental health professional Establish ways to assess individualized needs and monitor impact on school performance (academic, social, emotional, behavioral) Establish ways to assess individualized needs and monitor impact on school performance (academic, social, emotional, behavioral) Maintain a reciprocal feedback loop Maintain a reciprocal feedback loop

© Judi’s House 2012 Creating Effective School Partnerships: Providing Services Know your environment Know your environment – Introduce yourself to teachers, administrative personnel and others; learn culture of school Recognize limits Recognize limits – Groups expose vulnerabilities and can be overwhelming to students – Address red flags when they arise – Plan for fun, relaxing activities to end group – Provide coping skills that allow students to return to class

© Judi’s House 2012 How do you get started? Contact your local school systems Contact your local school systems – Connect with administrators (e.g., superintendents, principals) to secure their buy-in – Attend back-to-school nights and other school functions to establish rapport and awareness – Offer to provide trainings to school personnel, social workers, counselors, psychologists and other professionals – Distribute materials at teacher in-service events – Offer to provide school-based services if possible

© Judi’s House 2012 “Grief is not about letting go, it is about holding on in a different way.” -John Jacobs