School Programs for Grief and Crisis Support

School Programs for Grief Support

Friend to Friend (F2F) is a grief support group for school-aged students (5-19) that meets children at their individual school. Children are often referred to as the invisible mourners. Essentially this means that they are typically overlooked unless there is a problem. Everyone grieves, but a child’s grief is expressed in their behavior. There are countless versions of acting out that usually flag either parents, caregivers, or school personnel that something significant is going on with them. Children have the capability for all of the same emotions as adults, but with very little experience in knowing how to express their feelings. Add to this that many children believe that they are somehow responsible for the death, and it is easier to recognize their confusion.

Children who attend F2F meet with a facilitator who is specially-trained in providing bereavement support, and possesses a vast knowledge of a child’s developmental abilities according to their age. We come alongside kids at a crucial point in their lives. A myriad of approaches to mourning loss is utilized as children acquire healthy coping strategies. Children who learn how to manage their grief grow up into adults who build on these coping strategies for the rest of their lives.

Friend to Friend is currently being offered in Morgan County, Decatur City, Lawrence County, and Hartselle City Schools, and is offered without cost to families. F2F is a practical and helpful way to teach healthy coping in a supportive and caring environment. To sign-up your child(ren), complete the Friend to Friend consent form below and turn it in to your child’s school counselor. For additional questions or concerns, please contact Brandy VanMeter Strickland, HOTV's Children's Bereavement Coordinator, at (256) 350-5585.