Safe Crossings Foundation

Safe Crossings Foundation funds programs to help children, teens, and young adults heal and thrive after the death of a loved one. Funded programs include individual and group children's grief support services (in person and virtual); bereavement camps, hikes and wilderness backpacks for kids and teens; online and in-person school support groups; bilingual programs in spanish and somali; and materials such as therapeutic books and games for children and their families, which are distributed locally and nationally. 4,482 children and teens were supported by direct services for an estimated 40,000 hours of grief support service, including 95 children who attended camp erin-king county, a free weekend bereavement camp.because of Safe Crossings Foundation funding, 12 schools and one counseling center in the puget sound area outside of king county received the providence Safe Crossings program's school grief group curriculum serving 107 students. This six-week group curriculum is facilitated by 1-2 professionals with a background in mental health or grief support, typically a school counselor, school-based counselor, or school social worker. A pre-made kit includes necessary supplies for counselors to host a grief support group. Participants learn tools for navigating their unique grief journey and build community with peers who are also grieving.

Safe Crossings Foundation presented the 9th annual northwest conference on childhood grief which provides clinicians, therapists, counselors, and community members an opportunity to learn about best practices when dealing with grieving children and their families. Regional professionals network, build community, and earn continuing education units. More than 80 professionals from across five states participated in our hybrid, two-day conference, engaging with grief support experts located across the united states. Ten facilitators and presenters provided continuing education on various topics, including traumatic loss, delivering grief support in educational settings, the somatic effects of grief, and supporting marginalized communities. An estimated 9,000 youth from our region directly benefited from the education and skills the grief professionals incorporated into their practice after attending this conference. Safe Crossings Foundation provided quarterly professional development for program partners, focusing on diversity, equity and inclusion, and disseminating current research and information on the need for children's mental health services and grief support. We also partnered with regional educational service districts, regional first responders, and government/nonprofit partners, to share information about professional development and free programming for children.safe Crossings Foundation's youth & young professionals councils led a community conversation to elevate youth voices on the topic of grief: "what grieving youth want you to know", delivered "care baskets" to teens who have experienced a death of a parent/sibling, and developed governing structures for council leadership transition.