The Center for Grieving Children

Bereavement peer support: weekly volunteer led, peer support groups provide a safe and supportive environment in which young people and adults who have suffered The death of someone close can share their experiences and feelings with others with similar experiences. Facilitated, age-appropriate peer support groups serve Children, teens and parents/caregivers at locations in portland and sanford. Additional groups are available for young adults, bereaved parents, and bereaved spouses and partners. Our groups are in person but have added a night that is via zoom as well.

Outreach and education: staff and trained volunteers take their knowledge and expertise out to local schools and others within The community to provide professional training, crisis support and consultation on supporting Grieving Children and adults. The Center has added webinars which have been extremely successful, averaging 125 attendees. Intercultural peer support: in collaboration with portland public schools, this program serves elementary, middle school students whose families have resettled in portland, Maine from countries that have experienced war, violent conflict, and natural disaster. Students participate in weekly peer support groups that include collaborative group projects with an emphasis on creative arts and self-expression. This takes place three afternoons per week.

Tender living care: these peer support programs help Children and teens ages 3-18, young adults and parents and caregivers cope with The changes that come with a family member's diagnosis of a serious illness. The program supports families from The point of diagnosis and at every step along their journey with illness peer support groups, phone support and information. Age appropriate support groups meet weekly and are facilitated by trained volunteers.. just over 1/3 of all people who access tender living care or bereavement support services are from york county.