Losing a parent, sibling, grandparent or other loved one can upend a child’s entire world.
To help area children and their caregivers process that grief, Grace United Methodist Church is opening a unique program to the public.
Brooke’s Place, a program for grieving children and caregivers, will be starting a new eight-week session starting Feb. 28. The support group allows children to work through their emotions by interacting with others their age going through similar issues.
The program serves children from age 3 and up, and is free to attend, though donations are appreciated. The sessions are broken into different groups depending on age, so that young children are together, while older kids and teenagers also have their own age-appropriate units.
Brooke’s Place was originally formed in Indianapolis in 1999 to address problems associated with youth grief. People who lost a loved one as a child are more likely to suffer from mental health disorders, abuse drugs or alcohol and harm themselves. Columbia University conducted a survey of 300 incarcerated teens in 2005. Researchers found that 96 percent of them had someone significant die in their lives.
Grace United Methodist Church hosted an initial session of Brooke’s Place in the fall. The next session will run from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, starting Feb. 28 and going until April 25, though the group will not meet March 28.
People are asked to RSVP a space for the next session by Thursday. Contact Deb Stubbeman at 317-281-0373 to do so.
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What: An eight-week support group for grieving children and their parents.
When: 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. Thursdays starting Feb. 28
Where: Grace United Methodist Church, 1300 E. Adams Drive, Franklin
Cost: No cost, but donations are appreciated
How to get involved: Contact Deb Stubbeman at 317-281-0373 to sign up. Reservations are requested back by Feb. 21.
Information: brookesplace.org
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