Has your student experienced a death or loss? If so, there is an opportunity for them to receive an extra layer of support at school.
No matter how recent the loss, we know that school is often more difficult for students who are grieving. LSW partners with Mourning Hope to offer a school-based grief support group for bereaved students. This 8-week, peer support group model was launched several years ago out of the need to reach teens where they spend the majority of their time—in their schools.
School bereavement groups offer a safe, natural environment for students to support one another. These groups help prevent negative consequences related to unresolved grief, such as difficulty with classroom concentration, behavioral problems, social isolation and withdrawal, depression, truancy, substance abuse, and even suicide. One of the greatest program benefits is youth recognizing they are not alone in their grief.
These school-based services occur weekly during school hours and are co-facilitated by our school social worker, Michael Barber, and a trained facilitator from Mourning Hope. Groups meet weekly on the same day for an hour, alternating between the first part of 1st, 2nd, and 4th blocks to reduce time out of classroom instruction as much as possible. All materials are supplied by Mourning Hope, and there is no cost for the school or the youth to participate.
Please contact your student’s school counselor or Michael Barber (mbarber@lps.org) if you have questions or would like to be notified when the next group is offered. You can also visit Mourning Hope at www.mourninghope.org to learn more about the many different supports they offer in the community.
