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Children’s Grief Awareness Day

New Hope for Kids will honor Children’s Grief Awareness Day on Thursday, November 15, 2012 at the Center for Grieving Children in Maitland FL.

Children’s Grief Awareness Day is observed every year on the third Thursday of November (the Thursday before Thanksgiving) and is intended to remind grieving children that they are not alone. This time of year is a particularly appropriate time as the holiday season is especially difficult after a death. Children’s Grief Awareness Day seeks to bring attention to the fact that often support can make all the difference in the life of a grieving child.

This day provides an opportunity for all of us to raise awareness of the painful impact that the death of a loved one has in the life of a child, an opportunity for all of us to recognize and support the millions of grieving children across the nation, the thousands of grieving children right in our own communities, and the grieving children we know and see in our daily lives. Help and awareness are needed to make sure that these children receive support.

New Hope for Kids provides specialized support to children and families grieving the loss of a loved one and grants wishes to children with life-challenging illnesses in Central Florida and is a member of the National Alliance for Grieving Children.

According to the 2010 U.S. Census, 1.5 million children in America are living in a single family household
because of the death of one parent.

On November 15, 2012, the Center for Grieving Children will offer an Open House from 10am – 3pm with staff members and trained Grief Facilitators available to answer questions about its programs and services. Also invited are other community partners such as Hospice of the Comforter Horizon’s Children Program, Cornerstone Hospice (Orange and Osceola) VITAS Innovative Hospice Care and The Compassionate Friends Heart of Florida Chapter. There is also a day of remembrance blue ribbon tying ceremony that will begin at 5:30pm.

“There are many things you can do to be a part of Children’s Grief Awareness Day” states Tamari Miller, MA, Grief Center Director, “but the simplest is to wear the color BLUE on this day in honor of the children in our community that are grieving the loss of their loved one.”

The Center for Grieving Children is located at 900 N. Maitland Avenue, Maitland. This free event is open to the public.



Article from The New York Times – Letting Children Share in Grief

10 Things Grieving Children Want You to Know (pdf)