TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WCTV) – A Tallahassee hospice organization is working to make sure children dealing with grief have the support they need.<\/p>\n
Heart \u2018n Soul Hospice is hosting a one-day youth bereavement camp Friday in Tallahassee to help children process the loss of a loved one.<\/p>\n
Staff members said they created the camp after recognizing a growing need for grief resources specifically focused on young people.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe understand that grief happens to a lot of us. A lot of times we consider the adults, but the youth may get left out,\u201d said Muerriell Williams, community engagement representative for Heart\u2019n Soul Hospice. \u201cWe definitely wanted to give back and let them know that they are seen and that we\u2019re here to help young hearts heal early.\u201d<\/p>\n
According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model, Florida ranks 20th in the nation for childhood bereavement, highlighting how many young people are coping with the death of a loved one.<\/p>\n
Williams said children often struggle to express grief, especially after losing close family members such as grandparents.<\/p>\n
\u201cA lot of times grandparents and certain family members, they\u2019re your child\u2019s best friend,\u201d Williams said. \u201cChildren may be comforted, but do they really have a place to talk about their feelings? They may not know how to articulate their feelings, so we wanted to make sure they have somewhere to do that.\u201d<\/p>\n
The camp will include counselors, fun activities and community resources designed to help children heal and learn healthy ways to cope with loss.<\/p>\n
The event will be held Friday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the Old West Florida Enrichment Center on Lake Bradford Road.<\/p>\n
Volunteers are needed for the event. If interested, call or email Williams directly.<\/p>\n
Cell: (850) 900- 9540<\/p>\n
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