MUNCIE, IN — An estimated 6 million children in the United States will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18, or about 1 in 12, according to the National Alliance for Children’s Grief.
IU Health is attempting to meet the needs of school-aged children who have lost a parent or sibling through its free program “Camp Good Grief,” scheduled for Saturday, July 19, from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. at the Minnetrista Center.
The program is a no-cost, one-day camp, with education about grief and how to cope with that grief, according to Courtney Scholl, regional communications, earned media and social media director for the IU Health East Region.
“After the death of a loved one, kids often think they won’t feel good again, that there is no other person to talk to who has lost someone special,” Scholl said. “No one understands.”
Adrienne Grover, bereavement coordinator for IU Health Hospice, who leads this year’s program with the theme “Caring, Creativity, and Community,” said, “We intend for kids to see that they’re not alone, and that there are ways to grow from our grief and help others.”
Grover said the children will be divided into age groups and then proceed through the three activity centers that include discussion, art, sports and movement, music, acting and journaling.
Grover says the program is facilitated by IU Health team members. There will be time with parents upon arrival, with a lunch and light breakfast included for the campers.
IU Health Hospice originally started this program six years ago in Bloomington before spreading to locations in Lafayette, Muncie and Indianapolis.
“We are funded by hospice families who donate into a fund that we utilize for patients in need, and of course our youth with this camp,” said Hollie Yarger, manager of system health solutions, IU Health, west and eastern regions.
“Each year our camper numbers have grown, and we are excited to expand and reach children who wouldn’t normally have access to grief counseling,” said Yarger, last year’s director. “Word is spreading quickly. We are excited to see how many register for this year’s camp.”
Currently in its third year of operation, Muncie’s Good Grief program is free and open to 45 children.
Registration is required and must be completed either by email, ECRCampGoodGrief@iuhealth.org, or by phone, 765-747-4273, by Saturday, July 12.
This article originally appeared on Muncie Star Press: Helping children navigate loss: ‘Camp Good Grief’ returns to Muncie
Reporting by Terry Nelson / Muncie Star Press
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