Bereavement Center Programs - A Caring Hand, The Billy Esposito Foundation

Child, Teen, and Family | Consultations | Request Information | Getting Started

Child, Teen, and Family

A Caring Hand, The Billy Esposito Foundation Bereavement Center is a free standing, comprehensive bereavement center located in New York City. The goal of the center is to meet a child and family in a caring environment. The program focuses on remembering, coping, and community building - the essential components of grief work.

It is hoped that all children and teens have a life filled with joy and happiness. Yet for some, their lives are forever changed at a young age when they experience the unfortunate death of a significant person from disasters such as fire, illnesses such as cancer, or human acts of violence. By some estimates, 90% of students will experience the loss of a family member before finishing high school (Ewalt and Perkins 1979) and it is believed that 5% of all children experience the death of a parent by age 18. (ERIC digest, Stuber, Hovsepian, and Mesrkhani)

Following a death there is often sadness, confusion, isolation, guilt, or even shame. For some young people, grief left unaddressed can lead to hopelessness, acting out, and poor school performance. No child or family should feel they are alone in their grief when facing the challenge of life without a cherished loved .

We are here to help family members learn emotionally healthy ways to live after the pain of someone’s death. The main program components of the Bereavement Center include:

Group support: Our 10 week peer group support program for children and teens and their caregivers runs in the Fall, Winter, and Spring. The program is based on common bereavement tasks and is co-facilitated by trained volunteers and mental health professionals.
Individual evaluation and help: We evaluate bereaved individuals to assess how best to meet their needs. Services and referrals are tailored to meet the specific needs of family members.
Outreach: We do outreach to individuals, schools, and organizations to provide information about services and recruit clients and group leaders.
Consultation: We are available for consultation to educate professionals, schools, businesses, and service providers about grief and bereavement.
Training: Volunteer training and supervision for group facilitators is provided.
Supervision: Professional supervision and training of mental health trainees can be arranged.

Group Program

Children, teens, and their caregivers are invited to attend one of our group sessions. Bereaved children often struggle with the pain of their grief and the pain of feeling different and alone. A centerpiece of the services is our 10 week peer group program for children, teens, and caregivers. At the Bereavement Center members of the family meet with others who are bereaved; with those who share a similar experience, who can validate their feelings, and ease their sense of isolation. The process of mutual aid, which occurs regularly in group settings, is educational and supportive and necessary to the recovery process.

6:15 – 6:45 PM: Family members join together for a light dinner and conversation . After dinner, participants break into individual groups.
6:45 - 8 PM Children and teens divide into groups according to age and caregivers meet in their own group. All groups are led by trained facilitators.
All participants are expected to make a full 8 -week commitment in order to develop trust in each other and gain a sense of security. Family members are welcome to attend more than once or join a monthly drop in group.

Schedule

We hold our 10 week sessions in the Fall, Winter and Spring. Click here to view the most up-to-date schedule.

Location

Click here for our address and directions to the Bereavement Center.

Cost

We are a not-for-profit organization and do not charge for our group program. We rely on donations from individuals, groups, and businesses to help fund our work. We welcome donations from participants for whatever amount fits in their budget. No one is ever denied services due to an inability to pay.

Consultations

When someone dies from either expected or sudden reasons, it may be difficult to know what to do first, how to handle various situations, or how to answer questions that arise. We are happy to offer our services to schools, businesses, or community groups in order to provide answers, point you toward resources, or consult on specific issues. You may contact us by phone 212.229-CARE (2273), by our online form, or by e-mail to find out more or schedule a consultation.

Request Information

For general information about the foundation, volunteer opportunities, donations, or other matters, you may contact us by e-mail: info@acaringhand.org. To learn more about our bereavement program and speak with us about our services, you can set up an appointment and we will contact you directly.

Getting Started

Please use our contact form to get started.