Resources for Families

"If one more person gives me a book to read I am going to scream!"

Many grieving adults have uttered this phrase in the midst of their grief while attempting to manage the frustration of balancing the need for answers to a life circumstance for which they are unprepared, and the lack of concentration and energy to absorb anything longer than a paragraph or two.

When someone dies there is no blueprint to handle what follows. It's difficult to know "the right thing to do", "the right thing to say", the "best way to handle the situation." And it's hard to accept there is no "right way" when people we care about are involved. The quest for answers and understanding is strong.

At the Highmark Caring Place, one of the most often asked questions we hear is, "What do I say to the children?" We hear this question from the parents about their own children, from school staff who are caring for a grieving child in the classroom, from mental health, social service, medical personnel, and concerned friends and family who are trying to help a family in the midst of their grief.

We also see adults who are desperately trying to take care of themselves in the midst of their grief as they care for their children who need them. And their resounding question is "How?"-

"How am I supposed to care for myself with all of the demands of daily living?"

"How am I supposed to care for my children when my own feelings of grief are so overwhelming?"

"How am I supposed to do all of this?"

The holidays are a particularly difficult time for grieving families. For those who have experienced the death of a family member, the holiday seasons, as well as other special days including birthdays and anniversaries, seem to intensify the already difficult feelings of sadness and make missing that person even harder.

At the Caring Place, we recognize that there is no one-size-fits-all answer. But what we do have is the collective experiences of thousands of grieving children and families from which to learn. Through listening to what grieving families have told us, as well as drawing on the knowledge of our expert staff regarding child development and the issues of grief, we have put together a collection of brochures as resources for grieving families and for those who want to help them.

At the Caring Place, we believe that each person's grief is unique and that each person is on his or her own grief journey. Ultimately, only you will come to know the best way to manage your grief.

We also have heard many say that in the midst of grief, it's very difficult to absorb long pieces of information. The following brochures are not intended to provide answers about "the right way" to handle the death of a loved one; but are a quick reference with practical suggestions to use and adapt to each unique circumstance:

• Saying Goodbye: Preparing a Child for a Funeral or Cremation
  
  
• Responding to Children in Grief and the Questions They Ask
  
  
• Questions Grieving Children Ask
  
  
• The Grief of Preschoolers and the Questions They Ask
  
  
• Questions Grieving Teens Ask
  
  
• The Grieving Child in the Classroom
  
  
• Is There Anything I Can Do? (for teens)
  
  
• Is There Anything I Can Do? (for adults)
  
  
• Caring for Yourself as You Care for Your Grieving Child
  
  
• Coping with Grief at the Holidays
  
  
• Telling the Children: Talking with a Child When a Parent Is Diagnosed with a Terminal Illness
  
  
• Creating Connections When a Parent Is Diagnosed with a Terminal Illness

In order to view these brochures online, you will need the Adobe Reader. If you need to download the Adobe Reader, please click on the icon to the left.

We created these brochures after listening to grieving families talk about the themes that would be most beneficial to them. Additionally, professionals have indicated a need for these types of materials as well.