Letter from the Executive Director

Dear Parents and Caregivers,

Our mission is to provide a safe, supportive, confidential and nurturing environment for people to move through their grief. We work primarily with younger widowed men and women, and their families.

When death impacts a family, it can be devastating. The information contained in this guide is intended to support you, the parent, or other significant adult, so that you can be available to your children during this difficult time. We all grieve differently, and this includes children.

As a parent or caregiver it is so important that you take care of yourself so that you can care for your children. The Healing Center provides a community that will support you and your family; you are not alone.

My husband Rick died in 1989 following a short illness. My children were then three and five years old. I was overwhelmed, but I knew that somehow I would cope with my own pain. What I didn't know was whether I could bear my children's grief. It was heartbreaking to watch them grieve and not be able to "fix" their pain. So much of what I had heard about children and grief was incorrect. Children definitely do grieve, no matter what age they are when their parent or sibling dies.

Children are incredible beings. They need to be loved and supported as they deal with life's lessons. It is our hope that this guidebook will provide information and resources to support you and your family during this most difficult of times. This project was made possible through a grant from the Institute for Youth Development.

Remember, you are not alone.

Sincerely,

Kath McCormack
Executive Director, The Healing Center
Seattle, Washington