When children and their families are met with grief, how can we help?
Pathways has been serving the community with the oldest bereavement programs for children and families in the Greater Lakewood/Long Beach area. Since 1992, Pathways has provided CHANGES, a unique grief support program designed specifically for children, teens, their families, and education professionals. CHANGES combines a unique team of grief professionals and volunteers to help children and teens realize that their experiences are normal.
Using art, games, storytelling, activities, writing, and talking, families learn how to manage grief. Real community develops with other families in the program and with the CHANGES volunteers who lead our groups. Our goal is to make sure these children and their families realize that they’re not alone.
Pathways’ bereavement team uses a variety of activities designed to meet the specific needs and abilities of each group for a 7-week session.
Children meet in age-appropriate groups while their parent or caregiver meets concurrently. This gives the adults the opportunity to talk about their own grief and the behaviors and attitudes of their children. Together, they often find a common bond in their shared losses and discover practical tools and resources for dealing with their own grief while understanding and helping their children.
Arts, crafts, storytelling, and discussion are used to help children develop life-skills for managing grief.
New groups are held in the fall, winter, and spring every year on Tuesday evenings from 7:00-8:15PM. Contact us for more details.
