“It’s really great and you make new friends. It helps to get the loss off your mind. So, don’t worry, you’ll fit in. Most of the kids would’ve experienced the same loss, so you’ll have something in common.”
Lost his Dad to cancer,
attended Circle-G when age 10
The death of a parent or sibling can be overwhelming for parents and children alike. It’s difficult enough for an adult to cope with such loss, let alone to know how to best help a child manage their grief.
Our Circle-G Support Group provides a fun, social atmosphere for children and their parents to strengthen and master coping skills. Led by trained facilitators, each session includes a pizza dinner followed by activities that promote resilience and allow kids to connect with their peers. Meanwhile, parents learn strategies to support their parenting in difficult times. This all comes at no cost.
Please Note: There are no upcoming Circle-G groups scheduled for 2022. Please email info@joannasplace.org for leads on other organizations offering groups at this time.
An evening at Circle-G begins with a festive pizza meal and lots of fun and laughter among new friends. They’re comfortable and share a common bond; each has lost a loved one. Then they quietly join hands and form a circle around the “Memory Vase” surrounded by flowers. Each one puts a flower in the vase and names their loved one.
On to activity time, where the kids eagerly join their age group. Each week’s curriculum offers activities that may include charades, arts and crafts, creating skits, where children strengthen coping skills that will serve them now and going forward. Amidst sharing, support and fun, they build lasting ways to deal with their loss.
Parents meet separately in their own facilitated group where they focus on the challenges of parenting during this vulnerable time. They make friendships that will last a lifetime.
The evening closes with children and their parents forming a circle and one by one, answering a question about their loved one, such as, ” What was their favorite ice cream?” as they take their flower from the “memory vase” home.
Saying good-bye, they excitedly talk about seeing each other next week.
We welcome referrals. Help make a difference in the life of a family that can benefit from our services. We’re here to help.