WHERE CHILDREN AND FAMILIES ARE EMPOWERED TO MEANINGFULLY
ENGAGE WITH THEIR GRIEF

MISSION STATEMENT

The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families supports children, youth, and families as they grieve and grow.

WHAT WE BELIEVE

Grief is a natural response to loss. We provide safe and caring spaces where children and families can connect and discover their own path towards healing.

VOLUNTEER

A number of Kentucky schools have experienced student deaths in recent weeks. Teens can access resources through our website, and this info sheet for grief in teenagers can be helpful. School staff and professionals can always contact us for more specific resources, trainings, and parent/caregiver educational materials.

Resources for Teens and Students With New Loss

The Good Giving Challenge is on! Support the KCGCF with your donation that can be eligible for matches for our organization. Also see our Donate page for more information on end of year donations and donor advised funds, donations of stocks, or RMD/QCD disbursements.

KENTUCKY'S NEED

Kentucky’s children need dramatically increased availability and access to child and family-specific grief support services. The numbers are telling:

1 in 9 Kentucky children experience the death of a parent, caregiver, or sibling by age 18 (national average is 1 in 12)
Kentucky ranks #6 in the nation for childhood bereavement rates
25% of Kentucky's bereaved children have lost a parent or caregiver to overdose/addiction death

Learn More

Emergency/Crisis Resources

The KCGCF is not an emergency mental health resource or crisis response service. If you or your child/teen is in need of immediate help, please contact one of these sources who can assist:

Call or text 988 for the Suicide and Crisis Lifeline. Kentucky calls will be answered 24/7 at a community mental health center

Dial 911 for Emergency Services

Kentucky Crisis Management Resources (click for contact information on local programs by region that can refer for mental health treatment)

OUR LATEST NEWS

Grief and the Holidays

The holiday season can feel heavy for those children and families with loss. It can be hard to embrace the spirit of the season when there is an important person missing from your holiday table or traditions. You are not alone. There are many people who feel this way, and there are activities you can do as a family to help remember and add new traditions to honor those who are no longer with us. Check out this Getting Through the Holidays tipsheet and find some activities that feel good for where you and your family are this year (or click the image).

KCGCF Wins FCPS Golden Apple Award

The KCGCF was honored to receive a 2024 Golden Apple Award given by Fayette County Public Schools. Golden Apple Awards are presented to "high-performance community partners that provide an exceptional commitment of time, energy, and expertise to individual schools or the Fayette County district through mentorships and varied programs and initiatives." We are so proud of the incredible work our school group facilitators have done with students from elementary through high school and grateful for the partnership with the district.