Judi’s House/JAG Institute and the National Alliance for Children’s Grief are partnering for the second annual United in Grief Virtual Candlelight Tribute on National Grief Awareness Day, Monday, Aug. 30. This campaign aims to unite individuals across the nation in recognizing children who are grieving.

Participation in this virtual campaign is easy:

• Participate at a time that is meaningful for you on Monday, August 30, 2021.
• Download and print the United in Grief candle graphic, write in the name of the person you are honoring and color/decorate the sheet creatively.
• Share a photo of your candle or simply post an image on social media with a message of remembrance and hope using the hashtag #unitedingrief #GriefAwarenessDay.
• You can also honor the death of a special person or the bereaved in your community by making a one-time or recurring donation to the NACG.

This is not time to minimize the grief experience. This is time for compassion for self and others. Your participation will serve as a symbol of hope, remembrance, and inspiration.

Thank you for helping us shine a light on childhood bereavement and grief awareness. Gather your network and invite your community to be #unitedingrief. With your help, we are one step closer to ensuring that no child should be alone in grief.

Downloadable Resources:

Candle_Graphic_2021.pdf 

• National Grief Awareness Day – Aug. 30 – is dedicated to raising awareness of the myriad of ways individuals cope with loss and reminds us to support people who we know are grieving.
• As the COVID-19 pandemic continues, the nation must also work to support those that are grieving as they navigate life after loss.
• According to the Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model published by Denver-based family bereavement center Judi’s House/JAG Institute, more than 2.8 million Americans are bereaved due to the death of a parent or sibling during their childhood. What’s more, nearly 5.4 million U.S. children are estimated to experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18. 
• Childhood grief has profound impacts on youth, families, and communities. Understanding the magnitude of childhood bereavement is imperative to motivate action that ensures adequate resources are available to those needing care.
• Experiencing a significant death during childhood often results in acute stress and adversity that can derail a child’s development without appropriate support. Unaddressed childhood grief and trauma can lead to short- and long-term difficulties including poor academic performance, mental health issues, and early mortality.
• This is not time to minimize the grief experience. Join us as we unite in support of children who are grieving. No child should have to grieve alone. It is time for us to make this a reality by raising awareness and providing support for each child’s unique grief experience.    
• Join us in recognizing the 2.8 million individuals who lost a parent or a sibling as a child and for the millions more expected to be bereaved before their 18th birthday. Your candle will serve as a symbol of hope, remembrance, and inspiration. Together we stand united in grief.
• To learn more about grief resources in your area visit the NACG website at www.childrengrieve.org.

Free Webinars on a range of topics centered on grief support in our current reality (and recordings for past webinars).

Look for ones tagged COVID response. These webinars focus on program challenges our membership are experiencing along with general support skills that are appropriate for professionals and caregivers. These are free and open to everyone. Please join us and share so we can support the widest audience possible.

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NAGC Toolkit in both English and Spanish, “Responding to Loss and Change”

Freee to download and share for all. We want you to know you are not alone in the experience, the challenges it may be creating and the feelings that may be surfacing. In response to this, the NAGC (with the support of Alex Cares for Grieving Youth®) has released the booklet "Coping with Change and Loss" to be shared freely with families.

Click here to download this free resource in English.
Click here to download this free resource in Spanish.

Membership Connection Calls

We have two per week – one if for general leadership and one is for Executive Directors exclusively. Look for the weekly member email with specific access links to these calls.

• Free Webinars on a range of topics centered on grief support in our current reality (and recordings for past webinars).

• NAGC Toolkit in both English and Spanish, “Responding to Loss and Change”

• Membership Connection Calls