Purpose of In-School Programming

Research has shown that unresolved grief in children can lead to many negative outcomes such as truancy, behavioral problems, difficulties with relationships, drug and alcohol addiction, and an increased risk of suicide. Creating a safe environment, where students can express their grief, can significantly reduce the possibilities of these outcomes occurring. For those children who may not be able to attend programming at our Parkwest Center location, Erin's House offers an In-School program. We simply bring our programming to a school and provide the opportunity for grieving children to explore and express their grief through a variety of outlets.

What happens?

The In-School program is a peer support group that meets once a week over the course of six weeks. Typically there are 5 to 8 students and 2 Erin's House staff members or trained volunteers to facilitate the Peer Group. Each week has a different theme, such as School and Home, which focuses on various ways the death may have impacted the students. The Erin's House staff provides activities related to the week's theme which helps to foster a discussion of feelings associated with the death of their loved ones.

How to Enroll

• School personnel, generally a guidance counselor, identify at least five students who have recently experienced a death and would like to participate in a Peer Support Group
• The parent/guardian of the student completes and returns an Erin's House Application to the guidance counselor
• Once the Erin's House receives the applications from the school, the guidance counselor and the School Program Director will arrange dates and times for the program to begin meeting

Like all of Erin's House programming, the in-school program is offered at no cost to the school or the students.

If you, or your school, are interested in this program, please contact, Chariee, the School Program Director, at 423-2466 or Chariee@erinshouse.org.

Programming also available in Spanish.

Click here for more information on how death impacts the classroom