About Our Services

The Children’s Room provides grief support for children, teens, families, and the professionals who support them. This support is offered in person at our Arlington Center, in schools and community settings, and virtually.

Through peer connection, shared experiences, creative expression, and education, we create spaces where children, teens, and their caregivers can express their grief, ask questions, and feel supported by others who understand what they are going through.

Center-based & Virtual Grief Support Services

The Children’s Room provides free grief support programs for children and teens who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling, as well as for their parents and primary caregivers. Services are offered in person at our Arlington Center or virtually and are always provided free of charge.

Family-Based Peer Support Groups

Families come together at our Arlington Center and then separate into smaller groups: children and teens by grade level, and adults by type of loss. Groups meet every other week, either on weeknights or Sunday afternoons, and run from October through June. Families may join at multiple entry points throughout the year.

Programs for Teens

Teens-Only Group — A 10-week in-person support group designed for teens to attend independently of their families. New groups begin in October and March and meet weekly.

Teen Events — Monthly activities, such as one-time cooking classes, sporting events, or art workshops, that promote peer connection and community.

Programs for Adults

Adult Groups — A virtual group meeting on Zoom for adults whose children or teens are no longer participating in Family-Based Groups, or whose teen is enrolled in the Teens-Only Group.

Parenting While Grieving — A six-week virtual program, offered multiple times each year, providing strategies and tools for parents and caregivers supporting children through grief while managing their own.

 

Consultations — One-on-one sessions offering expert guidance to help parents and caregivers understand and respond to their family’s grief-related needs.

Resources & Referals

TCR maintains a database of local grief support organizations, peer groups, therapists, and faith-based institutions. Staff provide recommendations to help parents, caregivers, and professionals find the right resources to meet their individual needs.

Family Night

Family Night is a monthly arts-based gathering on Zoom for children, teens, and their families to come together, create meaningful projects, and remember the person who died. Each family receives a packet of art materials mailed to their home and spends the evening creating, sharing memories, and connecting in a supportive community.

School & Community-based Grief Support Services

The Children’s Room provides trauma-informed grief support for students in schools and community agencies. Programs are facilitated by TCR clinical staff in collaboration with school mental health professionals. Coordination, materials, and facilitation are provided free of charge.

Services for Students

Peer Support Groups — An eight-week, on-site group series that meets weekly to help normalize grief, reduce isolation, build coping skills, and foster peer connection. Designed for students in grades 1–12 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or close family member. Group size ranges from 6 to 15 participants.

Pathways of Change Program — A social-emotional learning curriculum for 2nd and 3rd graders. Delivered to the entire class, the lessons use writing, drawing, and interactive activities to explore concepts of change, loss, and grief.

Children’s & Teens’ Grief Awareness Events — One-time, school-wide or agency-wide events that include interactive activities promoting a grief-supportive community and raising awareness. Available for students in grades 1–12, with specialized workshops offered for adolescents (grades 9–12).

Professional Development in Grief Support

The Children’s Room provides training and education for professionals, as well as graduate and undergraduate students preparing for careers in related fields. Our customizable workshops, presentations, and consultations help schools, healthcare organizations, community agencies, and universities better understand childhood and adolescent bereavement.

Trainings

Customizable sessions designed to help professionals support children, teens, and families who are grieving. Training sessions are typically two hours in length and can be delivered on-site or virtually.

Topics include:

  • Child and Adolescent Development and Grief
  • Grief-Responsive Strategies and Tools
  • Creating Bereavement Support Plans

Consultations

Individualized consultations are available by phone or virtually for professionals supporting children, teens, and families who have experienced a death loss. Guidance is tailored to each situation and may include language, developmental considerations, strategies, and referrals.

Volunteer Facilitator Training

A twice-yearly training for community members interested in facilitating grief support groups at our Arlington center. This training is required for all volunteer peer support group facilitators at TCR.

Internships

A 10-month academic internship beginning each September for graduate and undergraduate students in social work, psychology, expressive arts, child life, and related mental health fields. Interns participate in monthly seminars and receive ongoing supervision from TCR clinical staff. Applications are accepted on a rolling basis from October to April.

Presentations

Brief sessions that discuss the prevalence of childhood bereavement and its impact on children, teens, and families. Presentations also provide an overview of TCR’s services and referral process. Typically 20–30 minutes, offered on-site or virtually.