Teens, if you are grieving the loss of a loved one and would like to meet with other young people who are going through the same thing, activities offered by the Coping Kids & Teens Program of the Pathways Center for Grief & Loss, the bereavement program for Hospice & Community Care, might be right for you.

Coping Kids & Teens is run by children's services counselor Diane Kulas. The program has been around for 25 years, so hundreds, if not thousands, of youths have been helped by its individual and group support offerings.

"Being in a group and knowing there's another kid who went through this makes them feel like they're not alone," Kulas explained.

During the pandemic, Kulas and her staff members have been focusing on offering individual sessions via Zoom and over the phone. They have been meeting with children and teenagers after school and during the evenings. To combat Zoom fatigue, the professionals have dropped off art materials and games for future sessions at clients' homes. "The best way to get (young people) to talk is to engage them in something they enjoy," Kulas remarked.

The Family Support Series is a six-week program offered in fall, winter, and spring. Due to the pandemic, sessions are being held online. Families gather via Zoom, then break into age-specific groups. Children and teenagers receive peer support and counseling, while their adult caregivers learn how to help youths grieve. Dealing with loss and grief looks different in children and teenagers as compared to adults, Kulas reported.

"The best way to support a grieving child is to make sure the adult knows how to support them," Kulas explained. "We teach them how to talk with kids, the importance of offering security and predictability, and how to establish discipline, structure, and routines."

The Coping Kids & Teens Program also runs Good Grief Clubs and Camp Chimaqua. The clubs are school-based groups run by trained staff members. Camp Chimaqua is a weekend overnight camp for youths ages 6 to 12. Each camper is assigned a trained volunteer who provides support throughout the experience. Camp was canceled in 2020, but Kulas said she hopes that it will be offered as a one-day event this year. "Camp is a lot of fun. We try to make it interactive," Kulas said. "We help (campers) be kids again."

An intake appointment is required before participating in any of the Coping Kids & Teens Program activities. Parents or guardians may call 717-391-2413 or 800-924-7610 to schedule a conversation with Kulas or a staff person, who will do an assessment to ensure the program will meet their family's needs. Sometimes, young people are referred to therapists.

"They can continue their therapeutic support while working on their grief," Kulas commented.

All programs are run in English, but Spanish language translation and materials are available. ASL interpretation has been provided in the past and may be again upon request.

And if a teenager or adult has questions, program staff members are happy to help. "We will talk with them over the phone, give them ideas to start off with, and share resources with them," Kulas said.

For more information about available services, readers may visit http://www.hospiceandcommunitycare.org/grief-and-loss/children-teen.