The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families

The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families (KCGCF) supports children, youth, and families as they grieve and grow. We envision a world where children and families are empowered to meaningfully engage with their grief. We believe that grief is a natural response to loss. With support and connection, children and families can move forward and build healthy and hopeful futures.

What we hear most often from the children participating in our program is: "I now know I'm not alone." They find much-needed connection with others who get it, and they are safe from the bullying and misunderstanding that grieving children often experience. We help young people identify the emotions related to grief and loss and learn the coping skills that will get them through tough moments. As one of our students so perfectly put it, in her group, she learned that "It's OK to feel the feels." 

You can help us build these safe and healing spaces.

We do this work through ongoing school and community-based grief support groups; community programming and special recreation experiences to introduce families to grief support services and resources; trainings for professionals (including educators, clinicians, social workers, case managers, medical personnel, juvenile justice/law enforcement, nonprofit staff and volunteers, and community professionals working with children and adolescents); and policy and advocacy efforts designed to improve the experiences and outcomes of bereaved children and their families.