A unique resource exists for families with grieving children: the National Alliance for Children’s Grief’s Individual Bereavement Support Plan. This plan is a game-changer in ensuring children receive the tailored support they need at school after a death loss.
What is the Individual Bereavement Support Plan? Who can utilize it?
It’s a collaborative roadmap for supporting a grieving child. It helps families and caregivers, along with educators, counselors, and anyone involved in the child’s life, work together to meet that child’s specific needs and navigate their journey through grief.
How does this plan differ from traditional support offered to grieving children?
Traditional support can often feel like it’s “one-size-fits-all.” But every child grieves differently, depending on their age, relationship with the deceased, development, social support, coping skills, culture, religious beliefs, and unique experiences. This plan personalizes the approach, recognizing that children might express grief through changes in behavior, academics, or social interactions.
How does it work?
The plan involves a candid conversation and open collaboration between families, educators, and other professionals. It starts with:
- Gathering Information: Understanding the child’s age, relationship with the deceased, their personality, and how they express their grief.
- Identifying Support Strategies: Identifying specific ways to support the child at home, in school, and in the community. This could include grief counseling, peer support groups, activities that encourage creative expression, or simply ensuring safe spaces for open communication.
- Developing a Communication Plan: Establishing clear communication pathways between all involved parties, ensuring everyone is updated about the child’s progress and any specific needs that arise.
- Continuous Monitoring and Adaptation: Regularly reviewing the plan, assessing its effectiveness, and making adjustments as the child’s grief journey unfolds.
Working together on this plan can ensure the child’s needs and wishes are heard and understood. It helps to create a safe space at school for grieving children, and it frequently reduces or eliminates challenges kids may face when returning to school after a death (like absences due to anxiety, depression, and physical grief reactions like headaches and stomachaches). A collaborative approach to bereavement support for children in schools is best practice and a key to their success in academics.
How can grieving families or educators access and utilize this resource?
The National Alliance for Children’s Grief has a dedicated section on its website with downloadable templates and a comprehensive guide to using the plan. Additionally, many schools and grief support organizations are adopting and adapting this plan, so families can inquire about its availability where their child goes to school or receives support.
To families walking the grief journey: know that you’re not alone. Seek support, whether through the Individual Bereavement Support Plan, grief counseling, support groups, or connecting with other families facing similar experiences. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help.
It’s our privilege at SandCastles to offer any support we can. If your school would like training or information on supporting grieving students, contact us today. Remember, every child matters, and their grief deserves to be acknowledged and addressed with care and compassion.
Visit the National Alliance for Children’s Grief website to learn more about the Individual Bereavement Support Plan and other resources available to grieving families.