The Center for Grieving Children provides bereavement support services to children, teens, families and communities in southern Maine who have experienced the death of a loved one. They offer peer support groups, assistance for families dealing with serious illness, and help for immigrant communities affected by conflict. Last year, their programs served over 300 children and adults through over 15,000 volunteer hours.

1. Research indicates that 1 child in 20 will experience the death of a parent before reaching
the age of 15. Add to that those who will lose a close family member, a friend, or a
teacher, and the numbers grow dramatically.
Since 1987, the Center for Grieving Children has provided a place where children, teens
and families can come to begin the process of healing with the support of friends,
families and highly trained volunteers for as long as they need at no charge. Reaching out
across southern Maine, The Center for Grieving Children serves:
• Children (ages 3-18), their families and young adults (ages 19-30) who have
suffered the loss of someone close participate in the core Bereavement Support
Program Last year our Bereavement Peer Support Program served 134 children,
58 adults, 13 young adults and more than 100 families through weekly peer
support groups with 10,860 volunteer service hours
• Families facing serious illness are helped through the challenges they must live
with in the Tender Living Care Program. In 2009 we served 96 children and 76
adults from 57 families with 2,647 volunteer service hours
• Members of Portland’s immigrant population who have fled parts of the world
undergoing severe conflict are helped in the Multicultural Program, working after
school with children in elementary and middle school who have been surrounded
by death in 2008 we served 37 pupils from two elementary and one middle
schools through more than 2,300 volunteer service hours.
• Schools and communities through outreach programs when a traumatic loss has
been experienced. The Center provides training, information and personnel to
help organizations and individuals deal with grief issues, especially the impact on
children, in an educational setting. Last year 1720 adults and 2285 children were
reached directly by our Community Outreach and Education Program that
provides support during times of crisis in schools and communities.