Grief Support for Children and Teens in Kentucky: The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families Offers Free Services
In Kentucky, the pain of loss is all too familiar for many children and families. As one of the states with the highest rates of childhood bereavement in the nation, it's a public health crisis that is all too real. But amidst the heartache, there is hope. The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families (KCGCF) was founded in 2020 by Executive Director Leila Salisbury, who after losing two close people in her life, wanted to create a sanctuary for children and families to heal and connect with one another.
The KCGCF now offers free, twice a month community-based grief support groups in Lexington for children aged 4-18, in addition to its school-based groups in Fayette County. They also offer a unique online peer grief support group for teens as part of a pilot program with the University of Chicago Medical school. The Peer Healing online groups meet for 8 weeks and are led by Kentucky teens, who help their peers connect with others with death loss and explore healthy communication and coping strategies. These are also free and open to any Kentucky teen aged 13-18.
"This program is especially special, as it not only creates powerful connections between teens with loss, but also because my own teenager facilitates these groups!" said Leila Salisbury, Executive Director of KCGCF. The Peer Healing online groups are led by Kentucky teens, who serve as guides and mentors, providing a safe space for their peers to connect with others who have gone through similar experiences, and explore healthy communication and coping strategies.
At KCGCF, they understand that loss can be overwhelming and that support is crucial in the healing process. They have dedicated themselves to be an advocate and ally for children and families in Kentucky, providing them with the resources they need to grieve and grow through their loss. They are also an active member of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief and have been selected by Judi’s House/JAG Institute in Denver to participate in the Childhood Bereavement Changemaker program. This program focuses on building capacity for data collection and program evaluation through a series of trainings, workshops, and collaborative learning sessions.
Public Health crisis
Kentucky ranks #5 in the nation for children's bereavement, meaning 1 in 10 Kentucky children will lose a parent or sibling before the age of 18.
For more information on the services and educational trainings offered by the Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families, please contact Leila Salisbury at kychildrengrieve@gmail.com or 859-813-2759. Their goal is to provide a supportive and understanding community for children and families as they navigate the difficult journey of grief and loss.