Fernside: A Center for Grieving Children

01/16/2026

01/15/2026

Did you know Fernside offers educational presentations on a variety of grief-related topics? Last week, Fernside had the privilege of speaking with many of the Cincinnati Public School's social workers and helping professionals at one of their Professional Development days. Please reach out if you'd like Fernside to speak with your organization as we work together to support the grieving children in our community!

01/13/2026

Talk about a simple and powerful activity! A recent school group made two lists, discussing words and sentiments that they find to have either been helpful or not helpful since the death. The lists included what people have done or said or not done or said, how they were told, the funeral experience and returning to school. It can be hard sometimes to know what to say or how to support grieving children, but being open to listening to what helps and what doesn't for each child is a great first step.

01/09/2026

In celebrating our 40th year of service, we want our first Fernside Friday Fact to highlight Fernside's incredible founder, Rachel Burrell. Rachel, along with her husband Paul, created Fernside after the death of their adult son, David. Rachel and Paul attended their own adult support group following David's death, but quickly realized there was no place for their children to grieve. This led to Rachel and Paul creating such a place in 1986, and the rest is history!

Stay tuned to future Fernside Friday Facts to learn more about Fernside's beginning and the amazing work that Rachel accomplished!

01/06/2026

Fernside is celebrating 40 years of children's grief support for the Cincinnati community! We are so excited for this milestone and all that is to come. Follow along for a year full of facts and festivities as we celebrate!

01/01/2026

Happy New Year from the Fernside team!

12/30/2025

These ornaments were created by a group at a local high school. The students wrote notes to their person who died and placed the notes inside the ornaments. They then decorated the outside with words, pictures and symbols that reminded them of their person.

12/26/2025

We want to thank our fabulous volunteers who helped with the recent Winter Art Series. These stars helped to brighten the holidays for the Fernside families.

Greeters pictured L to R: Liz, Phyllis and Vanessa. In addition, these facilitators helped with the expressive art activity L to R: Adrienne, Bonnie, Pam, Amy, Phyllis and Vanessa.

12/23/2025

Last week, 16 families came together for the Winter Art Series night at Fernside! Families decorated white bags to assemble into a Memory Star keepsake to remember their person who died. The creativity and connection were a joy to see!

12/18/2025

Every December, Fernside families participate in a Luminary Ceremony on their group night focusing on light and remembering the person they lost. Names and memories are shared in the glow of decorated luminary bags. We hope this time of year is filled with light, hope, connection and healing!

12/16/2025

Fernside wishes to thank the Cincinnati Women’s Club for their support! Friday, December 5th Ann Bailey, Mary Kuramoto and a team of festive women gathered to assemble cookie ingredients packaged into jars. This special gift will be handed out to Fernside families so they can connect over the winter months by baking cookies together.

12/11/2025

Last week, Fernside and Cincinnati Sister Cities connected virtually with friends and colleagues in Ukraine for an update on how their grief services have taken shape following training and collaboration visits over the past year. The work these grief advocates have accomplished is nothing short of amazing! They have opened 8 day centers, 4 rehabilitation centers, a space for women and 40 mobile units to assist their communities with crucial grief support services. We are honored to be a small part of the support that is now offered all the way around the world!