The Garden A Center for Grieving Children and Teens

04/13/2026

At The Garden, we know that navigating grief can feel overwhelming, especially for a child grieving a substance-use related death. Having clear, compassionate tools can make a meaningful difference.

We’re sharing a helpful resource from the National Alliance for Children's Grief, that offers guidance for supporting children and teens through this particular grief, including practical tips, developmental insights, and ways to foster connection and healing.

View the resource here: https://indd.adobe.com/view/c2339eb6-de38-4478-ba76-1eb8b664db95

Whether you’re a caregiver, educator, or community member, we hope this supports you in showing up for the young people in your life with understanding and care.

You’re not alone — and neither are the children and teens we serve. 💚

04/08/2026

At The Garden, we know that grief follows students into the classroom, often in ways that can affect learning, behavior, and connection. For educators looking to better understand how loss impacts students, this resource is a powerful place to start: https://grievingstudents.org/module-section/impact-on-learning/

In addition to sharing tools like this, The Garden partners directly with schools to support grieving children and teens through our school‑based groups. These groups play a crucial role in helping students navigate the complexities of loss by offering a safe, nurturing space right within the school day.

Students meet weekly for eight weeks in a closed group where they can openly share their thoughts, feelings, and memories of their special person. Schools help identify students who may benefit and provide a private, secure setting for sessions, ensuring each child feels supported and understood.

If your school is interested in bringing a Garden group to your students, we’d be honored to collaborate. No child should have to grieve alone — and together, we can make sure they don’t. Contact us at 413-727-5749.

04/03/2026

🌱 Supporting Grieving Kids in Their Own Words 🌱

At The Garden, we believe that when children and teens are given space to share their stories, their wisdom shines through. That’s why we’re grateful for resources that amplify young voices and help adults better understand their experiences with grief.

🎧 The Dougy Center’s podcast episode “Let’s Hear It for the Kids: Grief in Their Own Words” offers a powerful glimpse into how young people navigate loss, what helps them feel supported, and why listening matters.

If you support a grieving child—or simply want to deepen your understanding—we invite you to take a moment to listen:
https://www.dougy.org/news-media/podcasts/lets-hear-it-for-the-kids-grief-in-their-own-words

Together, we can continue creating compassionate spaces where children and teens feel seen, heard, and supported. 💚

In honor of Children's Grief Awareness month, we asked kids and teens to talk about grief in their own words. This compilation episode includes clips from…

03/30/2026

🌟 Looking for a way to make a real difference? 🌟

Whether you're retired, working full- or part-time, a student, a stay-at-home parent, or simply someone with a heart to help—we’d love to welcome you into our volunteer family 💙

We offer meaningful ways to get involved: 👐 Hospice Volunteers – provide comfort and companionship. Every role brings hope. Every hour matters.

💻 Visit our website to learn more. We can’t wait to meet you! https://www.cooleydickinson.org/.../vna-hospice-volunteers/

03/25/2026

Supporting a grieving child can feel overwhelming — but you don’t have to navigate it alone.

This resource from Judi’s House outlines Nine Caregiving Skills designed to help adults feel more confident and prepared when supporting children and teens through grief.

💛 Whether you’re a parent, caregiver, educator, or community member, these tools can make a meaningful difference.
Explore the resource here:
🔗 https://judishouse.org/resources/caregiving-skills/

At The Garden, we believe no child should grieve alone — and empowering caregivers is a vital part of that mission. If you ever need support or want to learn more about our programs, we’re here for you. https://www.cooleydickinson.org/programs-services/vna-hospice/the-garden/

Caregiving skills to help you establish your own style in supporting a grieving child.

03/20/2026

Grief can feel overwhelming for children, teens, and families — but compassionate support can make all the difference. We’re grateful for organizations like the Highmark Caring Place, which offers thoughtful, accessible resources to help families navigate loss with understanding and hope.

If you’re supporting a young person through grief, or simply want to learn more about how to help, explore their collection of articles, tools, and guidance here:
https://www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/grief/resources.shtml
Together, we can create a community where healing is possible and every child feels seen, supported, and cared for. 💚

This page contains a site map for the entire website of the Highmark Caring Place, A Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents and Their Families.

03/16/2026

Grief can feel overwhelming, especially for children and teens. The Garden provides a caring community where young people ages 5–18 can talk openly, remember their special person, and connect with others who understand.

Our programs are free for families and include on‑site groups, virtual sessions, and school-based support throughout the Pioneer Valley. Schools can partner with us to bring eight‑week grief groups directly to students—complete with curriculum, materials, and trained staff.

Want to learn more, volunteer, or support this important work? Call 413‑727‑5749.

Your support helps ensure no child grieves alone. 🌿

https://www.cooleydickinson.org/programs-services/vna-hospice/the-garden/

03/11/2026

Honoring the memory of someone we love can be an important part of healing—for children, teens, and families alike. Finding meaningful ways to remember helps keep their story present while creating space for connection, comfort, and continued growth.

We’re sharing this resource from HealGrief.org, which offers thoughtful ideas for remembering and honoring someone who has died. These activities can be especially helpful for young people who are navigating grief and looking for ways to express their love and keep memories close.

You can explore the ideas here: https://healgrief.org/30-ideas-remember-honor-person/

At The Garden, we walk alongside children, teens, and families as they grieve. Resources like this can open gentle pathways for conversation, reflection, and healing.

Here we offer 30 Ideas on How to Remember & Honor Your Person after their death. It can get easy to get “stuck” in old traditions. Here are popular ideas.

03/06/2026

Talking with a grieving child can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t have to be something you navigate alone. In this video from The Parmenter Foundation, shares gentle, practical ways to support children as they make sense of loss — from using honest language to creating space for their questions and emotions.

At The Garden, we believe every child deserves a safe place to grieve, remember, and heal.

If you know a family who could use support, please share this resource. 💛

https://parmenterfoundation.org/resource-hub/childrens-bereavement/

03/02/2026

Losing a grandparent can be a uniquely complicated kind of grief. It may be your first major loss, a deeply personal heartbreak, or a shift in your family’s foundation. This article offers insight into why this loss can feel so heavy and how to navigate it.

You will likely experience the death of at least one grandparent in your lifetime and, when you do, it may cause intense pain and heartache. Although your grief will ultimately be unique to you and to the relationship you had with your grandparent, in the following article we will discuss […]

02/25/2026

🌿 The Gift of Being There 🌿

At The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens, we’re reminded every day that one of the most powerful things we can offer a grieving child is simply our presence.

Inspired by “The Gift of Being There” from the Highmark Caring Place (chrome-extension://efaidnbmnnnibpcajpcglclefindmkaj/https://www.highmarkcaringplace.com/cp2/pdf/giftBeing.pdf) we know that healing doesn’t come from perfect words—it comes from showing up, listening, and creating a safe space for kids to share their stories.
At The Garden, we provide that space. And with your support, we can continue to ensure no child grieves alone.

Together, we can be there for them.

02/20/2026

🌱 The Garden: A Center for Grieving Children and Teens
A new session begins this March. If you know a child or teen who could benefit from compassionate grief support, The Garden is here for them. Reach out to learn more or connect a family with resources.

💚 No one should have to navigate grief alone. The Garden is where healing happens.