Calm Waters Center for Children and Families

04/22/2026

It was a special day hosting the United Way of Central Oklahoma subcommittee for a site visit! We are proud to be a United Way Partner Agency and are grateful for the support they provide to two of our core programs, Calm Waters Center and School-based Support Groups.

Their visit offered a closer look at how our clients experience our support group services, including hearing from a client who shared what Calm Waters has meant to her family following the death of her husband.

Thank you to the subcommittee for taking the time to learn about how Calm Waters supports those on their grief journeys and your investment in a future where Oklahomans do not have to grieve alone.

04/22/2026

We’re grateful to partner with Healthy Living Norman to offer an 8-week grief support cohort for older adults this May to June at the Norman Adult Wellness & Education Center to create a safe space of connection after loss.

📍 Healthy Living Norman Adult Wellness & Education Center, 602 N. Findlay Ave. Norman, OK 73071

📝Sign up the center’s front desk or call (405) 857-7390 for more information

Grief can feel heavy. And often, it can feel isolating. But you don’t have to carry it alone. 🩵

We’re honored to partner with Calm Waters Center for Children and Families to offer a new 8-week Grief Support Cohort at the AWE this May–June. (In total we will offer three 8-week cohorts over the year.)

This cohort is designed for older adults who have experienced a recent loss and are looking for a supportive space to reflect, share, and connect with others who understand. Together, participants will explore grief at their own pace in a compassionate, guided environment.

We’re truly grateful to bring this meaningful programming to our community.

📅 May–June (8 weeks)
📍 Healthy Living Norman Adult Wellness & Education Center
602 N. Findlay Ave. Norman, OK 73071
📌Limited space- sign up at Front Desk.

04/20/2026

We have the most wonderful volunteers in the world at Calm Waters!

In honor of this April, we wanted to recognize their commitment to serving those who may be in the darkest times of their lives with compassion and care. We could not do this work without you all!

04/20/2026

Today we are highlighting a volunteer (and School-based Contractor) we are so grateful for; Katye Jacobson!

Katye was matched with Calm Waters through her Inasmuch Foundation Community Fellowship last summer, and we have been so fortunate to have her continue on as a support group facilitator.

“Grief is such an individualized experience, and is very difficult to hold alone. Becoming a facilitator has been a heartwarming experience, and I’m truly grateful for the opportunity to support others through their journey.”

Katye is excellent at offering a listening ear, support, and care to both our children and adults in group. Thank you for all you do for Calm Waters clients!

04/19/2026

It’s National Infertility Awareness Week.🦋 The journey to conceive can be long and difficult for many, and infertility often carries grief that goes unseen.

Whether you’re navigating infertility, pregnancy loss, or the unknowns in between, you don’t have to carry it alone.

Everyone’s journey is different; we see you and we support you.

04/19/2026

Today, we remember the 168 lives lost in the Oklahoma City bombing in 1995.

31 years ago, Calm Waters was deeply honored to be a source of healing and support for those grieving the tragic loss of their loved ones in this unspeakable act of violence.

We also honor the work of Calm Waters co-founder, Charlotte Lankard (LMFT), at this time of tragedy and crisis in Oklahoma.
-
“Immediately, Calm Waters became the go-to for anyone with children. We shared with them resources and activities they could do with their families when facing a tragedy as well as any children who'd watched the bombing unfold on TV. We hosted an evening at Baptist Medical Center for anyone to bring their children.

They were in age-appropriate groups with our trained facilitators to talk about what had happened and how it was affecting them and how to take care of themselves. It was open to anyone, not just children who were directly affected. A group from McAlester sent enough stuffed toys for us to give to each child attending, and everyone went home with one.

Judy Mee and I did daily interviews with national networks - CNN, CBS, NBC, ABC etc., as well as radio stations locally and around the country. I did one telephone interview with a Chinese radio station.

From those interviews, we began to get letters and contributions from around the US. One school group in Virginia drew pictures and mailed dozens of them for us to share with the children directly affected here in OKC, as well as some from other states that simply sent handwritten notes from their children to ours.

I spent two years with journalists from The Oklahoman in a support group, the first time in history that journalists were debriefed following a tragedy. When the NYC Twin Towers attack happened, the NY Times called the Oklahoman to learn what they had done so they could offer that to their staff!"

- Charlotte Lankard, LMFT | Calm Waters Co-Founder

04/17/2026

Thank you to the Oklahoma State Department of Health for bringing Calm Waters to Tulsa this morning to lead a training on best practices in grief work for Allied Health Professionals.

Interested in attending our free next Community Grief Training on April 24? Get registered for free at www.calmwaters.org/our-services/grief-training/.

04/17/2026

One of our therapists, Kassandra Gaona, recently visited the Mexican Consulate of Oklahoma City to read “Rojo Rojo Rojo” by Polly Dunbar as part of a story time hour.

We are grateful for opportunities like this to connect with families in our community and share stories that help children recognize big feelings, feel seen in their emotions, and begin learning simple ways to calm their bodies and minds!

04/16/2026

Thank you Walmart Neighborhood Market Oklahoma City - 134th St for having us out to share about our mission and grief support group programming!

We are grateful to be a recipient of the Spark Good grant from this local Walmart Neighborhood Market. This grant will help us continue serving grieving children, families, and individuals with free grief support group programming.

We look forward to being back soon for their re-grand opening and a check presentation!

04/15/2026

In celebration of the The National Association for the Education of Young Children (NAEYC) Week of the Young Child, we’re joining educators, families, and communities in honoring early learning, young children, and the caring adults who support them every day.

Our School-Based Program Administrator, Emily Be**er, spent time tabling and sharing "Sometimes I'm Bombaloo" from our center-based support group curriculum. We’re grateful for opportunities like this to highlight the importance of grief-informed, developmentally appropriate support for little learners!

04/14/2026

Due to the risk of severe weather tonight, all Grief Support Groups at Calm Waters are canceled. We encourage our participants and volunteers to stay safe and weather aware.

04/14/2026

Still feeling the magic from Under the Big Top last Friday!🎪🪄

Cheers to an unforgettable and impactful night as we celebrated all Calm Waters is doing to help children and families in their grief journey caused by death, divorce, or other significant loss. Thank you for making a difference with us!

Photos by Sundance Photography.