Grieving is hard, and no one should have to do it alone.
Uplift's programs include:
• Virtual Grief Groups: Uplift provides peer support groups for children ages 6-18 who have experienced the death of someone close to them in a private Zoom meeting room. Youth are divided into age-appropriate groups, which are facilitated by master's-level trained clinicians and volunteers. Uplift also offers concurrent caregiver support groups, and Come Together groups for children in kindergarten through 2nd grade to attend with their caregivers.
• In-School Grief Groups: Uplift provides 6-week grief support groups for children enrolled at public, private, charter, and religious schools in the City of Philadelphia.
• Acute Community Loss Support: Following the death of a member of a school or community organization, Uplift can support youth, staff, and the larger community with age-appropriate activities, resources, and/or virtual acute loss support groups as needed. Additionally, Uplift can help create a plan in cases of terminal illness to help prepare a community for an anticipated death.
• The Philly HopeLine: A free, confidential helpline, the Philly HopeLine offers telephonic support for students and caregivers. Caregivers, counselors, and frontline professionals may also use the Philly HopeLine to refer families to services such as grief groups or drop-in programs. The Philly HopeLine is staffed by Uplift clinicians, who offer callers support after a death in their school community, a loss in their personal lives, or with the collective traumatic experiences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Uplift offers these services to professionals:
• Professional Development and Training: Uplift provides education on grief, bereavement, and trauma through school-wide professional development, training for clinicians, social workers, and counselors, and workshops for community members and caregivers. Our training sessions can be modified to be relevant for the role of attendees, as well as for the desired focus, such as survivors of homicide, suicide, or substance-related deaths.
12/02/2025
Today on GivingTuesday, Uplift Center for Grieving Children invites you to stand with youth and families as they navigate grief by supporting our programs and services. Make a gift online at upliftphilly.org/donate-now.
At Uplift, we know that no child grieves alone, and that healing happens in community. Our therapeutic grief groups empower youth and caregivers to co-create safe spaces where they can explore their grief openly and without fear. With support from Uplift's compassionate clinicians, they learn it's okay to share their stories, express their emotions, and honor their loved ones without apology or judgment.
Your generosity builds comfort, community, and hope for grieving youth and families. Thank you for being part of Uplift’s community of support and for helping to ensure that no child grieves alone!
11/28/2025
Laura Hinds, MSW, LCSW is the founder and Principal Partner of Hindsight Consulting Group, LLC. With a focus on clients’ needs and experiences, Laura engages with many non-profits to support their mission alignment, training, and organizational development needs. Over the years, Laura has worked with members of Uplift's team as an educator, clinical supervisor, and programmatic sponsor.
As Uplift Center for Grieving Children's 25th anniversary year comes to a close, we are highlighting some of the Faces of Uplift who have helped us get to this milestone year. From now through the end of December, we'll be sharing video interviews with the staff members, program participants, volunteers, and local organizations who form Uplift's community!
To support Uplift, visit: upliftphilly.org/donate-now
11/24/2025
Danny Stein, RN, MSN, PNP (ret.) has supported Uplift Center for Grieving Children's grief groups as a volunteer since August 2017. In 2022, he trained at Arizona State University and co-led Uplift's in-person Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families pilot group, which provides tools for caregivers to implement into their family routine. While volunteers are assigned to one developmental group for the entire program year, Danny has supported up to 3 different groups at a time, sharing his time, wisdom, and humor with the families, clinicians, volunteers, and interns who have had the privilege of sharing space with him.
As Uplift Center for Grieving Children's 25th anniversary year comes to a close, we are highlighting some of the Faces of Uplift who have helped us get to this milestone year. From now through the end of December, we'll be sharing video interviews with the staff members, program participants, volunteers, and local organizations who form Uplift's community!
To support Uplift, visit: upliftphilly.org/donate-now
11/24/2025
The winter holidays bring families and friends together, which means you may spend more time around children who are grieving. By being prepared, seeking support, creating new meaning and traditions, and practicing healthy self-care, the holidays can be more manageable for grieving children.
This Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Uplift joins the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief in sharing tips to help you support grieving youth in meaningful ways during the holidays.
For a free resource on supporting children during the holiday season, visit nacg.org/holiday.
11/21/2025
Thank you, Dithecomedian Hargrove for sharing Uplift as a DICENT Resource! Ms. Di is one of Uplift's caregiver group participants. We're so glad that the community at Uplift has been a place where you've found something worth sharing with others.
11/20/2025
Children’s Grief Awareness Day, observed on the third Thursday of November every year, recognizes the courage of young people who are grieving the death of someone important in their lives. For many youth, grief feels confusing and lonely, especially when the adults around them are unsure of how to talk about loss. This day reminds us that children deserve space to feel, to ask questions, and to be supported as they navigate their grief.
At Uplift, we see every day how deeply loss can affect a child’s emotional wellbeing, school experience, and relationships. We also see the healing impact when a young person has a safe place to share their story, connect with others, and learn healthy ways to cope. Whether in classrooms, community settings, or through virtual support, Uplift’s mission remains the same: no child should have to face grief alone.
Children’s Grief Awareness Day also speaks to the importance of community as a force for healing. Healing happens when caring adults listen, when peers understand, and when families feel supported through the ups and downs of grief. Our team is proud to stand beside Philadelphia’s youth and caregivers and to offer connection, guidance, and resources during some of the most difficult periods of their lives.
Thank you for being part of a community that believes every child’s grief deserves to be honored and supported. You help ensure young people across the City have a place where they feel safe, understood, and uplifted.
11/19/2025
Children of all abilities grieve, and every child deserves support guided by who they are and what they need.
This Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Uplift joins NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief in highlighting the need for grief support that adapts to children of all abilities.
For a free resource on supporting children of all abilities, visit nacg.org/all-abilities.
11/17/2025
Angelle Richardson, Ph.D, LPC is an Associate Professor and the Chair of the Counseling Department at Mercy University, as well as the Program Director for the Mental Health Counseling Master’s Program. Dr. Richardson has 20 years of experience as a Licensed Professional Counselor in clinical settings and private practice, specializing in adoption, foster care, grief, and trauma. In 2014, Dr. Richardson joined Uplift, then known as The Center for Grieving Children, as its Director of Center-Based Programming. Later, she became its first Clinical Director.
As Uplift Center for Grieving Children's 25th anniversary year comes to a close, we are highlighting some of the Faces of Uplift who have helped us get to this milestone year. From now through the end of December, we'll be sharing video interviews with the staff members, program participants, volunteers, and local organizations who form Uplift's community!
To support Uplift, visit: upliftphilly.org/donate-now
11/17/2025
Those caring for children who are grieving are often grieving themselves. Doing soothing activities such as exercise, breathing techniques, or meditation can help ground yourself.
This Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Uplift joins the NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief in sharing self-care tips for caregivers. When you’re supported, you’re better able to support the child in your care.
11/13/2025
Children don’t grieve the same way adults do. Their understanding of death changes as they grow, and their grief often comes in waves. It's common for children to revisit a loss at different milestones as they grow up.
This Children’s Grief Awareness Month, let’s remember that every child who is grieving needs support that meets them where they are.
For free resources on supporting children who are grieving, visit nacg.org/resources.
11/10/2025
"Being there for someone with grief isn't about what you do or don't say. The most valuable thing is to be present." Teens grieve in their own way, and their voice in their experience matters.
This Children’s Grief Awareness Month, Uplift joins NACG National Alliance for Children's Grief in sharing quotes from teens about helpful ways to support them in their grief.
For free resources on supporting teens who are grieving, visit nacg.org/resources.
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1819 John F Kennedy Boulevard , Suite 460 Philadelphia, PA 19103
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Contact The Practice
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Uplift Center for Grieving Children helps children grieving a death heal and grow through their grief, while strengthening families, communities, and professionals’ understanding of how best to respond to their needs.
Our vision is to ensure that every child in the City of Philadelphia has access to free support after the death of a parent, sibling, or close loved one. Grieving is hard and no one should have to do it alone.
Our Services:
Family Services Grief Groups Uplift provides peer support groups for children, teens, young adults, and their caregivers who have experienced the death of someone close to them. Divided according to development and age, groups are facilitated by master’s-level trained clinicians and volunteers. While the children’s groups meet, we offer concurrent caregiver support groups. Groups meet in East Falls, West Philadelphia, Lower Northeast Philadelphia, and South Philadelphia.
In-School and Community Grief Groups Uplift recognizes there are barriers for families to get to grief groups at our main and satellite sites. In-School and Community grief groups function as mobile versions of our Family Services grief groups, allowing services to reach grieving children directly. Uplift provides 8-week grief groups for students in public, private, and charter schools across the City of Philadelphia as well as justice-involved youth programs and community organizations/groups.
Post-Crisis Intervention In the aftermath of the sudden death of a student or teacher, Uplift utilizes best practices to support school communities requesting assistance, often collaborating with the school district and other community organizations.
Trainings and Workshops Supporting grieving children can be difficult for many adults who work with youth. Through focused seminars and workshops, Uplift provides professionals and caregivers with the knowledge and tools needed to understand and respond to children’s grief.
