The death of a parent, sibling, or someone close can be devastating for children and teens of all ages. Children experience a range of intense emotions including sadness, anger, fear, and guilt. They often feel isolated and unable to talk about the death with peers who have not had a similar experience. They also may be reluctant to share their grief with surviving family members for fear of upsetting them. Too often, children end up grieving alone.
We offer programs designed for children of all ages
Kids Who Care (ages 5-12)
Kids Who Care meets on the 2nd and 4th Wednesday of each month from 6:30-8:00 pm
A peer support group that brings together youth and families with similar death loss experiences to help normalize feelings, share experiences, and connect with other kids who are experiencing similar struggles.
The groups help children process their losses and the accompanying emotions. Our trained staff and volunteers support the children as they use art, activity, and story telling to work through the emotions evoked by their loss. Past projects have included activities focused on how to understand feelings of anger, sadness, and worry and sharing favorite memories of loved ones. Kids Who Care support groups are open-ended and are offered at no cost. Dinner is served during the group.
If you are interested in learning more about our services, please contact us and a staff member will call you back within 1-2 business days to talk about our services.
Groups for Teens (13-18)
Teen groups meet once a month online and once a month in person
Participants receive the support of peers who can truly relate. They benefit from hearing how others have coped, and the realization that they are not alone in their experience of loss. They benefit from helpful guidance on how to manage and express their complex emotions in a healthy manner. The group serves as a safe place for youth to share, connect, and heal.
The teen group also includes outings that offer teens the opportunity to have fun with others teens struggling to find joy after loss. Activities include:
- bowling
- movies
- pizza parties
- hiking
- other exciting activities each quarter
If you are interested in learning more about our services, please contact us and a staff member will call you back within 1-2 business days to talk about the group and discuss ways to talk with your teen about the group.
Parents and Guardians will also need to complete a consent form for online services before starting on group.
Frequently Asked Questions
What services do you offer kids who are grieving?
Onsite: For kids ages 5-12, we offer our Kids Who Care group, which uses play and activity to help kids understand and express their emotions around their loss, develop positive coping skills, and maintain a connection to the loved one who died. There is a concurrent group for the child’s parent/guardian. This program is bilingual, so that families who speak Spanish can participate.
Offsite: We partner with local school districts to provide services at the child’s school. School services are offered in English and Spanish. Learn more about our school grief support options.
Where are youth groups offered and when do they meet?
Our Kids Who Care group meets at our Austin location at 2306 Hancock Dr, Austin TX 78756 on the 2nd and 4th Thursdays of the month from 6:30-8. Dinner is provided.
Our Teen group meets on the 1st and 3rd Thursdays of the month. 1st Thursday is online and 3rd Thursday in person at our Austin office.
Do I need to be present while my child attends group?
For our Kids Who Care program, we offer a concurrent group for the parents/caregivers of the child. This is a space to connect with other parents about your grief as well as the challenges of parenting a grieving child. Occasionally, some children are experiencing a loss that does not affect the caregiver as much. In those cases, we ask you to stay on our campus.
How is grief in youth different than adult grief?
Kids are less likely to possess the vocabulary to verbally process their loss. That means they may “act out” their grief. Sometimes that looks like anger, sadness, withdrawal, or being the “clown.” Some kids will express that all in one day! Children’s grief tends to be experienced in shorter bursts. This may mean the child is sharing about her grief and then wants to play 5 minutes later. Children who experience a loss will re-grief loss at each new developmental age. For you as a family, it may mean that you have “moved on” from your most intense grief period before your child has. Grieving children also crave normalcy, which means they may be ready to return to regular routines like school before you are ready to return to work. For pre-teens and teens, their grief may make them feel isolated from their peers. The peer support model allows them to feel “like a regular kid.”
Who facilitates your youth groups?
Our Kids Who Care group is facilitated by a clinical professional and assisted by trained volunteers including interns under the clinical supervision of a licensed clinical professional.
What is the process to get my child into a Christi Center support group?
- Complete our Grief Services Inquiry Form and one of our team members will call you within 1-2 business days. You may also call The Christi Center from 9 a.m.-4:45 p.m. Monday through Thursday at (512) 467-2600 to speak directly with someone.
- We will be able to answer your questions about our services and, if applicable, schedule a Pre-Group Appointment. We will also provide you some tips on speaking to your child about the group.
What is the cost to attend groups?
Grief support services at The Christi Center are provided free of charge, thanks to the support of donors and foundation partners.
What are groups for kids like?
Our Kids Who Care group divides the children into smaller groups based on ages and uses age-appropriate art, activities, and expressive play to help kids understand their emotions, connect with each other, memorialize their loved ones who died, and develop positive coping skills to use outside of group.
Whether you are a family member, friend or professional, you can help the young people you care about through this journey.
“The Christi Center has a very caring staff. The first day was the hardest for me, my emotions were at the highest possibly due to the unknown. I was not sure I would even be able to share. I was made to feel at home by everyone around me. After sharing my deepest feelings I actually felt a great relief. It was as though this was what I needed to start my healing journey.”
Anonymous Client
“Grief is expensive. The individual therapy for my family is hundreds every month during this acute phase. My son died only 5 months ago. It is so painful that not only did I lose my son, but I’m also having to pay for his last days in the hospital and for so much therapy dealing with losing him. So having this free, no financial pressure environment gives my family tremendous relief.”
Anonymous Client
For Over 30 Years
We have been providing love, hope, comfort and support
to people of all ages in a warm and welcoming environment.
“The Christi Center was such an important part of our healing—we know we are not alone. All our stories here are different, but we are all here to find our new normal. My family’s journey was not easy and I wouldn’t wish loss on anyone, but it was our journey. We came out stronger on the other side.”
Anonymous Client
