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Dear Kate’s Club Community,
A few years ago, it felt like grief was everywhere – in the news, our neighborhoods, our conversations. Over time, less and less people continued talking about grief. However, grief is an even more pressing youth and young adult mental health issue today.
New data from the Judi’s House CBEM report shows that in Georgia, 1 in 10 kids are bereaved by age 18, up from 1 in 13 before the COVID-19 pandemic. We also learned from this report that bereaved youth are 175% more likely to develop a substance use disorder in adulthood and 1 in 4 youth who die by suicide are bereaved.
These are staggering statistics, especially knowing that grief is the most common form of childhood trauma. However, we can learn together to understand and cope with the big feelings that come with grief. If properly addressed, it can build resilience, communication skills, and more, leading to an individual’s lifelong well-being.
This is where our work at Kate’s Club comes in. Since January, we have proudly embarked on our 2025-2028 strategic plan: Empowering Voices, Transforming Grief, a plan for statewide and community-focused growth.
You can learn more about the plan here. It focuses on three primary goals:
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The plan has further focused our commitment to our mission. Here are some – not all – of our 2025 accomplishments so far:
- 63% increase in young adult applications since the same time in 2024
- School grief groups established in 4 new counties for a total of 24 counties
- 64% increase in new members since the same time in 2024
- 40+ trainings for more than 1,100 professionals across Georgia
These wins are all thanks to people who see the value in our work and the community we are building together. When people like you join the Kate’s Club community and spread the word to others, we make instrumental strides toward supporting the more than 200,000 bereaved children in Georgia.
Can you help us transform the future of grief support in Georgia by taking one simple action? Follow us on Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, LinkedIn and TikTok and share about our work; sign up to volunteer here; or explore giving opportunities here.
I thank you in advance for your support of Kate’s Club. I look forward to sharing more of our accomplishments at the end of the year. Until then, let’s continue to work together to create a world in which it’s okay to grieve.
Lisa Aman
Executive Director