For Parents & Caregivers

Yes. All Kate's Club programs are designed by professionals who specialize in childhood grief and are facilitated in a safe, structured environment. Children are grouped by age to ensure conversations and activities are developmentally appropriate.

Staff and volunteers undergo background checks, and volunteers receive in-depth training on supporting children in general, as well as through grief. Additionally, staff continually monitor and support volunteers as they work with kids and teens.

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Enrolling your child is simple. It all starts when you fill out our online form. Within one business week, you should hear from a member of our team who will guide you through next steps, which include a phone conversation, needs assessment, and orientation. Then you'll be ready to join us each month for the programs that best fit your child and family's needs.

Our team is here to answer any questions and help your family take the first step.

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You don't have to have it all together to be a good support for your child. In fact, modeling that grief is real and that it's okay to feel sad can be one of the most powerful ways to support your child.

Most often, they are seeking validation, and your grief lets them know they aren't alone in their feelings. Together, you can create new routines, reflect on memories, and build a supportive network that includes Kate's Club.

Grief can be heavy, but you don't have to carry it alone. Kate's Club is your shoulder to lean on.

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There's no perfect script. What matters most is honesty, simplicity, and being present. Use clear language appropriate to your child's age and avoid euphemisms like 'passed away' or 'went to sleep,' especially with young children. They can cause confusion and fear. At all ages, let your child lead with questions.

Children ages two to four lack understanding about death and related concepts. You may have to explain repeatedly what happened and that dying means someone's body stopped working and they will not come back. Routine and reassurance are helpful at this age.

Children ages four to seven may still see death as reversible. They may begin to fixate on death, or alternatively they may pretend as if nothing happened. Encourage them to express themselves through play, drawing and stories, and let them share at their own pace.

From ages seven to 11, kids begin to understand death. They may begin to have behavior problems or disturbed sleeping or eating patterns. Encourage them to express their feelings by making time to talk about the loss, but also allow alone time. Choices in daily life are also helpful.

Preteens and teens understand death on a deeper level. They may experience sadness, denial, anger or jealousy, and they may even engage in risk-taking. Continue to allow choices and be available to listen when they need it. Encourage them to make meaning of the death through positive activities like art, sports, music and more.

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Kate's Club programs are designed primarily for children and teens. However, we also know that the #1 indicator of a child's grief coping is how their surviving caregiver copes with grief.

We provide support for just kids and teens, just parents and caregivers, and for the entire family together. All of them are designed for people to find peers, whether that's elementary schoolers who have lost a sibling or grandparents raising grandkids.

Parents and caregivers can participate in Park Bench while kids are at Clubhouse Days and workshops during Outings. Additionally, families can attend H.U.G.S. programs around specific holidays or monthly Family Nights to bond as a family and to learn how best to support each other.

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Yes, completely. Children often protect themselves and the adults around them by avoiding the subject of loss. In particular, if a parent or caregiver dies, they may not want to burden their surviving caregiver. This doesn't mean they aren't grieving; it often means they need a safe place away from home to process it, which is exactly what Kate's Club provides.

It's normal that kids may not want to talk to strangers, or even trusted adults, about how they are feeling. Childhood bereavement affects 10% of kids in the U.S., yet it is still uncommon enough that many people don't talk about it.

Thus, kids may be hesitant to talk about how they feel, or they might not know how. They aren't born with the language or skills, and it can seem intimidating before building it. However, Kate's Club provides a safe space to learn those tools and ways to use them well into adulthood.

It all starts when a grieving child or teen realizes they are not alone, and they have a safe community who can truly understand them.

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There's no single sign that a child needs grief support. Some children show their grief openly, and others internalize it, but all children can benefit from support after experiencing the death of someone close to them.

Changes in behavior, school performance, sleep, or social withdrawal can happen when a child is grieving. Teens may exhibit risky behavior, or younger kids might experience regression. No matter your child's age, don't dismiss behavior changes as something kids will "grow out of it" or expect that they will "move on" without support.

We all experience behavioral changes from grief, even as young as infants, and support can improve social-emotional intelligence, develop resilience, and lead to lifelong wellbeing.

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