About Us
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It is Mourning Hope's vision that all grieving children are listened to, understood and supported by their families, friends, teachers, caregivers, and others significant in their lives.
We envision that within each grieving family, parents and caregivers model healthy grieving strategies, with understanding of the unique needs of their youth.
We envision a society which values and encourages healthy grieving practices, such as openness to talking about losses, embracing the pain of loss, remembering those who died, searching for meaning, and giving and receiving ongoing support.
We see Mourning Hope as a safe haven of support and hope for grieving children and their families and as a source of information for the entire community.
With empathy, openness and a willingness to listen with our hearts and minds, Mourning Hope companions each person who seeks support. As we reach toward this vision, we are recognized as a vital program and a leader in the field of grief support for youth and families.
Mission
Mourning Hope companions grieving children, teens, young adults and their families when someone significant in their lives has a serious illness or has died.
Mourning Hope provides support groups, community education and grief resources and referrals.
A definition of "companioning:"
- Companioning is a philosophy of working with the bereaved developed by Alan Wolfelt, Ph.D. It refers to "walking along-side" each grieving child and family in their pain, without urgency or judgment.
- Companioning is not about imposing order or logic, leading, "fixing the pain" or stopping its expression at our own discomfort.
- Companioning is being fully present to another's grief; being willing to "go into the wilderness of their pain with them."
- Companioning is accepting the reconciliation each individual can find with his or her loss.
Family Stories
Each family served by Mourning Hope has unique experiences, relationships, and needs. In the video below, some families share their experience.