Did you know Erie has a place where grieving children and their families can find free support, with no insurance or referral needed? Highmark Caring Place has been serving our community since 2001. Here are 10 things you might not know about how it helps families:
This article is sponsored by Highmark Caring Place.
1. Grief Support Is Free. No Insurance Needed.
With Highmark as our major supporter, the Caring Place is a community program available to any family with children who have had a special person in their life die. No insurance of any kind is needed to take advantage of our services. In addition, there are no geographic boundaries, as we proudly serve families across Pennsylvania, Ohio, and New York.
2. The Loss Doesn’t Have to Be a Parent or Sibling
The Highmark Caring Place is not limited to supporting those who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling but is open to families who are grieving the death of any person who has had an impact on the family. Sometimes that special person could have been a neighbor who played a grandparent role in the children’s lives or a family friend who traveled with the family on vacations. Give the Highmark Caring Place a call and we can talk through those relationships with you to see what can be helpful to your family.
3. Kids Who Seem “Fine” Can Benefit, Too
Grieving children often hide their feelings to protect their parents/caregivers. Kids and teens also might feel the need to stay “strong.” At the Highmark Caring Place, our compassionate volunteers and staff provide a safe, judgment-free space so kids can freely express themselves without worrying about managing anyone else’s feelings. Through peer support groups, they also connect with others their same age who truly “get it,” realizing they are not alone, and finding a safe space to heal. Sometimes it’s just about missing their person and doing things to remember them.
4. You Can Join Even Years After a Death
There is no timeline for grief. Children will experience grief “bursts” throughout their lifespan as they reach developmental milestones or experience times in their life where their loss feels particularly noticeable. Even if several years have passed since the loss, a child or teen can benefit from connecting with others their age who understand their experiences from their perspective.
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5. There’s No Wait List
We run groups throughout the year and are continuously building those groups. If you are interested in learning about whether the Caring Place might be a good support for your family, please reach out to begin the intake process and learn when the next available groups will begin. Families may choose to join the peer support program months or even years after they’ve experienced a death.
6. Grief Support Isn’t the Same as Grief Counseling
Many families enroll in the Caring Place peer support program while also attending counseling or therapy. The peer support program is different than therapy, and each has its own benefits. At times, through our intake process, we may recommend therapy prior to joining our volunteer-facilitated, peer support program. There could be many reasons for this, and our clinical staff will help you understand this more during your call.
7. You Don’t Need a Referral
We encourage families themselves to call to begin the enrollment process. We know taking that first step may be difficult. Our compassionate staff will guide you through an initial call and intake to help you better understand our program and whether it might be a good fit for your family.
8. Dinner and Transportation Help Are Included
Our evening groups meet from 5:45–7:30 PM and include a shared meal, giving families one less thing to worry about. Grief is hard enough on its own, our hope is to lessen some of the barriers to attending, including providing transportation help as needed.
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9. Adults Find Support Here, Too
We know that the adult parent or caregiver makes that first call in order to find help and support for their child. What these adults don’t usually expect is to also find a supportive community for themselves that provides them with a safe space to grieve, to connect with others, and to learn ways of caring for their children as they also grieve.
10. Support Can Look Like Art, Games and Music
We know that children and teens (and sometimes adults) express themselves in many ways other than through verbal communication. We provide opportunities for them to share their feelings in the ways that work best for them. We find creative ways to help families share difficult things while allowing space for hope, healing and joy.
In addition to our in-person peer support groups, the Highmark Caring Place provides other grief related programming, including community outreach, education, school support, volunteer opportunities, referrals and a virtual young adult group. We’d love the opportunity to share more with you. Give us a call at 814-871-6868 or find us online www.highmarkcaringplace.com.
