Bereavement Peer Support for Angelenos

Social support networks

Expand existing project, program, or initiative (expanding and continuing ongoing, successful work)

Grief-related challenges—morbidity, isolation, and mortality—significantly impact public health in L.A. County, especially vulnerable groups in resource-limited contexts. Unaddressed grief contributes to broader issues like substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide, with far-reaching consequences. High bereavement rates strain community resources, hindering effective support. U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy underscores loneliness’s impact on health, increasing risks of cardiovascular disease, dementia, stroke, depression, anxiety, and premature death. To mitigate this toll, we must invest in an equitable, accessible peer support community for grieving adults.

Over the past 18 months, New Hope Grief Support Community (New Hope) has trained and equipped 120 community members to serve as facilitators for community-centered, peer-led bereavement support groups for adults. The 8-week groups utilize New Hope’s curriculum based on Dr. William Worden’s Four Tasks of Mourning, a widely accepted model in the field of Thanatology. Topics include understanding grief, coping with emotions, adjusting to life changes, and finding meaning after loss. These groups aim to normalize grief, reduce isolation, provide accessible support, and foster healing among adults who have experienced loss.
New Hope’s trainer-of-trainer model not only equips facilitators but also creates a ripple effect of healing and support across diverse neighborhoods. With funding, New Hope aims to create a sustainable system that reaches underserved areas in LA County. Over a one-year grant cycle, they’ll collaborate with community agencies to train 120 group facilitators. These facilitators will host 8-week peer support groups in safe, familiar locations like wellness centers, places of worship, and community spaces within their neighborhoods. The groups, meeting weekly for 1.5 hours with 8-10 participants, will be free of charge. This initiative normalizes grief, reduces stigma, fosters empathy, and provides essential support for Angelenos coping with loss.

New Hope aims to expand a sustainable and scalable system to reach underserved Service Planning Areas in LA County. Equipped with the necessary knowledge, tools, and resources, these 120 facilitators will host 8-week peer support groups in familiar, safe locations like wellness centers, places of worship, and community spaces within their neighborhoods. This project will normalize grief, break stigma and isolation, foster empathy, and provide Angelenos with the access to support needed to achieve greater health and well-being after a loss. By fostering empathy, understanding, and resilience, New Hope contributes to the overall well-being of Angelenos affected by loss. New Hope’s facilitators lead groups within their communities—where they live, work, worship, and play. This localized approach ensures cultural relevance and participants benefit from connections with neighbors and community members who understand their unique context, reminding them that they are not alone.

New Hope draws on 21 years of experience to create successful social support networks. Our Bereavement peer support approach breaks down barriers, connecting grieving individuals with fellow Angelenos. In 2023, New Hope hosted 25 adult grief support groups. During our 8-week peer support groups, participants met once a week for 1.5 hours, engaging with 8-10 peers. The weekly topics cover essential aspects of grief, including understanding it, coping with intense emotions, adjusting to life changes, and finding meaning after loss. Our evaluation process revealed remarkable outcomes: 98% of alumni enthusiastically recommended the support groups to friends and family members. Participants reported feeling safer, less isolated, more connected, and better equipped to navigate their grief journey. New Hope has witnessed firsthand the transformative power of bereavement support communities, where shared experiences of loss create profound connections.