Children’s Grief Counseling and Education Program (CHANGES)

Mental health

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

Childhood bereavement is a critical issue and an increasingly important national priority. The death of a parent, sibling, or other important person in a child’s life is one of the most frequently reported disruptive childhood experiences and without appropriate support, can lead to adverse health and welfare outcomes. 8.3% or 6 million children will be bereaved by age 18, and that number more than doubles by age 25 to 14.7 million. Understanding the number of children impacted by death is essential to help every bereaved child find hope and healing. Children in grief do not learn well. They are unfocused, distracted and often end up skipping school, falling behind in grades, or turning to destructive and addictive behaviors. A recent survey by the New York Life Foundation reveals that 87% of educators agree that over the past five years, it has become more common for students to seek emotional support from teachers.

CHANGES is a school-based grief counseling and support program that targets the lowest performing and neediest schools in the Long Beach Unified School District (LBUSD) and delivers mental health and wellness services to increase access to care and eliminate barriers for the marginalized in our community. The CHANGES team works with counselors, teachers, administrators, and other professionals in the community to address the complicated and multiple loss issues of youth and their families. CHANGES offers family members a place to process their own grief and loss and offers guidance on how to parent a grieving child. The CHANGES team sets up classroom visits to conduct “Wellness Talks” and “Grief and Loss” presentations. The CHANGES team then works with school personnel to identify the children most in need of the program. These are children who face barriers such as a lack of access to service providers, insurance issues, inability to pay co-pays, language or cultural differences, and lack of transportation. These youth are then assessed by the team and a personalized plan of care is developed. The plan may include on-campus peer support groups, individual counseling, access to resources, and referrals for further care. To make certain there is a secure safety net for the youth, the plan may also include family support groups, staff/faculty in-service training, and classroom presentations.

Mental Health Improvement: By providing comprehensive grief support, Pathways will help improve the mental health of individuals in Los Angeles. Better mental health can lead to improved quality of life and reduced mental health crises. Increased Awareness: The educational initiatives and community outreach will increase awareness about grief and mental health issues in Los Angeles. This can reduce stigma and encourage more people to seek help. Support for Vulnerable Populations: By targeting diverse populations, including children, seniors, and marginalized communities, the project ensures that support reaches those who may be most vulnerable to the effects of grief. Enhanced Social Cohesion: Through support groups and community events, Pathways will strengthen social bonds and create a network of support within neighborhoods, fostering a more connected and supportive community. Overall, Pathways will be able to expand CHANGES to address the often invisible damages of untreated grief.

There is a wide range of individual variations in specific grief symptoms, and in their intensity and duration. The CHANGES program uses a tool, PEG (Profiles of Experience in Grief) for pre and post measurements. In addition to the PEG, Pathways developed a tool called the Teacher Observation Form for use in classrooms to identify and document changes in a student’s behavior. CHANGES program evaluation consists of two components – individual youth self-report on the PEG, and input and observations from the teachers. The results of these two in combination yield a clear picture of the impact of the program on the students. On a regular basis, Pathways staff meet to discuss the process and outcomes of CHANGES, tracking the number of students and families served. Group reports are submitted by the bereavement facilitators, and data is collected from both the PEG and the Teacher Observation Form. Results are summarized and a final report is completed.