General Information
Fees:
Free
Service Delivery Format:
- In Person:
- Virtual and in-person appointments available
- Groups are offered in person at this time
Eligibility:
Groups: To participate in group programming, children/youth must be aware of the cause of death prior to starting the group. Group facilitators may be available to support with a disclosure conversation prior to group depending on availability and the amount of time before group begins. Please let us know if this is something you’d like support with.
Additionally, children/youth must be available to attend every group session, as registration closes after the first session of each group.
Family Relationship: Grief related to the death or dying of a parent, sibling, or in-home custodial caregiver.
Age: Children, youth, and families ages 0 – 21 (with limited spots available up to age 29).
Geographic Catchment: The city of Toronto (Toronto, Etobicoke, Scarborough, and North York). Bereavement Referrals: Services are offered regardless of the cause of death or time since the death.
Referral:
Accepted from any source, including self-referrals. For a referral form, email Danielle at: DanielleC@yorktownfamilyservices.com
Next Session Dates:
Grief and Bereavement Counselling Intakes completed on an ongoing basis
Littles Group : February 20th to March 26th, 2024
- Youth Group – Starting April 23, 2024
- Middles Group – Fall 2024
- Mother’s Day Event – May 8, 2024 from 6:00-7:45PM
- Father’s Day Event – June 2024
Contact :
Danielle at DanielleC@yorktownfamilyservices.com
or
Paul at PaulK@yorktownfamilyservices.com
Sessions Per Year:
52 weeks per year
Service Duration:
Bereavement Program – up to 8 sessions
Groups – 8-10 sessions
Languages offered:
- English
- Translation Services Available
Hours:
- Weekdays
- Evenings
Contact:
Maureen Ringlein
416-394-2424 Ext:1272
maureenr@yorktownfamilyservices.com
Clinical Services
Individual and Family Counselling
Bereavement Program provides counselling support after a death to process and normalize grief, encourage emotional expression and communication, cultivate and enhance resiliency, explore helpful coping strategies, and support continuing bonds.
Child and Youth Group Programming
Our support groups for bereaved children and youth are offered throughout the year. The goal of the program is to create a supportive environment where grieving children and adolescents have the opportunity to connect with similar-aged peers, express themselves, share their grief experiences, and explore their relationship with grief through the outdoors, art, and play. The outdoors provides a context for self-reflection, connection with others, and the natural world. Concurrent caregiver groups may be offered to support caregivers navigating the unique challenges of parenting grieving children and youth.
Family Support Program
Our Family Support Program provides opportunities connect with a community of grievers who have experienced the death of an immediate family member through ‘Family Events’. These events are developed for children, youth and their parents or caregivers to decrease isolation through strengthening family & peer-relationships, practicing of self-expression, and honouring & remembering the person in their life who died.
Mother’s Day Event
This May 8th, from 6:00-7:45PM Growing With Grief is inviting families of children who have experienced the death of their mother, stepmother, or maternal caregiver to gather with us for a Mother’s Day event.
Those who attend will have an opportunity to connect with their own family and others who are similarly bereaved, engage in art-making to express thoughts and feelings, create unique items to take home and cultivate their relationship with mom.
This is a FREE event. Snacks will be provided.
Please register on Eventbrite by May 3rd.
For any additional questions please reach out to chantalf@yorktownfamilyservice.com