The Center for Grieving Children

 

 

                                   

The Center for Grieving Children, based in Portland, Maine, serves more than 4,000 grieving children, teens, families, and young adults annually through peer support, outreach, and education.  Since its founding in 1987, the Center for Grieving Children has served more than 66,000 children, teens, and their families. The Center for Grieving Children was founded in 1987 by Portland, Maine resident Bill Hemmens, following the death of his sister. In trying to find help and support for his niece Erin, Bill recognized that children need peers and caring adults to support them through their grief, because death profoundly affects every aspect of their lives.

 

Last year, the Center relied on volunteers who contributed 21,000 hours of support. Our community-oriented work place is staffed by 10-12 full- and part-time staff members, and regularly assisted by multiple volunteers and interns in different capacities. The Center is governed by a 25-member board of directors. Offering our services for free, for as long as people need them, the Center’s mission is to provide loving support that encourages the safe expression of grief and loss and fosters each individual’s resilience and emotional well-being. The Center reaches individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds, and relies on financial contributions from individuals, businesses, foundations, United Way, and special events. The Center is a 501(c) 3 organization. Fact; 1 in 7 children/teens will experience a death of a parent/sibling.  Special letters of “thank you’s” are received from caregivers/parents of children who were touched by the organizations services.  The need in York County continues to grow.  The Center has a second location in Sanford to serve the need today, however the Center’s goal is to expand their services throughout Southern Maine. Programs provided at the Center: Bereavement Peer Support, Multicultural Programs, Support Programs, Serious Illness Programs, and Crisis Response Programs – Serving local schools impacted by sudden death or serious illness by members of the school.