Despite progress, twenty percent of children diagnosed with a brain tumor will not survive. CBTF is committed to supporting families throughout their journey by offering bereaved families a community where they can access support, connections, information, and resources. CBTF social workers are available to answer your questions and provide one on one support.
Contact Jessica Elder at jelder@cbtf.org for additional information, questions or to be connected with a CBTF social worker.
Bereaved Parent Group
CBTF offers a private Facebook community for bereaved families. This group offers a safe space where families can share stories, ask questions, make connections, and access educational grief resources. To participate, join our Facebook Group Grieving Parents of Children’s Brain Tumor Foundation. Contact Jessica Elder at jelder@cbtf.org for more information.
Bereaved Parent DIPG/DMG Group
In collaboration with the Marc Jr. Foundation, This group is for bereaved parents and caregivers of children who had a DIPG/DMG diagnosis. Contact Jessica Elder at jelder@cbtf.org for more information or to join.
Bereaved Family Mentor Program
Trained mentors who have experienced the loss of a child, grandchild or sibling are available to connect with others who are dealing with a similar loss. Contace Jessica Elder at jelder@cbtf.org if you are interested in being connected with a mentor or receiving training to become a mentor.
National Bereavement Resources
Bereaved Parents of the USA
Phone: 800-273-8255
Camp Sunshine Bereavement Camp
Phone: (207) 655-3800
Email: info@campsunshine.org
Centering Corporation
Phone: 1-866-218-0101
Children’s Hospice International
Phone: 1-703-684-0330
Email: info@chionline.org
Compassionate Friends
Phone: 877-969-0010
Comfort Zone Camp
Phone: 866-488-5679
The Dougy Center for Grieving Children and Families
Phone: 503-775-5683
Email: help@dougy.org
Hospice Foundation of America
Phone: 800-854-3402
MISS Foundation
Phone: 1-888-445-6477
Email: info@missfoundation.org
The Solace Tree
Phone: 775-324-7723
Email: info@solacetree.org
1-888-455-MISS (6477)
1-888-455-MISS (6477)The Solace Tree
Bereavement Resources by State
The Moyer Foundation offers a list of support groups, camps, and programs for bereaved families, organized by state. Click on the link and choose your state to see a list of resources
Arizona
A Program of Hospice of the Valley
Phoenix, Arizona
This organization offers grief support groups for children, teens, young adults and adults. It also offers grief education and training.
480-951-8985
http://www.hov.org/new_song_center.aspx
Stepping Stones of Hope
Phoenix, Arizona
This organization offers bereavement support programs for children and families, including a bereavement camp for children and families.
602-264-7520
http://steppingstonesofhope.org/
Tu Nidito Children and Family Services
Tuscon, Arizona
This organization provides community and support programs for grieving children, young adults and families.
(520) 322-9155
Arkansas
Arkansas
This program offers support, groups, assistance, and education to bereaved children and families in Arkansas.
501-364-7000
California
Sausalito, CA
This center offers a bereavement group for children.
415-331-6161 x112
The Center for Grief and Loss for Children
Los Angeles, CA
This center has four sites in the Los Angeles area. Counseling, groups and programs are offered for children.
1-866-74GRIEF
www.hathaway-sycamores.org
Grief Recovery Institute
Sherman Oaks, CA
This institute provides education and grief recovery workshops.
818-907-9600
Okizu
Novato, CA
This organization offers a bereavement camp for families who have lost a child to cancer.
415-382-8384
Connecticut
Mary’s Place offers Grief support, support groups and meetings for residents of Connecticut. It offers different support groups for each age group of the grieving family.
Phone: 860-688-9621
The Cove Center for Grieving Children
The Cove provides family and school-based programs using peer support group concept for helping children, teens and families work with their unresolved grief due to the death of someone significant in their lives and other traumatic losses. It serves the following communities in CT: Easton – (Serving Newtown/Fairfield County), Guilford, Meriden, New Haven, Stonington, West Hartford and East Hartford.
Phone: 203-634-0500
New Jersey
Bereavement support for children and families.
609-484-1133
Common Ground Grief Center
New Jersey (shore area)
Support groups
http://commongroundgriefcenter.org/faq.htm
732.606.7477
Embrace Kids Foundation
New Brunswick, NJ
Bereavement support groups for children and adolescents
732-247-5300
Good Grief
Summit, NJ
Free support groups and programs for bereaved children and adults.
(908)-522-1999
Karen Ann Quinlan Memorial Foundation
Newton, NJ
Bereavement support and community memorial services
http://www.karenannquinlanhospice.org/
(800) 882-1117
The Sanctuary: A Resource Center for Grieving Children and Families
New York City Metro Area, NJ, Long Island and Westchester
Bereavement support for children and families
http://www.thesanctuaryforgrief.org/
914.834.6763
New York and NYC
New York City Metro Area, NJ, Long Island and Westchester
Bereavement support for children and families
http://www.thesanctuaryforgrief.org/
914.834.6763
Ackerman Institute for the Family
New York, NY
Family Therapy
212-879-4900
The Bereavement Center of Westchester
Tuckahoe, NY
Bereavement program for children and adults.
http://www.thebereavementcenter.org
914-961-2818
Cabrini Medical Center: Journey through Grief
New York, NY
A grief recovery group for anyone bereaved. All ages are welcome.
This group occurs two times per month
212-995-6869
Catholic Charities
NYC Metro Area
Bereavement support groups
212-371-1000
Center for Loss and Renewal
New York, NY
Grief counseling and support groups.
www.lossandrenewal.com/our_services.htm#bereavement_groups
212-874-4711
Compassionate Friends
Bereavement support group for parents and siblings
http://www.compassionatefriends.org/home.aspx
212-217-9647
The Cope Foundation
Long Island, NY
A healing center dedicated to helping parents who have lost a child.
http://www.copefoundation.org/
(516) 484-4993
Cognitive Therapy Associates
New York City, Westchester and Long Island
Loss, grief and bereavement counseling
www.cognitive-therapy-associates.com/grief-bereavement.php
(212) 258-2577
Ohio
Stow, Ohio
Bereavement support services, groups and counseling for children and adults.
330-686-1750
www.thegriefcareplace.org
Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, PA
Bereavement support and programs.
Books on Loss, Grief, and Bereavement
The following books may be helpful to parents, siblings, grandparents, family members and friends who have lost a loved one. While we are not familiar with every book on this list, all books have been recommended by parents and professionals. When possible, we included a link to amazon.com which you can use to order the book and receive a description. This list was created with the assistance of the Association of Pediatric Oncology Social Workers, CBTF staff, and the generous recommendations of bereaved parents. If you would like to recommend any books to add to this list, please email jelder@cbtf.org. The list is organized by topic. Please scroll down to view all topics of interest.
Books For Parents Caring For Terminally Ill Children
By Kathy Nussbaum
Gifts of Hope Trust, 1998
Help Me Say Goodbye
Janis Silverman
Home Care for Seriously Ill Children: A Manuel for Parents
D. Gay Moldow, and Ida M. Martinson; revised by Stacy Orloff and Susan M. Huff
Children’s Hospice International, 2003
http://www.chionline.org/publications/programs_support.php
Things to Consider: When Your Child Has a Terminal Illness
Published out of Duke
http://www.cancer.duke.edu/btc/docs/files/file/Puborderform-new.pdf
Grief Books For Children
Sourkes, B.
Bereaved Children and Teens
Grollman, E.
Beacon Press, 1995
Beyond the Innocence of Childhood
http://www.amazon.com/Beyond-Innocence-Childhood-Adolescents-Professional/dp/0895031302
Adams and Deveau
Can I Take My Panda, Daddy?
By Greg Crooks
Order online at: www.boolarongpress.com.au
Order by calling: (07) 3848 8200 – Australia
Release Date: May 20, 2005
Children Die, Too
Johnson, J. and Johnson, S.M.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 1979
A Child’s Book about Burial and Cremation
Grollman, E. and Johnson, J.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 2001
A Complete Book about Death for Children
Grollman, E. and Johnson, J.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 2001
http://www.amazon.com/Complete-Book-about-Death-Kids/dp/1561231916
A Child’s Book about Funerals and Cemeteries
Grollman, E. and Johnson, J.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 2001
The Deepening Shade
Sourkes, B.
Don’t Despair on Thursdays
By Adolf Moser, David Melton (Illustrator)
Landmark Editions, Inc., 1996, 61 pages
To order call: (800)-970-4220
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf
Buscaglia, L. New Jersey: Holt, Rinehart, and Winston, 1982
http://www.amazon.com/Fall-Freddie-Leaf-Story-Life/dp/0943432898/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&
ie=UTF8&qid=1300123990&sr=1-1
The Kids Book About Death and Dying: By and For Kids
Rofes, E. Boston, Toronto
Mr. Rogers: When a Pet Dies (Mr. Rogers First Experiences)
By Fred Rogers
It Must Hurt A Lot: A Child’s Book about Death
Sanford, D. Portland
Multnomah Press, 1986
In My World
Byers-Crawford, B. & Laza L.
http://www.centering.org/index.php?page=book&id=110
On the Wings of a Butterfly
By Marilyn Maple, Sandy Haight (Illustrator)
Parenting Press, Inc., 1992, 32 pages
Shelter from the Storm
Hilden, J. and Tobin, D.
Perseus Publishing, 2002
Straight Talk About Death for Teenagers
By Earl A. Grollman
Beacon Press, 1993
To order call: (800) 970-4220
Tear Soup
Schweibert, P.
The Tenth Good Thing About Barney
Viorst, J.
Antheneum, 1972
A Terrible Thing Happened
Holmes, M.
Magination Press, 2000
Water bugs and Dragonflies: Explaining Death to Children
Stickney, D.
Pilgram Press, 1997
When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death
Brown, K.B. and Brown, M.
Little, Brown and Company, 1996
Grief Books Specifically For Bereaved Siblings
By Ruth Ann Ruiz
The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc., 2001
To order call: (800) 970-4220
The Empty Place, A Child’s Guide Through Grief
Temes, R.
Small Horizons, 1992
To order call: (800)-970-4220
The Empty Room
By DeVita-Raeburn, E.
Facing Change
Donna O’Toole
For Teen Siblings
My Grieving Journey
Donna and Eve Shavatt
Since My Brother Died
Munoz-Kiehne, M.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 2000
Spanish and English versions available
Straight From the Siblings: Another Look at the
Rainbow
Center for Attitudinal Healing
New York: Celestial Arts, 1983
When I Die, Will I Get Better?
Breebaart, J. and Breebaart, P.
Bedrich Books, 1993
Where’s Jess?
Johnson, J. and Johnson, M.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 1982
You and a Death in Your Family
By Antoine Wilson
The Rosen Publishing Group Inc., 2001
To order call: (800) 970-4220
Grief Books For Children Who Have Lost A Friend
Bahr, M.
Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, 2000
I had a Friend named Peter
Cohn, J.
William Morrow and Company, 1987
Sadako and the Thousand Paper Cranes, Vol. 1
Eleanor Coerr and Ronald Himler
Penguin Putnam Books for Young Readers, 1999
http://search.barnesandnoble.com/Sadako-and-the-Thousand-Paper-Cranes/Eleanor-Coerr/e/9780698118027
To access more books about death and grief for children and adolescents, visit the following website http://www.barrharris.org/barbooks.html
Grief Books For Bereaved Parents
Schiff, H.
Penguin, 1978
Death Be Not Proud
By Gunther, J.
Death: The Final Stage of Growth
By Elisabeth Kubler-Ross,
Simon and Schuster
Don’t Take My Grief Away
By Manning, D.
Getting Beyond Tragedy
By James Phillips Noble
MBF Press, 2006
Guiding Your Child Through Grief
By Emswiler, J. and Emswiler, M.A.
Hannah’s Gift: Lessons from a Life Fully Lived
By Maria Housden
Publisher: Bantam
Healing After Loss: Daily Meditations for Working Through Grief
By Martha Whitmore Hickman
Harper Collins
Helping Children to Grieve and Grow
By Donna O’Toole, Jerre Cory
Helping Children Grieve: When Someone They Loves Dies
Huntley, T.
Augsbury Fortress Publishers, 2002
How Different Religions View Death and Afterlife
By Christopher Jay Johnson and Marsha McGee
How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies
By Dan Schaefer and Christine Lyons
Newmarket Press, 2001
How We Die: Reflections on Life’s Final Chapter
By Nuland, S.
Life After the Death of My Son
By Apple, D.
Loss, Grief, and Bereavement For Parents
Buckingham, R.
Crossroad Publications Company, 1999
Never too Young to Know: Death in Children’s Lives
Silverman, P.
Oxford University Press, 1999
The Next Place
Hanson, W.
Waldman House Press, Inc., 1997
No Child Should Grieve Alone
Pargo, Emilio
Solace Tree, Reno Nevada
http://www.solacetree.org/bookstore/
One You Love is Dying: 12 Thoughts to Guide You on the Journey
Miller, J. Fort Wayne
Willowgreen Publishers, 1997
http://www.amazon.com/One-You-Love-Dying-Thoughts/dp/1885933231
Only Spring: Mourning the Death of My Son
Livingston, G.
Marlow & Co. Publishers Group West, 1999
Sibling Grief
By Marcia Scherago
Talking About Death: A Dialogue Between Parent and Child
Grollman, E.
Omaha: Centering Corporation, 1989
The Year Of Magical Thinking
By Didion, J.
You Know You’re Dying: 12 Thoughts to Guide You Through the Days Ahead
Miller, J.
When Fort Wayne: Willowgreen Publishers, 1997
When Your Child Dies
Huntley, T.
Augsbury Fortress Publishers, 2001
When Your Child Loses a Loved One
Huntley, T.
Augsbury Fortress Publishers, 2001
Books Specifically For Bereaved Fathers
Golden, T.
When a Man Faces Grief/ A Man You Know Is Grieving
Miller, J. and Golden, T.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Faces-Grief-Know-Grieving/dp/1885933274/ref=pd_sim_b_1
When Men Grieve: Why Men Grieve Differently and How You Can Help
Lavang, E.
http://www.amazon.com/When-Men-Grieve-Differently-Help/dp/1577490789/ref=pd_sim_b_1
Into the Valley & Out Again: The Story of a Father’s Journey
Edler, R.
When Good-bye Is Forever
Bramblett, J.
Books For Bereaved Grandparents
By Margaret Gerner
Forgotten Tears: A Grandmother’s Journey Through Grief
By Nina Bennett
Grandparents Cry Twice: Help for Bereaved Grandparents
By Mary Lou Reed
Grandma’s Tears: Comfort for Grieving Grandparents
By June Cerza Kolf
How Do We Tell the Children? A Step-by-Step Guide for Helping Children Two to Teen Cope When Someone Dies
By Dan Schaefer and Christine Lyons
Newmarket Press, 2001
When a Grandchild Dies: What to Do, What to Say, How to Cope
By Nadine Galinsky June Cerza Kolf (Author)
Financial Assistance
The following is a list of organizations that may provide financial assistance toward funeral and burial expenses.
Financial Assistance Organizations
Andre Sobel River of Life
Catastrophic Illness in Children Relief Fund
Desi Geestman Foundation
http://www.desigeestmanfoundation.org/
Jacob Michael Davis Foundation
http://www.jacobmichaeldavis.org/
Kelly Ann Dolan Memorial Fund
Melonhead Foundation
Mission4Maureen