SUPPORTING KIDDS INC

SUPPORTING KIDDS IS THE CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES, LOCATED IN HOCKESSIN, DELAWARE. WE PROVIDE GRIEF SUPPORT TO CHILDREN AGES 5-18. GRIEF AFFECTS EVERYONE AT SOME POINT IN THEIR LIFE. ONE OF OUR GOALS IS TO CREATE A COMMUNITY AROUND DEATH AND DYING SO THAT CHILDREN DO NOT FEEL ALONE WHILE THEY GRIEVE. AT OUR CENTER WE PROVIDE INDIVIDUAL GRIEF COUNSELING AND GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS, BUT WE RECOGNIZE THAT NOT ALL CHILDREN CAN COME TO OUR CENTER FOR SUPPORT. SUPPORTING KIDDS BEGAN OFFERING GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS IN SCHOOLS, SO WE COULD SUPPORT MORE CHILDREN IN THE COMMUNITY AND EMPOWER THE COMMUNITY/SCHOOL DISTRICTS TO SUPPORT THEM IN THEIR GRIEVING PROCESS. IN 2024, SUPPORTING KIDDS FACILITATED 53 SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT GROUPS ACROSS 22 SCHOOLS IN NEW CASTLE COUNTY AND SUPPORTED 284 STUDENTS IN THEIR GRIEF JOURNEYS. IN 2024, SUPPORTING KIDDS ALSO ATTENDED 23 COMMUNITY RESOURCE FAIRS, OUTREACH EVENTS, AND PROGRAMS TO INCREASE THE AWARENESS OF OUR PROGRAMS IN THE COMMUNITY WITH THE INTENTION OF LINKING PROGRAMS TO FAMILIES. WE SAW APPROXIMATELY 7,068 PEOPLE IN THE COMMUNITY THEREFORE, INCREASING THE COMMUNITY'S AWARENESS OF OUR PROGRAMS AND GAVE OUT AROUND 2,551 RESOURCE ITEMS. WE ARE A SMALL NONPROFIT THAT HAS MADE A BIG IMPACT ON THE STUDENTS IN THE SCHOOLS AND WITH THE DELAWARE COMMUNITY SURROUNDING GRIEF AND LOSS. AT THE SUPPORTING KIDDS CENTER, WE SAW 56 CLIENTS FOR INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING, WHICH TOTALED 761 SESSIONS. THE CLINICAL DIRECTOR SAW 89 CAREGIVERS FOR CONSULTS. FOR OUR EVENTS AT THE CENTER, WE HELD 22 GROUPS, WHICH SERVED 163 CHILDREN AND 127 ADULTS. EVENTS THAT WE HELD WERE: TWO ROUNDS OF HEALING PATHWAYS (OUR 6-WEEK PEER BEREAVEMENT SUPPORT GROUP), MEMORIES FOR MOM, A MOVIE NIGHT, DAD'S DAY, FAMILY FUN NIGHTS, A FAMILY ART NIGHT, BACK TO SCHOOL NIGHT, COPING WITH THE HOLIDAYS AND OUR HOLIDAY HAPPENINGS PARTY TO WRAP UP THE YEAR. EACH GROUP IS DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN AND CAREGIVERS TO MEET OTHERS WHO HAVE BEEN THROUGH A SIMILAR LOSS TO FORM CONNECTION AND A SENSE OF COMMUNITY AROUND THEIR GRIEF. THEY DO THIS THROUGH GRIEF EDUCATION, DISCUSSION AND HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES.