The keystone program of Shimmering Wings is specially designed for children aged 6-12, and their parent/guardian. This structured 8-week program takes the form of a facilitated grief support group. Each week’s gathering builds on the prior session, and follows a path that spans from exploring feelings around grief to identifying individual and family strengths. Each session is designed to help children on their unique grief journey. Sessions incorporate crafts, story-sharing, discussions, and other activities, and are provided in a safe, supportive environment that lets kids be kids, and allows them to explore and express their feelings about their loss. The program is offered in tandem with a professionally facilitated support group for each child's parent/guardian, held in a nearby room. We also offer specialized grief support programs for adults, to support adults who experienced a death loss when they were a child (4-week program). An early death loss has a profound effect on an individual’s personal relationships and ability to successfully journey through subsequent losses. The culture of past generations often did not allow children to express the grief and confusion they may have felt after the death loss of someone important in their lives. This program enables those adults to talk about, understand and be supported by others with similar childhood experiences.
