Children and teens who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives deserve the opportunity to grieve in a supportive and safe environment. Far too often, our society fails to understand, acknowledge or support their grief. Childhood bereavement is a prevalent and critical public health issue that can have a profound impact on the future wellbeing of the youth in our community.

According to the recently released Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM), an estimated 4.8 million children in the U.S. will experience the death of a parent or sibling before they reach adulthood—and this number more than doubles by age 25.

In California, the childhood bereavement rate is 1 in 20, affecting more than 5% of youth in our community. Experiencing a significant death loss during childhood often results in profound stress and adversity and, without appropriate support, can derail a child’s development. For the over 452,000 California youth who are bereaved, access to comprehensive grief-focused, trauma-informed care and resources is essential. A collective investment in awareness and prevention will ensure a compassionate response to all grieving children and promote healthy growth.  To learn more about childhood bereavement rates in California and throughout the U.S. visit www.judishouse.org/CBEM.

To receive grief support services at Kara, please call our office at 650-321-5272 or submit our online form.