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Kara grief support
Reflections on Father’s Day
June 16, 2021
Kara - Grief Support
COVID-19 y el impacto en los servicios de Kara
June 27, 2021

Kara Services During the Coronavirus Pandemic

Updated 10-01-2022
With the goal of serving the bereaved in our community while prioritizing the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff, Kara service options may include both in-person and telehealth (phone or video meetings) support services.  Each program at Kara is implementing the most suitable approach towards meeting service requests based on client needs, program capacity and public safety.  We thank you and appreciate your patience and understanding as collectively navigate the ongoing pandemic. Inquiries for individuals and families seeking support can be submitted online or by calling 650-321-5272.

The Santa Clara County Public Health Office website dedicated to information and announcements regarding Covid-19 can be found here.

Updated 6-01-2022
As our community continues to collectively ‘open up,’ our goals of serving the bereaved remain the same; we continue to prioritize the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff.  In addition to offering telehealth grief support services, more in-person service options will become available in the months ahead. Each program at Kara is implementing the most suitable approach towards meeting service requests based on client needs, program capacity and public safety.  We thank you and appreciate your patience and understanding as we go through this transition process together. Inquiries for individuals and families seeking support can be submitted online or by calling 650-321-5272.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

The Santa Clara County Public Health Office website dedicated to information and announcements regarding Covid-19 can be found here.

Updated 6-15-2021
As our community has begun to collectively ‘open up,’ our goals of serving the bereaved remain the same; we continue to prioritize the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff, while offering telehealth grief support services. In addition, each program at Kara is implementing the most suitable approach towards meeting service requests based on client needs and program capacity. We thank you and appreciate your patience and understanding as we go through this transition process together. Inquiries for individuals and families seeking support can be submitted online or by calling 650-321-5272.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

The Santa Clara County Public Health Office website dedicated to information and announcements regarding Covid-19 can be found here.

Updated 1-01-2021
With the goal of serving the grieving in our community while prioritizing the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff, Kara currently offers telehealth grief support services.  Inquiries for individuals and families seeking support can be submitted online or by calling 650-321-5272.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

The Santa Clara County Public Health Office website dedicated to information and announcements regarding Covid-19 can be found here.

Updated 7-15-2020
With the goal of serving the grieving in our community while prioritizing the health and safety of clients, volunteers, and staff, Kara currently offers telehealth grief support services.  Inquiries for individuals and families seeking support can be submitted online or by calling 650-321-5272.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

The Santa Clara County Public Health Office website dedicated to information and announcements regarding Covid-19 can be found here.

Updated 5-03-2020 at 1:00pm
A modified local Public Health Order will go into effect on Monday, May 4 and remain in place through Sunday, May 31. The new Order, enacted by Health Officers across six Bay Area counties, is largely the same as the current one. Residents will still be required to shelter in place in order to protect community health. Please see the executive summary of the new Order, the Order itself, as well as our FAQs for more information.

While these Public Health directives are in place, Kara’s in-person grief-support services continue to be suspended.  Current clients are being offered alternative support methods (video and/or phone for groups and one-on-one counseling) and we are sharing relevant resources weekly (directly and through our social media channels).

We are still accepting service inquiries (both online and by phone) for individuals and families seeking grief support.  While initial follow-up conversations may occur, our intake interview appointments will not be scheduled until we resume normal service operations. At this time we are also considering alternative options to support new individuals seeking support.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

Updated 4-15-2020 at 1:00pm
Announcement regarding 2020 Camp Kara
  Due the the COVID-19 pandemic, we will not be holding Camp Kara 2020 this summer. The organization that provides our camp facility, The Taylor Family Foundation, has made the difficult decision to cancel all of their summer programs this year. We agree with them that this is the best decision to protect the health and safety of everyone involved. While this announcement may not come as a surprise given our current health climate, we want to acknowledge the added disappointment for those families looking forward to this unique camp.  We are in the process of exploring alternate ways we can support the children and teens, and will be in touch with their families when we have more information.

Updated 3-31-2020 at 2:00pm
The Public Health Order for Bay Area resident to shelter-in-place safely in their homes will be extended until at least May 3rd. Visit FAQs about the Orders to learn more.  While these Public Health directives are in place, Kara’s in-person grief-support services continue to be suspended.  Our current clients are being offered alternative support methods (video and/or phone for groups and one-on-one counseling) and we are sharing relevant resources weekly (directly and through our social media channels).

We are still accepting service inquiries (both online and by phone) for individuals and families seeking grief support.  However, while initial follow-up conversations may occur, our intake interview appointments will not be scheduled until we resume normal service operations.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

Updated 3-17-2020 at 12:01am
The County of Santa Clara issued a Shelter in Place Order effective through April 7, 2020.  Visit FAQs to learn more.

Updated 3-12-2020 at 4:45pm
As we continue to monitor the rapidly evolving spread of Coronavirus, our top priority is the safety and health of our community. It is for that reason, and after careful consideration, that we have decided to suspend our support services through the end of March at which time we will re-evaluate this decision. While this decision is not easy, we believe it is the prudent one now in an effort to help reduce the spread of the virus.

The following in-person services are suspended through March 31st:
  • ALL Peer Support Groups for all programs (on and off site)
  • One-on-One Peer Support for all programs (on and off site)
  • Therapy Program in-person appointments
  • All workshops, volunteer meetings, or special events for all programs
  • New Volunteer Training
  • New client in-person intakes
  • Community Outreach Education & Training Activities

The Kara staff is in the process of discussing and implementing alternative ways (telephone/videoconferencing, etc.) for each of our service programs to meet the needs of our current clients and the bereaved in our community. Program Directors will be working with their respective volunteers to implement this process.

While our direct services are suspended as referenced above, we are still accepting service inquiries (both online and by phone) for individuals seeking grief support.  Requests will be processed per our standard operations, however, in-person intake appointments will not be conducted until we resume direct services.  Click here to learn about what to expect when you contact us.

Please visit our Resources page where you will find Articles, Books, and Links that may be helpful in navigating the challenges of grief and loss, understanding the grieving process, and supporting grieving family members, friends, and colleagues. In addition, follow our Social Media sites where you will find relevant posts, articles and resources to support your grief journey:  Blog & News  Instagram  Facebook

We continue to align our response approach with the direction from the Santa Clara County Public Health Department and CDC guidelines as we do our part in reducing the spread of the virus.
CDC Recommended Guidelines:

–Wash your hands frequently with soap and hot water for at least twenty seconds, especially after going to the bathroom; before meals; and after blowing your nose, coughing, or sneezing.

–Use alcohol based hand sanitizer after touching high contact surfaces and when soap and water are not available.

–Avoid touching your eyes, nose and mouth.

–Cover your cough or sneeze with your arm or with a tissue, then immediately throw the tissue in the trash.

–Stay home when you are feeling ill.

COVID-19 symptoms include fever, cough, and shortness of breath. Call your doctor if you experience any of these symptoms.