Bereavement Resources Dedicated online resources for bereaved families and those who want to support them

New York Life is committed to helping families adjust to life-altering changes.

Today, more than ever, children are witnesses to a world filled with tragedy and loss. Young people can and do experience the death of parents, grandparents, siblings, friends, and teachers. As caregivers, teachers, and all concerned adults, we need to be prepared with an arsenal of information and guidance that can help bereaved children and their families make sense of this life-altering change. The New York Life Foundation stands on the frontlines of this effort by offering accessible resources to families, communities and the public to help build and support resilient families.

COVID-19 bereavement resources:

Power of Parenting: addressing fears and feelings from prior losses.
Resources and responses for families who may be experiencing heightened feelings from a prior loss due to the pandemic. 

Power of Parenting: helping children cope with the impending death of a loved one.
Concrete suggestions for families on what to say and do to help children prepare for the death of a loved one from COVID-19.

Power of Parenting: mourning the death of a loved one.
Resources and recommendations for families mourning the death of a loved and the challenges that come with physical distancing. 

Ask the expert: Living through COVID-19.
A fireside chat about communicating with children regarding the coronavirus between Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation and Donna Gaffney a consultant to the New York Life Foundation.

Care-giving amidst coronavirus: How do we support our children during a pandemic?
Q&A between Heather Nesle, president of the New York Life Foundation and Dr. Julie Kaplow,  founder of the SAMHSA-funded Trauma and Grief. Center.

COVID-19 Resources for School Communities
Developed by the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement in partnership with the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, which was founded by The New York Life Foundation among others. 

Coping with Change & Loss

In support of children, teens, & families, this booklet was developed by one of the Foundation’s national partners, the National Alliance for Grieving Children. (English version) (Spanish version)

Other COVID related content:

How to monitor the media diet our families will consume in the weeks to come. 

Twelve tips

Coping with the coronavirus pandemic from one of the Foundation’s partners, Tom Demaria of the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement.

Support and resources

How to support bereaved children over the holidays

National Alliance for Grieving Children: Hero Toolkit in support of  Grieving Children and Teens

This free toolkit developed for Children, teens and their support network, provides activities and conversations designed to empower each of us to become everyday 'heroes'.

National Bereavement Resource Guide: State by State Bereavement Listing
A list of each state's bereavement organizations to support bereaved children and their families.

After a Loved One Dies - How Children Grieve and Adults Can Support Them
Click here for the Spanish version
This booklet explains how children grieve and how parents and other caring adults can help them understand death better. It can also help parents and adults who are part of the lives of children who have experienced a loss know what to expect and how to help.

Coalition to Support Grieving Students
The Coalition to Support Grieving Students is a unique collaboration of leading professional organizations representing the school community who have come together to support grieving students and their families. The Coalition has created and is sharing a set of industry-endorsed resources that will empower school communities across America in the ongoing support of their grieving students.

The Shared Grief Project
Multimedia site designed to bring hope to grieving children by sharing the stories of respected athletes and other celebrities who have experienced childhood loss.

National organizations:

The Center for School Crisis and Bereavement
The National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement (NCSCB) at the USC Suzanne Dworak-Peck School of Social Work is dedicated to helping schools support their students through crisis and loss.

National Alliance for Grieving Children
NAGC is a nonprofit organization that raises awareness about the needs of children and teens who are grieving a death and provides education and resources for anyone who supports them. The NAGC is a nationwide network comprised of professionals, institutions and volunteers who promote best practices, educational programming and critical resources to facilitate the mental, emotional and physical health of grieving children and their families.

eluna
The mission of eluna is to provide comfort, hope and healing to children and families affected by grief and addiction.

Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
TAPS offers compassionate care to all those grieving the death of a loved one serving in our Armed Forces through a national peer support network and connection to grief resources, all at no cost to surviving families and loved ones.