American Hospice Foundation, Washington DC, USA

In early 2008, a 4th grade student died of Leukemia.  Our Grief at School trainer was asked to assist staff with how to best identify and support grieving students, including those for whom this death might trigger unexpected responses.  Only six weeks later, another 4th grader from the same class died of a brain abscess.

 This second incident threw the kids and staff into a tailspin.  The 3rd graders were afraid to promote to 4th grade because they thought they might die, 4th graders thought their classroom was cursed, and parents and staff fueled rumors about "why" the deaths occurred.  School staff had a difficult time making sense of these deaths in quick succession and they needed validation and guidance before they could truly be available for their students.  Our Grief at School trainer was called again to provide additional support.  The school and district were grateful for the services provided and for the program's ability to quickly respond to their immediate needs.

For the past 9 years, American Hospice has offered has forged a strong relationship with schools across the country through its Grief at School program.  The program helps school staff to identify and support grieving students.