Grief Counseling and Support for Children and Parents Resources in the Chicago Area

Children and Parents Dealing with Loss Resources

1st Presbyterian of Evanston
Counseling Center
1-847-864-9133 x. 233
Christopher Miller

Barr-Harris Children's Grief Center of the Institute for Psychoanalysis
Where grieving kids can go for help.
Whether grieving the death of a parent or sibling, or dealing with divorce, abandonment or a parent’s imprisonment, children now have a choice of places to go for help. “No child is ever turned away”
Benjamin Garber, Clinical director
The Barr-Harris Children’s Grief Center
122 S. Michigan Ave.
Chicago. IL
312-922-7474
www.barr-harris.org
Satellite clinics at Highland Park, Swedish Covenant and Little Company of Mary Hospitals. Payment on a sliding scale.


Buddy's Place
Family-based bereavement program, children ages 4-18. Time-limited groups for children and surviving parent. Monthly ongoing groups, 2nd Monday of each month.
Registration required.
1023 W. Burlington
Western Springs (10 miles west of Chicago).
708 354-0826


Caring/Understanding
Interfaith groups welcome. No fee.
Chaplain Jan McCabe
Ravenswood Hospital Medical Center
4500 N. Winchester
(at Wilson)
Chicago, IL 60640
773 878-4300, Ext. 4400


Children's Grief Education Association (CGEA)
www.childgrief.org
The Children's Grief Education Association offers college-accredited continuing education about children and grief that is directed toward the education, hospice, volunteer and counseling community.

CGEA's website is full of useful information about children's grief for professionals and families. There are activities for children and teens, too. You are invited to use this free resource and share it with others!

ABOUT THE CHILDREN'S GRIEF EDUCATION ASSOCIATION
The CGEA is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization located in Denver, Colorado that is dedicated to providing grief education and support to bereaved children, their families and professionals in schools and community organizations through local, national and international outreach and training. Proceeds from our online course help support our website, our pro bono professional support & other work with grieving children.

Navigating Children's Grief: Academic, Behavioral and Emotional Challenges provides basic information about the issues faced by grieving children and training on how to help. The course is also appropriate for grief counselors wishing to sharpen or refresh their skills. The course and associated college credit is available internationally.

Navigating Children's Grief: Academic, Behavioral and Emotional Challenges
   10 Contact Hours, 0.5 Graduate Credit through Adams State College, Colorado
   Top quality multimedia format, online, ongoing, self-paced!  Cost:  $119.00


The Compassionate Friends
A nationwide mutual assistance, self-help organization for families who've experienced the death of a child, brother or sister. Call for location nearest you.
Patricia Loder
P.O. Box 3696
Oak Brook, IL 60522-3696
630-990-0010
TOLL FREE: 1-877-969-0010
Chicago Spanish-speaking chapter: Call Eva Hernandez, 312-666-3488
www.compassionatefriends.org

Heartlight
Offers anticipatory & bereavement support for families who've lost a child. SIDS, cancer & AIDS are also addressed. (English & Spanish)
No fees. Interview is required before joining the group. Call for details and locations.
773 975-8829 or 773-880-4309

Hospice of Northeastern Illinois
Children's Grief Support Program for ages 6 through 12. This is not a therapy group, but a group for sharing feelings & thoughts. A Parents' Support Group is offered in conjunction with the childrens' group. Offer “Camp Courage," a Kids’ Bereavement Camp
Maryann Greene, Counselor
410 S. Hager Ave.
Barrington, IL 60010
847-381-5599


Lydia Children's Home
Patricia Utigard, Director
4300 W. Irving Park Rd.
Chicago, IL
(between Pulaski & Cicero)
773-736-3367


Midwest Palliative & Hospice Care Center
Jacalyn Linko, LCSW, Coordinator of Counseling Services
(847) 467-7423 (north suburbs), (708) 283-8150 (south suburbs)
www.carecenter.org

National Alliance for Grieving Children
http://nationalallianceforgrievingchildren.org

Neonatal Bereavement Group
Dawn Pepsnik or Betty Cooper
Children's Memorial Hospital
2300 Children's Plaza
Chicago, IL 60614
773-880-4494 or 880-4000

Rainbow Hospice
The “Good Mourning Program”, co-sponsored by Lutheran General Childrens' Hospital. Registration required. No fee for groups. Donations appreciated.
Preschool Grief Group: A six-week program for ages 3 to 5 years.
Children's Grief Group: An eight-week program for ages 6 to 12 years.
Teen Group: An eight-week group for ages 13 to 18 years.
Monthly On-Going Groups: For children & adolescents who have lost a parent or sibling.
Special Events: December: Annual holiday-gathering dinner & remembrance service Fall: Annual family camping
Individual counseling available.
444 N. Northwest Highway
Suite 145
Park Ridge, IL 60068-1427
847-692-8884


Rainbows
Offers programs for children & adults in some 700 sites.
Rainbows: for elementary school children
Spectrum: for high school students
2100 Golf Rd.
#370
Rolling Meadows, IL 60008
847-952-1770


SIDS Alliance of Ilinois
Chicagoland Chapter. Call for location nearest to you. 312-987-1177


TLC's Parents Trauma Resource Center
http://www.tlcinstitute.org/PTRC.html

This website is an excellent tool for parents and caregivers to easily find detailed information about grief and trauma, their special concerns, ways to help their children and themselves, activities, books, and much more. PTRC is also an excellent resource for practitioners to use when they need to find specific information to give parents whose children have been traumatized. Currently, the PTRC is available in English and Spanish.


The Support Center for Perinatal & Childhood Death
Specific programs to help families cope with their grief. Each program has been developed in response to needs identified by parents who have told us what helps.
Sorrelle Stanton, Coordinator
Evanston Hospital
2650 Ridge
Room 1230
Evanston, IL 60201
847-570-2831

The Kristen Hovda Program: Designed to meet the individual needs of families whose child or adolescent has died suddenly or has been diagnosed with a terminal or life-threatening illness.

The Sibling Consultation Program: Discussions with parents as well as direct help to surviving siblings who may have unusually complicated reactions to the death of a sister or brother.

The New Mourning Program: Growing Through Grief: The program helps schools & communities become a base of support for children & adolescents when they are confronted with death. The program provides in-service training for teachers, parent workshops, crisis intervention, consultation & printed resource materials.

The Collaboration Education & Training Program: The Support Center staff members work together with other professionals who are involved with bereaved parents. They offer training programs, workshops for hospital staff, community presentations & consultation to other groups & institutions.



Together in the Loss of a Child (TLC)
Call for more information.
312-472-3785
Susan Rizzato or Lynn Galuska-Elsen, Facilitator
All types of perinatal loss & early infant death. No charge. Spanish-speaker available. Meets 1st Thursday of every month.
Prentice Building
250 E Superior
Chicago, IL.

Urban Balance, LLC
Counseling for individuals, couples, families and groups
180 N Michigan Avenue, Suites 905 & 2222
Chicago, Illinois 60601

2550 Crawford Avenue
Evanston, Illinois 60201
312-726-7170
www.urbanbalance.org

Willow House
302 Saunders Rd Suite 200
Riverwoods, IL 60015
847/236-9300
Program Director: Kate Juozaitis MA, LCPC
extension 203


Loyola University Medical Center
Open to parents who have a pregnancy or infant loss.
Rev. Abby Fyten
Chaplain, Obstetrics & Neonatology
Maywood, IL
(708)216-9056