Mental Health Resources

Erin’s House for Grieving Children Peer Support Program

5670 YMCA Park Drive West

Fort Wayne, IN 46835

(260) 423-2466

Info@ErinsHouse.org

Bi-monthly Peer-Support Program Nights provide grieving children the opportunity to be surrounded by others who have also experienced a death, helping them feel a sense of belonging and respect. Erin’s House is unique in that our programming is open-ended; that is, each child determines when they are ready to leave. There is no time limit on grief. Our services are offered to families at no cost.

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Groups Offered for

• 3- to 5-year-olds

• 6- to 9-year-olds

• 10- to 13-year-olds

• Teens

• Young Adult
   

Groups consist of 6-9 youth participants along with 2-3 volunteer facilitators. Small peer groups ensure a safe environment for each person to share their feelings and memories with others who have similar experiences and emotions.

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Our program takes a preventative approach aiming to alleviate and eliminate the negative consequences of unresolved grief within our community. Our programming accomplishes the following:

• Minimizes the negative consequences of unresolved grief such as truancy, substance abuse, depression, anxiety, distrust, and inability to form significant relationships.
   

• Prevents misinterpretation of the behaviors of grieving children and teens by educating parents/caregivers. We provide the adults present in the lives of grieving children with information and tools that help to facilitate the grieving process at home and/or school.
   

• Allows for the normalization of the changes and effects of grief by providing children an understanding of themselves and their feelings, as well as communication and coping skills that will last a lifetime.
   

• Enhances the child or teen’s well-being throughout their grief journey and their development into adulthood.
   

• Diminishes the financial burden that most families experience when seeking such services.