Join us as we
Children’s Grief Awareness Month serves as a poignant reminder of the importance of acknowledging and supporting grieving children and their families. According to the JAG Institute’s 2023 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model Report, an alarming statistic underscores the urgency of this effort: 1 in 12 children, or approximately 6 million children, in the United States will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18. The profound impact of this loss cannot be understated.
In recognition of Children’s Grief Awareness Month this November, the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG) is coming together with its dedicated members to “flip the script” on grief. What is Flip the Script? Flipping the Script references a shift in perspective or a change in the way a situation is typically handled. When someone “flips the script,” they are taking a different approach, and this November, we will work together to flip common grief scripts honoring Children’s Grief Awareness Month. We know that many of the traditional expressions of sympathy can be unhelpful or even hurtful to grievers. Join us as we inform, encourage, and support individuals in this journey.
This campaign was developed collaboratively with Dougy Center, Eluna, Experience Camps, Judi’s House, and the NACG. Together with everyone who participates in the campaign, we are identifying as the National Movement for Children’s Grief Awareness, and we hope you will join us.
How to Flip the Script this November
Practice #FliptheScript
Hover over the boxes below to learn how to flip the script based on what we may say, already listed in the box.
"Your [person] wouldn’t want you to be sad."
"It is okay that you are feeling sad. We can talk about it if you want."
"I completely get what you're going through."
"Grief is different for everyone. What has it been like for you?"
"You need to be strong."
"You might feel like you need to be strong, but you don’t have to be with me."
"You must be so sad and really miss your person."
"I don’t know what you’re going through, but I want to listen if you want to share."
"Everything happens for a reason."
"When people die they can leave a space in our life. What’s something that’s comforting right now?"
"The holidays must be so hard for you."
"I’m so happy to see you. I know the holidays can be hard after someone dies."
This toolkit includes everything you will need to share the scripts in your social posts throughout the month.
Become a Partner in Flip the Script
Become a part of the campaign by sharing resources like graphics, social posts, and ways to flip the script.
What does it mean to participate? Participating individuals or organizations will:
- On the dates listed on the scripts, post the flip for that day on your social media. All scripts are shared in the partner toolkit You can create your own graphics or use graphics shared on this page. (We will add to these across the month of October)
- Use the hashtags #flipthescript and #childhoodgrief in your posts
- Tag NACG in your posts (@childrengrieve)
To access the form to join the National Movement for Children’s Grief Awareness and commit to these three actions, click on the “Become a Partner” button below. All partners will be listed at the bottom of this webpage. Templates, texts, and scripts are being provided in advance so you can prepare, but remember, we don’t share graphics until November 1! We want to get the maximum impact in launching the campaign together.
Steering Committee:
Dougy Center
- Library of Support Resources
- Featured resource:
What to Say Instead
Eluna
- Eluna Resource Center
- Featured Resource:
10 Things Grieving Children Want You to Know
Judi’s House
- Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model (CBEM)
- Featured Resource: CBEM Data Tables
NACG
- NACG Resource Library
- Featured Resource: Guide to Listening on Repeat
Partners:
- Adam’s House
- Agrace Grief Support Center
- ALEX CARES, INC.
- Amy Dulac
- Angela Hospice Grief Care
- Anica Marcum
- Anitra Jeanette Green
- Anne Smith
- Annie’s Hope- The Center for Grieving Kids
- Archdiocese of New Orleans Grief Ministry
- Betty Garcia, LCSW
- Blankies 4 My Buddies Foundation
- Bo’s Place
- Boys & Girls Clubs of the Fox Valley – Center for Grieving Children
- Bridges Center for Grieving Children
- Bridges of Hope
- Brighter Days Family Grief Center MN
- Brooke’s Place
- Browning High School
- C Elizabeth Dougherty
- Camp Erin Boston
- Camp Hands of Hope
- Capital Caring Health
- Carol Highland-Fritz
- Casey Center for Community Counseling
- Center for Loss and Bereavement
- Children of Angels
- Children’s Bereavement Center | Lift From Loss
- Children’s Bereavement Center Rio Grande Valley
- Children’s Grief Center of El Paso
- Children’s Grief Center Great Lakes Bay Region
- Children’s Health Bereavement Care Program
- Christine Linnehan
- Cindy Blatt-Panek, LCSW, CT
- Clare Duplace
- Common Ground Grief Center
- Communities In Schools of the Permian Basin
- Community Grief Center
- Companions on a Journey Grief Support
- Coping 4 Life
- Courtney Hickey, LCSW
- Creating Space Therapy
- Cynthia Tyson, Ph.D.,MSW, LISW-S
- Danny Clark, LCSW
- Deborah Sydlowski
- Dusk to Dawn Bereavement Services
- Dr. Damita LaRue
- Drew Michael Taylor Foundation
- Ele’s Place
- Elijah’s Place
- Emerald Pine Grief & Trauma Services LLC
- Emma’s Place, Staten Island Grief and Loss Center For Children And Families
- Empower
- Erin Hollister
- Erin’s House for Grieving Children
- Four Seasons Compass
- Fox Valley Hands of Hope
- Friends of Aine Center for Grieving Children and Families
- Friends of Citrus and the Nature Coast
- FRIENDS WAY
- Full Circle Grief Center
- Gabby’s Grief Center
- GALE Grief and Loss Education
- Gerard’s House
- Gigi
- Gina Janc, LMFT
- Golden Hope Ministries, Inc.
- Good Grief of Northwest Ohio
- Good Grief Parenting
- Grace Lynum
- Grief@Home
- Grief Geeks
- Grief Sensitive Tools – TCBG Enterprises
- Guardian Angel Foundation
- Guardian Lane – Virtual Grief Projects
- Hamilton’s Academy of Grief & Loss
- Hand in Hand Grief Support
- Hands Holding Hearts
- Hazel Woodward, LPC
- Healing Heart
- Healing House – Hope for Grieving Children
- Healing Patch Children’s Grief Program
- Healthy Communities Coalition
- Heartlinks Grief Center at Family Hospice
- HEARTplay Program
- Hearts Connected LLC
- Hearts of Hope
- Heather Hopf
- Henry Ford SandCastles Grief Support Program
- Hetrick-Martin Institute, Inc.
- Hope Floats Healing & Wellness Center
- Hospice of Lenawee
- Hummingbird Centre for Hope
- Ilise Cohn
- Inner Sojourn Counselling – Patti Broadfoot
- Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center
- Jennifer Caballero
- Jessica Hotchkiss
- Jessica’s House
- Jillian Blueford, PhD, LPC, NCC, FT
- Josie’s Place for Bereaved Youth and Families
- Journey of Hope Grief Support Center
- Kaela Rae Vance, LPCC-S, LLC
- Kansas City Hospice & Palliative Care
- Kara
- Karen Gurian, MD
- Karen L Goldman
- Karen Monts
- Kate Favaro
- Kate’s Heart
- Kathleen Bohannon
- The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families
- Kids’ Grief and Healing
- Kids’ Haven: A Center for Grieving Children
- Kidzcope
- KinderMourn
- Kristi Rutledge
- Kristin James Consulting
- Lea Ann Reeves-Gollihue
- Let Grace In
- Liam Fitzpatrick
- Lion’s Heart Grief Center
- Live Like Phillip Foundation
- Luke William Hahn Foundation
- Lulu Verneuil
- Mandy Bair
- Marcella Hayes, LPC-S, Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas
- Marguerite Metzendorf
- Marielyn Smith
- Mary E Plouffe, Ph.D.
- Meadows Mental Health Policy Institute
- Michael’s Place
- Miss Suzanne of Child Life Grief Notes
- Monica Gonzalez
- Mourning Hope Grief Center
- Mourning Sun Children’s Center
- Ms. C
- Myra’s Kids Foundation
- Nariah’s Way Foundation
- New Hope for Kids
- New Song Center for Grieving Children
- North Star Care Community
- Northwest Community Hospital
- NYS Tribute Foundation
- Olivia Chan Foundation
- Olivia’s House: A Grief and Loss Center for Children
- OUR HOUSE Grief Support Center
- Park Nicollet Foundation Growing Through Grief
- Pathways
- Pathways Center for Grief & Loss
- Pediatric Palliative Care Coalition
- Peta Minerof LPC, ATR
- Peter’s Place
- Pillars Community Health | Buddy’s Place
- Pioneer Elementary School
- Progress West Hospital
- P.U.N.T. Pediatric Cancer Collaborative
- Rainbow Hunting
- RaRa Foundation
- Rays of Hope Children’s Grief Centre
- reimaginegrief.org
- Rick’s Place
- Riverbend Grief and Movement Therapy LLC
- Roula’s Kids: A Space for Grieving Families, Inc.
- Ryan’s Place
- Safe Harbor
- Sarah Mayfield
- Seasons Centre for Grieving Children
- Shannon Traore
- Sharing Kindness
- Shimmering Wings
- Society for the Protection and Care of Children
- Sophie & Madigan’s Playground
- Speaking Grief (WPSU)
- Specialized Alternatives for Families and Youth of America, Inc.
- STAR Children’s Bereavement Services
- Stephanie Heitkamper
- Supporting Kidds
- Susie Q’s Kids
- Suzie Price
- The Center for Grieving Children
- The Cove Center for Grieving Children
- The Dalton House
- The Children’s Room
- The Godspeed Project
- The Good Grief Patrol
- The Grief Center of New Mexico
- The Grief Center of Southwest Colorado
- The Grief Club of Minnesota
- The Harbor Lights Foundation
- The Healing Center
- The Healing Place
- The Life Center
- The Nightingale Centre for Grieving Children, Youth and Families
- The Sharing Place
- The Stephan Center
- The Tristesse Grief Center
- The Wendt Center for Loss and Healing
- The ZOLA Experience.org
- Therapy Heals
- This Is Why
- Tides Program, Inc.
- Tomorrow’s Rainbow
- Tu Nidito Children and Family Services
- Two Brave Cubs Finding Help when Children Grieve
- Valerie’s House, Inc.
- Valerie’s House Pensacola
- Vanessa M Leon-Verde
- Velma H Walker
- Veronica Krause
- Wayfinder Family Co.
- Widowed Parent Institute
- Willow House
- WinterSpring