In response to numerous calls to Pine Tree Hospice seeking grief support services for children, the Evergreen program was created. Because death profoundly affects every aspect of their lives, children and their families need peers and caring people to support them through their grief. Evergreen is modeled after The Center for Grieving Children located in Portland, Maine, founded in 1987.

Expressing feelings of sadness, anger, joy, love, and sharing memories in a safe place is part of healing and it is the foundation of the work done in peer support groups. Children, teens, young adults, and adults benefit from a supportive environment with a group of their peers who have suffered similar losses. Evergreen will provide a supportive community to foster the discovery and development of each child's own resiliency and emotional well-being.

All groups will be led by two trained volunteer facilitators who have completed 28 hours of extensive training in areas such as grief, boundaries, confidentiality, child development, age appropriate activities, stress management, safe and fun ways to physically express emotions, special issues of suicide survivors, spirituality, rituals and goodbyes. Evergreen is a peer support model and does not provide therapy or counseling.

To receive additional information about the program, please call 564-4346 or e-mail wecare@pinetreehospice.org and request an "Evergreen Packet." Families returning an application will be contacted to set up an appointment to discuss whether Evergreen can meet their needs.