Is the CBC only for children?

Absolutely not! The CBC welcomes individuals and all members of families (ages 4 through adult) to attend our CBC groups. Our program, “Lift From Loss” was established to offer groups for younger adults (college age through their 30’s) and older adults who do not have family members attending support groups as well as caregivers who have children who attend groups.

What is your program for children and teens?

The CBC provides peer support groups for children from age 4 through teenagers. It is important to note that CBC groups are not therapy, therefore we do not provide individual therapy or counseling.

Our groups are joined by children and adolescents who have experienced the death of a parent, primary caretaker, brother, sister, friend, or other loved one because of illness, accident, suicide or homicide. Our peer support groups provide a space for individuals to share experiences with each other and with other age-appropriate peers who are also going through the grieving process. 

How much does participation cost?

We do not charge a fee for participation in our Support Groups. Groups are free for as long as participants would like to attend. We invite families and friends to make tax-deductible contributions.  Contributions are voluntary. No family is ever denied services because they cannot contribute.  Because CBC is a non-profit organization, we rely on contributions from families and the community to provide the $1600+ needed to cover the costs for each participant per year.  Because we provide support groups and not therapy, insurance policies do not cover our services and we never ask for insurance information from participants.

Is there a long waiting list?

No. Registration is ongoing.  From the initial call and registration, an individual or family will be able to attend group once the application, registration and phone orientation is completed.

How long after a death do I need to wait before joining a group?

Participants can call and start the process for participation as soon as they think they are ready. We believe each person and family grieves differently, and they are the best judge of when they are ready to deal with the death in a peer support group forum. We do ask that the person who experienced the loss contacts CBC directly. The reason for this is often a caring friend or colleague may make the call to CBC, but the person grieving is not ready to join a group and when our team reaches out, they are often confused and could become upset. 

How long should I expect to attend groups?

We believe in the uniqueness of the intensity and duration of grief for each individual and family. Groups are open-ended, meaning participants may choose when to start and attend for as long as they wish.  We strongly recommend a minimum commitment of 4 consecutive sessions. We have found this to be effective in helping children and families with the process.

We understand schedule changes may happen therefore if a participant will be absent for a group, we expect them to reach out to their group coordinator to notify them of the absence. Continuity of attendance and punctuality is important to build the peer group into a supportive environment for healing. Participants can attend groups for as long as they would like to attend. We have had some individuals attend groups for years after a loss because they find the group to be comforting and understanding of their loss.

What if my child/teen needs private therapy?

We maintain a list of resources to refer individuals to therapists who provide services to children, teens, and/or adults with grief issues. At your request, we will provide you with contact information about individual therapists and resources. We do not endorse therapists but will provide you information by which you can select a therapist for your particular needs.