In the nearly two months since The Gathering Place started at Hamilton Heights Elementary (HHES), it has quickly evolved into a sanctuary to stay connected and feel hope for those who are grieving.
“Grieving can disrupt a child’s normal functioning, but helping the child work through their emotions can foster emotional healing and restoration of the child’s overall health,” explained Mary Ann Haymaker, Hamilton Heights Youth Assistance Coordinator, who, along with HHES Counselor, Nikki Wert, facilitates the weekly group. “We know that children do not grieve in the same way as adults. Our program is designed to help children work through acceptance of the loss, the associated pain and emotion involved, and learn to move forward in a healthy and functional way.”
“This year has been hard on all of us, and the grief is palpable,” Wert continued. “We felt were in a unique position to collectively engage and support them with compassion in the grieving process in a safe place to process and build relationships with others who share similar experiences. Our hope is to provide a safe place for our students (and staff) to gather, grieve, and grow together, to know they are not alone. We work with students to help them express their grief, help calm their fears without minimizing their emotion, and address their questions in a nurturing and supportive way.”
A grant from the Tony Etchison Memorial Foundation, a fund of the Hamilton County Community Foundation, provided the funding to purchase all materials for the group. Similar programs will be added to the middle school after spring break and the high school next year.
“Meeting with these children weekly and seeing their growth and friendships form has been an honor to watch and be a part of,” said Haymaker of the program, which now includes 17 students.
This new, confidential, grief support group meets weekly on Tuesdays from 2:30 to 3:10 p.m. Any student who has experienced loss at any level is welcomed and encouraged to attend.