KENTUCKY CENTER FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN AND FAMILIES INC

Description

The Kentucky Center for Grieving Children and Families, Inc. (KCGCF) is a registered 501(c)3 charitable nonprofit organization (Candid Platinum Certified for 2023) founded in 2020 by Leila Salisbury. Our History: Parent of a twice bereaved child, Salisbury had the opportunity to start her experience with grief support for children as a client of a children’s bereavement center in Jackson, MS. In July 2021, the KCGCF embarked on a collaborative pilot program with 7 Family & Youth Resource Centers offices in Fayette County Public Schools to address children’s bereavement in their schools. By 2023, the school-based program sites had grown to 15 schools.
Our Programs: Through a combination of direct services through grief support programming and education and advocacy surrounding the issue of children's grief, the KCGCF works to create wider networks of support and grief knowledge. The KCGCF offers training in bereavement support strategies for children and adolescents to schools, community and mental health organizations, volunteers, and other professionals working with youth. The KCGCF directly serves children ages 4-18 and their adults/parents/caregivers through its ongoing community-based grief support groups in Fayette County. The organization serves K-12 schools through an 11-week school-based curriculum. Finally, it offers an 8-week evidence-based teen-led online support group for Kentucky teens 13-18 with death loss. KCGCF services are free for children and families.