Latest News Interested in becoming a volunteer? We are interested in hearing from you! All prosepctive volunteers are asked to attend a group interview. This 90 minute meeting provides the opportunity for you to learn more about the program, the required training and for us to get to meet you. If you would like information about the group interview please send us an email at info@healingcenterkids.org Include your: name                      telephone numbers                      street address                      city/state/zipcode The next group interview for prospective volunteers will be conducted on July 31, 2008. Time is 6:00p.m. - 7:30p.m. Upon receipt of your email we will confirm your participation, adivse the specific location for the meeting and share the class schedule for the next 25 hour training planned for Novemeber 2008 We look forward to hearing from you!	WHAT IS THE HEALING CENTER? The Healing Center is a place that provides clinical bereavement support groups for children and adolescents (5 - 18 year olds) who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, significant person. The death of the loved one may be from illness, accident, violent death, suicide, sudden death or disaster. Children participate in age appropriate groups, attending one day, every other week. Each support group meets for 75 minutes. There is also a group for teens that have experienced parental death and are being raised by their grandparents. In each group, the participants have the opportunity to express their feelings and thoughts through talk and play activities. Each support group is led by staff person and facilitated with trained volunteers. DO YOU OFFER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR THE CARE GIVING ADULTS ? Yes. There is a concurrent adult support group for each child/teen support group. This group is facilitated by a staff social worker. HOW MUCH DOES IT COST? The Healing Center does not charge a fee. We rely on contributions from individuals, philanthropies, corporations and foundations to cover the costs for each child. Because we provide support groups and not therapy, insurance policies do not cover our services. We invite families to make a tax-deductible monthly pledge. The pledge is entirely voluntary. A family is never denied services because they cannot or choose not to contribute. IS THERE A WAITING LIST FOR THE GROUPS? Generally, yes.   WHEN SHOULD A FAMILY CALL THE HEALING CENTER? A family can call and start the process for participation as soon as they think they are ready. Each person and family grieves differently. The family is the best judge of when they are ready to deal with their loss in a support group. HOW LONG IS A FAMILY EXPECTED TO ATTEND GROUPS? We believe in the uniqueness of the intensity and duration of grief for each individual family. Children’s groups meet every other week. When a family is enrolled in a group, we expect regular attendance as consistency builds a supportive environment for kids to work with their grief and help one another. WHAT IF A FAMILY REQUESTS INDIVIDUAL COUNSELING ? The Healing Center will provide family sessions on a time-limited basis. WHAT IF A FAMILY REQUEST INDIVIDUAL THERAPY? We will provide names of therapists who counsel children and adults. HOW DOES ONE ENROLL A FAMILY AT THE HEALING CENTER? • Parents/grandparents/guardians/care-giving adults please call The Healing Center at 718.780.1899. We will spend a few minutes talking with you about who died, the circumstances of the death and about your family. In addition, the person you talk with will share information about The Healing Center. We will always try to answer questions you may have about our program. We will arrange for you to come to our next New Families Meeting. • School guidance counselors, social service workers and mental health practitioners  please advise the care-giving adult to call us at 718.780.1899. We will ask for some family information during this telephone conversation and arrange for the family to attend our next New Families Meeting. WHAT HAPPENS AT THE NEW FAMILY MEETINGS ? The program is explained to families who are coming to The Healing Center for the first time. Questions are answered. The children tour the playrooms. The adults learn about the application process for the Center and receive the necessary forms. After the meeting, we suggest the family discuss whether or not they want to participate. Please note, coming to an interview does not mean the child becomes a participant. We encourage the adults to allow the child/teen to express their feelings and to cooperatively make the final decision.