General Questions
Adult Counseling and Support Groups
Cost for Services
Resources
Children Counseling and Support Groups
Funding
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| General Questions
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Q: What is KinderMourn?
A: KinderMourn is a United Way agency that provides a program of professionally guided support groups, counseling services and community outreach programs for families experiencing the death of a child and for children grieving the death of a family member or friend.
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Q: When was KinderMourn established?
A: In 1978, Charlottean Lucy Christopher suffered the devastating losses of her child and her brother within six months. Alarmed that Charlotte had no agencies for grieving parents and families, Christopher developed the vision of KinderMourn.
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Q: Are there other organizations like KinderMourn any where else in the United States?
A: There are other grief centers in the United States. KinderMourn has a unique qualities which make the organization one of a kind.
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Adult Counseling and Support Groups
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Q: What do I need to do to get support?
A: You must call for an appointment. A grief counselor will sit down with you for an initial visit. Together you will decide which services are right for you.
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Q: Can I join a support group right away?
A: You must first meet with a staff counselor. Together you will decide what is the best for you.
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Q: Do I have to join a support group?
A: No. You can meet with a counselor for individual couseling and support.
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Q: How many people are in the adult support groups?
A: 7-12 individuals |
Q: When are the support group meetings and how often do they meet?
A: They are held in the evening once a week. KinderMourn occasionally has a support group that meets monthly or biweekly
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Q: Who leads the support group meetings?
A: Two professional counselors facilitate each group.
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Q: Are there support groups for specific types of death, such as cancer, suicide, etc.?
A: No. KinderMourn offers two types of support groups: The Grieving Parents Support Group, for parents who have lost a child at any age and the Empty Arms Support Group, for parents who experience the death of baby at anytime during pregnancy.
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Q: Does KinderMourn counsel families who will be losing a child due to a terminal illness?
A: KinderMourn will generally refer these individuals to Hospice, although a KM counselor will contact the parents and discuss all options.
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Q: Does KinderMourn offer support to friends, family or co-workers of grieving families?
A: Yes. KinderMourn offers guidance to anyone supporting bereaved parents and children. The KinderMourn staff conducts workshops and talks to groups in the work place, church groups, health care groups, funeral staffs, and groups of friends of grieving parents and children. Visit the "Community and Professional Workshops" area of our site for further information about these opportunities.
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Q: How long can I be in a support group?
A: The initial commitment for the Grieving Parent Support Group is eight weeks. Most parents attend weekly meetings for 6 months to two-years or more. The initial commitment for the Empty Arms support group is for six weeks. However, parents involved in this group can elect to continue for several more weeks or as long as they wish to attend.
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Cost for Services
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Q: Does it cost anything meeting a counselor or being in a support group?
A: There is no charge for the initial visit. Fees for additional support services are based on a sliding scale. It is KinderMourn's hope that no family or individual will feel discouraged from contacting KinderMourn because of financial concerns. Scholarships are available for those experiencing financial stress.
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Resources
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Q: Does KinderMourn have resources onfor grieving parents and children?
A: Yes. There is a library at KinderMourn. Individuals may come to our facility and check out books, tapes and videos. We have a limited number of books for sale.
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Q: Does KinderMourn have a website?
A: Yes. www.kindermourn.org
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Q: Does KinderMourn send out publications?
A: Yes, three newsletters a year and an annual report.
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Children Counseling and Support Groups
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Q: What is the age range for the Grieving Children's Program?
A: School age children to young adulthood.
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Q: Are there support groups for children?
A: Yes. They are held at the KinderMourn home. Individual counseling sessions are also available.
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Q: Does KinderMourn work with children in the community?
A: Yes. the Helping the Hurt Outreach Program has been established to provide bereavement support to children who cannot access KinderMourn's in-house support services due to economic factors and transportation issues. KinderMourn's counselors conduct ten- week support groups for giriving children in the Charlotte, Mecklenbury schools. There are an average of 20 schools (Elementary, Middle and High Schools) per semester that offer KinderMourn support groups for grieving children.
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Funding
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Q: What is the Friends Campaign?
A: This is a yearly campaign that is sent to individuals in the Spring.
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Q: What is this year's campaign goal?
A: $15,000 |
Q: What will the money be used for?
A: The funding will be used to support current programs and the overall operating budget of the organization.
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Q: Can I designate my money to go to a particular KinderMourn Program?
A: Yes. KinderMourn does allow individuals to designate their gifts to specific projects. You can designate to the following: Grieving Parents Program; Empty Arms Program; Grieving Children's Program; Helping the Hurt Outreach, and Library Fund.
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Q: How is this campaign different than the "Building Hope, Healing Hearts Community Campaign?"
A: The Capital Campaign to build a new addition to the KinderMourn house was a one-time campaign to raise 1.3 million to provide continued growth and development of programs and services. Visit "Watch Us Grow" for more information about the construction of the Grieving Children's Home.
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Q: Is my gift tax-deductible?
A: Yes, if you itemize deductions. Any contributions made prior to January 1 of each year can be itemized on your income tax return.
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Q: How much funding comes from United Way to support KinderMourn?
A: Approximately 40% of KM's budget comes from United Way funding.
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