Sandcastles Grief program sets the stage for kids to learn "It's OK not to be OK", that our feelings are normal, that we all have feelings of loss and may show our feelings differently, and it's OK to talk about your feelings. They are making the situation normal and teaching kids how to deal with their feelings positively. Keep up the good work. Susie Q's Kids is a proud sponsor providing comfort bags, bears, and blankets for the kids to thrive on their grief journeys.
SandCastles is an exceptional program that provides a safe place and amazing support for children, teens and their families as they navigate through their grief after experiencing a death. The SandCastles staff brings compassion, care and knowledge to their support role. It is an honor to volunteer for the program, and work side by side with the staff and the other volunteers. Grief is very personal, and unique to each individual. It is truly a gift to walk with someone on their grief journey. A very humbling, rewarding and special kind of volunteer experience!
I have really enjoyed my involvement with Sandcastles as it’s a very needed program for an often neglected demographic but what I couldn’t stand was dealing with their leadership. Henry Ford as a whole seems to always have controlling and patronizing leadership staff who seem to think there’s only their way to function and wants to chew you out in a childish way if you don’t do things their way and so, I try to avoid them as much as possible.
My nine year old daughter and I attend the twice monthly support meetings run by qualified social work staffers. She is in a group of children, of her age, who have lost a parent to death. I attend the group for parents. My daughter finds herself in the other children and their stories. She doesn't feel "different" and "alone" as much knowing that there are other children out there whose mother or father have died. She enjoys the exercises and activities her group participates in and makes sure we attend the meetings, getting upset if we have a conflict. She's attended their summer weekend camp -Camp Erin- twice now. She loves the facilitators, activities and memorial activities at the camp. It was the first overnight camp she attended and she leaves it looking forward to the next summer.