Did you know that nearly 70 percent of teachers have at least one grieving student in their classes?
But…
Just 7 percent of schoolteachers have been trained to help grieving students when they return to the classroom. Providing sufficient support to these students is paramount as a child’s unresolved grief can lead to behavioral issues and poor performance in school.
Over the past decade, the New York Life Foundation has served as the largest funder of childhood bereavement support. An important part of our work in this space has been the creation of a first-of-its kind resource for K-12 educators and school personnel: grievingstudents.org. This online tool offers a comprehensive set of materials and modules to help schools better support the grieving students in their midst.
This site was developed and endorsed by the Coalition to Support Grieving Students, a collaboration of the leading K-12 education professional organizations convened by the New York Life Foundation and the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement. Attached, please find background information and a letter of endorsement from the Coalition; you can also watch this 90 second video that explains the Coalition’s mission and work.
You can preview the site here.
I’d like to attend an upcoming virtual staff meeting to introduce this informative, free resource and provide your school with additional materials and resources to support its grieving students. My presentation will take approximately 15 minutes. After our meeting, your school will be invited to become a Grief-Sensitive School. This means it will be included on a growing list of U.S. schools recognized by the Coalition, and that your school will be eligible for a $500 grant from New York Life Foundation.
Please reply to this email or call me to determine a convenient time when I can walk you through this presentation. I’m looking forward to introducing these critical grief resources to your school.
Nikisha S. Ware, Ph.D.
Agent, New York Life Insurance Company
601-572-0917