For Educators

The death of a member of a school community (i.e. student, faculty or parent) can create a crisis for the remaining students and faculty.

Providing both students and faculty with the opportunity to express their grief over the loss is crucial to the healing process. Just as we as individuals need to grieve a personal loss, so too does the school community need an opportunity to mourn the loss of one of its members. Understanding the process of grief should highlight the fact that although some of the feelings of grief may seem uncontrollable, the process of grief is not. Effectively supporting the grief process provides order and structure at a time of crisis. Perhaps even more importantly, it reinforces a critical life skill for all members of the school community - recognizing that it is important to resolve the losses we all face in life. This ability will last you and the members of your school community beyond the current crisis and can enhance an individual's ability to adapt to future crises.

The GOALs Center for Families provides training and consultation to schools and educators about the effects of loss, death, trauma and grief on students. For more information about our services please contact Kevin Duffy at (973) 800-9661 or via email at kevin@GOALsCenter.org