More Than a Summit: Bringing New Jersey Together to Support Grieving Youth
On May 6th, Good Grief was honored to collaborate on the Healing in Community Grief Summit, a gathering that brought together educators, school-based mental health professionals, community organizations, advocates, and youth-serving leaders committed to better supporting grieving children, teens, and families across New Jersey.
With more than 100 attendees, the day created a rare and meaningful opportunity for people across systems and communities to come together around grief support in a way that felt both practical and deeply human.
Through workshops, conversations, and networking, participants explored how grief impacts students, families, schools, and communities; and how stronger collaboration can help ensure young people feel seen and supported after loss.
What made the summit especially impactful was the accessibility of the experience. Many attendees may not otherwise have had the opportunity to participate in a grief-focused gathering of this kind, connect directly with grief organizations and peers doing similar work, or spend dedicated time learning about grief-informed approaches within schools and community settings.
The summit also provided an opportunity for New York Life to share more about the Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative and engage directly with educators and community professionals interested in expanding grief-informed support within their own settings.
A highlight of the day was the keynote address by Laura Hinds, MSW, LCSW, “Supporting Grieving Children and Families Through a Trauma-Informed Lens.” Her presentation helped set a thoughtful and compassionate tone for the summit, inviting attendees to reflect more deeply on the ways grief and trauma intersect in the lives of children, teens, and families. The keynote grounded the day in both empathy and action, reinforcing the importance of creating environments where grief can be acknowledged, understood, and supported.
Events like the Grief Summit also demonstrate what becomes possible when organizations come together around a common purpose. We hope to continue building on this momentum by partnering with additional organizations and communities in new regions throughout New Jersey, helping create more opportunities for accessible grief education, training, and connection.
We are deeply grateful to NJ4S, the Paterson Healing Collective, New York Life, keynote speaker Laura Hinds, MSW, LCSW, our presenters, partners, and all who helped make the summit possible. We are proud to be part of a growing movement ensuring grieving children and teens feel seen, supported, and never alone.
About Good Grief, Inc.
Good Grief is a non-profit organization whose mission is to build resilience in children, strengthen families, and empower communities to grow from loss and adversity. With centers in Princeton and Morristown, New Jersey, Good Grief provides free, open-ended support to children, teens, and young adults after the death of a parent or sibling. Through school and community programs across the country, Good Grief helps children and their communities build resilience to overcome loss and adversity.
View photos from the day:
https://photos.app.goo.gl/LoYS3BzvrouNP2ub8
