Uplift offers free therapeutic grief support groups to youth in grades K–12ᵗʰ and their adult caregivers after the death of someone close to them. Family Services grief groups take place in the evenings and may be in-person or virtual via Zoom. Some groups use a peer-support model where group members support each other. Other groups use a family model where the family supports each member.
All groups do not require insurance, do not require payment, and are available to all regardless of immigration status.
Join Uplift this summer for free grief-centered activities! All programs are open to current participants as well as their family and friends.
For youth and caregivers of all ages, including family and friends
Uplift’s all-ages Family Art Nights are an opportunity to make art in honor of your grief and to be in community with other youth, caregivers, and families. All Art Nights will be led by Uplift clinicians and a light meal will be provided for all attendees.
Save the date for an exhibition during Children’s Grief Awareness Month on Friday, November 7. This exhibition will showcase the artwork you made over the summer to honor your stories!
All Family Art Nights will open with a grief banner decoration activity and will close with a balloon release.
- Mask Making and Mini Messages
- Thursday, June 26th, 6-7:30 PM
- PHMC West Philadelphia
(4601 Market St, Room 1056, Philadelphia, PA 19139)
- Memorial Frames and Grief Canvases
- Thursday, July 24th, 6-7:30 PM
- Philadelphia Charter School for Arts & Sciences
(1197 Haworth St, Philadelphia, PA 19124)
- Memorial T-Shirts and Felt Pillows
- Thursday, August 21st, 6-7:30 PM
- Johnson Youth Services
(1919 Medary Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19141)
- Mask Making and Mini Messages
RSVP by filling out our Google Form or email Samantha Anthony at samantha@upliftphilly.org.
For youth and caregivers of all ages, including family and friends
Meet Uplift’s clinicians at the Philly Goat Project for free grief walks through Awbury Arboretum’s nature trails led by grief coach Naila Francis. The program includes a guided meditation, a thirty-minute walk through the arboretum (with optional goat companionship) and opportunities to reflect on your grief. All are welcome to join, regardless of loss and regardless of time since the loss.
All programs held at The Farm at Awbury (6336 Ardleigh St, Philadelphia, PA 19138)
- Summer Grief Walk: Sunday, July 13th, 12-2 PM
(Rain date: Sunday, July 20th, 12-2 PM) - Fall Grief Walk: Saturday, September 20th, 12-2 PM
(Rain date: Sunday, September 21st, 12-2 PM)
- Summer Grief Walk: Sunday, July 13th, 12-2 PM
No reservation needed! The Grief Walk program begins promptly at 12 PM.
Questions? Call or text the Philly Goat Project at 215-703-8057.
For rising 8th graders to rising 12th graders, including friends and family members
Stay in touch with friends and make new ones! Play games like Screen Pop and Pick-A-Wheel or make art and music together. All Teen Hangout Nights will take place over Zoom.
- Game Night: Thursday, July 17th, 6-7:15 PM
- Create Night: Thursday, August 14th, 6-7:15 PM
Text CJ Roseberry at 267-289-2069 or email CJ@UpliftPhilly.org to receive a Zoom link.
Grief support groups are available for children, teens, and young adults, and are separated by the developmental age of the participants. Development levels are categorized by grade level, even when some children or teens may not be attending school. Groups last for about one hour and meet each week for five weeks.
Grief groups take place between the end of September and the end of May. There is no waiting list to join a Family Services grief group. Families who are interested in groups after a cycle begins will be enrolled in the next available cycle.
- Come Together! Groups for children in grades K–ʳᵈ to attend with an adult caregiver.
- Older Children: Groups for children in grades 4ᵗʰ–7ᵗʰ.
- Teens: Groups for youth in grades 8ᵗʰ–12ᵗʰ.
- Caregivers: Groups for adults (18+) who are supporting a grieving child, including parents, grandparents, foster parents, uncles/aunts, and legal guardians.
Specialty Grief Groups are held at select times during the program year.
- Español Family: Groups for Spanish-speaking children and their caregivers.
- LGBTQIA+: Groups for families with a member in the community who are grieving. Family members are also welcome to participate in General Grief Groups.
- Resilient Parenting for Bereaved Families: Groups for adult caregivers who are supporting a grieving child and want to learn parenting tools. RPBF groups meet each week for 1.5 hours for 10 weeks. Caregivers must commit to attend all 10 sessions.
Direct Referrals Grief Groups only accept referrals through direct channels and are not open to the public.
- Growing Resilience in Teens: For children/teens 8 – 18 who are referred by social workers at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
- GRIT Caregivers: For caregivers whose child was referred to GRIT via CHOP.
- The Philadelphia Juvenile Justice Services Center: For youth who are at PJJSC.
- School-based groups: Held during the school day at partnering schools. For more information, visit In-School Grief Groups.
Uplift’s clinicians are able to answer questions, facilitate sign-ups for grief groups, and connect you with other resources.
- Translation services are available in over 100 languages.
- Youth 14+ years old do not require parental permission to place a call or sign up for services.
- Services are available to all, regardless of immigration status.
To sign up for grief support groups for you and your family, an Uplift clinician will start the intake process by asking a few questions. These questions include the caregiver’s name and contact information, the youth’s name, and their availability for a return call from a Family Services clinician to complete the enrollment.
Professionals looking to refer a family for Uplift services are also welcome to call the Philly HopeLine.
When calling the Philly HopeLine, please let us know good times for a clinician to call the caregiver. Calls during the evening hours (after 5pm) can be scheduled).
Enrollment for grief groups is completed over the phone. This enrollment call can take between 30 minutes and 2 hours, depending on the family or individual’s needs and circumstances. To better understand how Uplift can support you in group, the clinician will ask questions about your child, yourself, and the death’s impact on your family.
During the enrollment call, Uplift’s Family Services clinicians speak directly with a caregiver. The child does not need to be present. If your child or teen is 14 years of age or older, they are able to sign up by themselves.
Please use a private area during this appointment by phone. Intake information is kept confidential, meaning that we do not share this information with others outside of Uplift. Uplift may be required by law to disclose your information without your consent. This is shared with you during the call.
Once you are enrolled, you will receive an email with information about your groups.
If you are attending an in-person grief group, please plan to arrive to the space at least 5 to 10 minutes before the start of group. This will allow you to meet others, settle in, and be ready to start and end on time. An Uplift clinician with clinical intern(s) and/or trained volunteer(s) will also be part of the group. You do not need to bring anything with you: Uplift offers light snacks and will provide all the materials necessary for the group’s activities.
If you are attending a virtual grief group, youth or families can use a smartphone, tablet, or other electronic device with internet and WiFi. We ask attendees to join us on Zoom by logging in to the meeting link that will be emailed to you about five minutes before start time. An Uplift clinician with clinical intern(s) and/or trained volunteer(s) will be part of group. Bring paper and drawing tools to the group to participate in the activities. Try to limit distractions in the home by keeping other screens off and using a private space. Group attendees may find it helpful to have water nearby.