NCJ Number
165814
Date Published
1996
Length
155 pages
Annotation
This guidebook is intended as a "quick reference" for victim assistance professionals in their work with children, parents, school teachers and counselors, clergy members, and others as they address the needs of grieving children who have been touched by the death of a family member or close friend.
Abstract
The section on the "Preparation of the Caregiver" assumes that caregivers who are working with children will have basic education and training in grief and trauma issues. This section is designed to assist caregivers in clarifying their own responses to grief and trauma. It includes a list of positive caregiver attributes for working with grieving children. A section on "The Grieving Child" explores the typical developmental stages of children and their reactions to trauma and concludes with a discussion of how trauma reactions are related to grief reactions. In discussing "Interventions for Grieving Children," another section focuses on caregiver communication with grieving children; goals of assistance; methods of intervention; sample questions, exercises, and activities useful in working with children; support group activities; and the need for professional help with grieving children. The guidebook outlines a sample protocol for victim assistance programs and others who work with children to use in establishing guidelines for responding directly to grieving children. A 322-item bibliography