Grief Resources for Families
Guidance and Tools to Navigate Through Grief
Willow House connects you with different types of resources for yourself, friends, family, students, and clients who are grieving.Featured Resource
For Adults Helping Children Cope with Death
The following tips are intended to help parents, family members and caregivers provide nursing support to children who are coping with a death.
• Allow children to be the teachers about their grief experiences: Give children the opportunity to tell their story and share their feelings; be a good listener.… READ MORE
Social Security Benefits for Children After the Death of a Parent
If a child loses a parent who worked and paid into Social Security, that child may be eligible for monthly Survivor benefits. These benefits aren’t just for biological children, they can also be paid to stepchildren, adopted children, grandchildren, and step-grandchildren under certain circumstances. In most cases, these benefits continue until the child turns 18 or graduates from high school, whichever comes later. Additionally, adults who became disabled before age 22 may be eligible for childhood Survivor benefits at any age. Applying for Survivor benefits is not something you can do online. Instead, you’ll need to call the Social Security office or visit your local Social Security office in person.
To set up an appointment, call 1-800-772-1213 (TTY: 1-800-325-0778) between 8:00 a.m. and 7:00 p.m., Monday through Friday. Wait times are usually shorter early in the day (before 10 a.m.), later in the afternoon (after 4 p.m.), or later in the week (Wednesday to Friday). Most appointments can be scheduled within 30 to 60 days.
When you call, have the Social Security number (SSN) of the parent who passed away ready. The representative will let you know what other information you’ll need for your appointment.
It’s important to contact the Social Security Office as soon as possible after a parent’s death. The date you reach out can affect when the child’s benefits will begin, so don’t delay.
For more information about Social Security Survivor benefits for children, visit www.ssa.gov/survivor and review the Social Security office publication, Benefits for Children at www.ssa.gov/pubs/EN-05-10085.
Downloadable Resources
Explore these resources and educational materials for mental health and school professionals. These resources can benefit all ages who are grieving and all types of loss.
 Supporting Children ToolKit |  Dougy Center |  Google drive of activities |
The Willow House Newsletter
Willow House Connections is our quarterly newsletter featuring educational information and resources, stories about our families, volunteers and other supporters, news of upcoming events and programs, and much more.
Need help finding a resource?
If you are looking for information or resources on a specific grief topic please reach out to us and we can help you find what you are looking for. Submit an inquiry or email [email protected].So no child grieves alone.
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