Community Need for Grief’s Journey Continues

The total number of participants receiving Grief’s Journey’s (www.griefsjourney.org) free grief support programming grew 20% from 1,603 in 2016 to 1,924 by year-end 2017. Of those served, 55% were youth (ages 3-18) and 45% were adults. Those categories had 35% and 6% growth, respectively. The largest referral source continues to be word-of-mouth with 28% of participants being encouraged to come to Grief’s Journey by friends or family members, followed by therapists/counselors (19%), school personnel (15%), and doctors/hospitals (11%).

Participation growth can be attributed to several factors, including an additional 349 individuals served off-site in 2017 (439 in 2017 vs. 90 in 2016). Partnerships with community organizations yielded satellite services at Omaha Healthy Start, Completely Kids (Norris Middle School), Antioch Baptist, Lewis & Clark Middle School, Omaha North High School, and the Latino Center of the Midlands. To further the agency’s reach, staff hours were added to the Grief’s Journey team, which helped to rally the 250+ volunteers who lead the support programming.

“2017 was a year of bolstered self-awareness. More than ever, we are resolved to living out our commitment to serving all who grieve,” said Rebecca Turner, CEO of Grief’s Journey. “This means no longer looking at programs produced off-site as ‘bonus programs’ reserved for when we find the time and resources. This is our work; it’s not in addition to our work, and we’re proud to be able to respond to our community’s needs in this way.”

As the region’s cornerstone for grief support, Grief’s Journey provides free peer support programs as well as training, education and consultation throughout Nebraska and Iowa. For more information, visit www.griefsjourney.org.