Purpose
We believe that all children, adolescents and their family members should have the freedom to express their feelings associated with loss in a safe environment. We are hopeful that through our peer support programs and educational opportunities, children and teens will be able to learn to cope and adjust to the many changes in their life.
Vision
Providing information, peer support, education opportunities and a place for children and their family to learn about life and living as well as death and dying.
Program
The Solace Tree is a non-profit org
anization that serves children, teens and adults in the Northern Nevada and Central California. All the children and teens served by The Solace Tree are coping with overwhelming grief issues from loss due to illness and death.
The Solace Tree is the only agency in Northern Nevada specializing in and providing grief support services for children, teens and their family members. Our services are unique in that we offer information, referrals, education, and resources to professionals, and educators working with family members who are experiencing loss.
Below is a list of services we offer free to families and professionals working with bereaved children and teens:
- Family consultation
- Peer support groups for children and teens, ages 2 – 18 and 19 – 24
- Cancer support groups for children and teens, ages 6 – 17
- Spanish language services
- Grief workshops
- Grief camps
- Cancer camps
- Lending library of more than 2,000 books and journals on grief and loss
- Continuing medical Education
- Continuing Education Units
- Speakers bureau
- Volunteer training
- Child and infant loss resource center
Why do we need a place like The Solace Tree?
Most children will have experienced the death of a loved one by the end of high school. Unresolved grief in children, and teens, can cause depression, violence, truancy, eating disorders, alcoholism, drug abuse, anxiety, and suicide. We help provide life affirming skills so that families may continue their lives with hope, confidence and strength. The Solace Tree is a place where children take care of children.
Why are peer support groups important for grieving children and teens?
Children deal with grief in a unique way, and their path toward healing is different than adults. Who can children talk to about their loss? Who can understand a child going through the many changes in their life who have cancer or who have someone in their life who has cancer? Their friends often shy away because they don’t know what to say. Children and adolescents who are not allowed to express their emotions and grief bury their pain. Without a model for talking and sharing about their issues, they often find themselves feeling lost and without hope. Children and teens who attend The Solace Tree are able to share their experiences with others who have have cancer, living with someone who has cancer, or has lost a loved one – thereby normalizing their feelings of grief and mourning, creating a healthy grieving process.
Why should parents and caregivers be involved?
The Solace Tree peer support groups for adults enable parents and caregivers to better understand the bereavement process through the eyes of their children. Within this supportive environment, adults share their own thoughts and feelings to normalize their grief experiences for themselves and their families.
How long is a family expected to attend groups?
We believe in the uniqueness of the intensity and duration of grief for each individual and family. Children and teens choose when to start and when to stop attending. When a family is enrolled in a group, we expect regular attendance. A family is expected to call if they must be absent. Continuity is important to build the peer group into a supportive environment for grief work.
When can a family call for support?
A family can call and start the process for participation as soon as they are ready. We believe each family member grieves differently and the family is the best judge of when they are ready to deal with the death in a support group.
How can you help?
The demand has steadily increased since The Solace Tree has opened its doors in 2003. Although The Solace Tree relies on volunteers to serve many families; we have never turned away a family.
You can help The Solace Tree – Child & Adolescent Center for Grief and Loss continue its legacy of bringing hope through financial contributions or commitment of your time. If you share in our vision, please consider supporting the efforts of The Solace Tree’s work to help grieving families make that profound transformation from dark despair to hope and possibilities.
How do I get my children/teen started?
- A parent, friend, guardian, caregiver, educator or professional will call The Solace Tree 775.324.7723 for information or to sign up for one of our groups for children or teens.
- The Solace Tree completes and intake on your loss.
- The Solace Tree schedules your family for an orientation.
- Once the orientation is complete the family may attend The Solace Tree.