Assemblyman Gary D. Finch (R,C,I – Springport) recently passed a resolution memorializing Governor Cuomo to proclaim Thursday, November 15, 2012 as Children’s Grief Awareness Day in New York.
“It is important that children dealing with the death of a loved one have somewhere to turn,” said Finch. “Children’s grief counselors play a vital role in helping young people come to grips with the realities of death and recognizing the struggles they undertake.”
Finch was contacted by Amy Dolan, founder of HUGs from Cara, Inc. who consulted with him on this issue. Amy’s sister, Cara Zentner, was an Auburn resident whose life was cut short on January 29, 2011 due to a tragic accident in her home. She was 36 years old and left behind two young children and a loving family.
The mission of HUGs from Cara is to provide a place for grieving children, families and friends to find comfort and support. They provide peer services such as support groups and family events as well as offering resource information and referrals for assistance through other agencies as needed. Through educating others, they promote children’s grief awareness so that no child or individual ever feels alone in their grief. For more information, visit their website.
According to Finch, when children lose a loved one, especially a friend or close family member, they can carry that loss with them forever, causing confusion and fearfulness as they struggle to understand why their loved one was taken away.
As such, many trained professionals work at dedicated children’s grief centers throughout the state where they offer bereavement counseling to children and their families. These counselors provide emotional support for children struggling with grief, allowing them to find guidance and understanding during their difficult times.
The resolution encourages citizens and communities throughout New York to wear blue on November 15 to raise awareness and show their support for children in mourning and the grief centers that serve young people who are confronted by the reality of death.