Hello, my name is Juliann Haffey and I am a licensed mental health counselor in the Spokane Valley. I am very excited to introduce a support group that is now available to youth in our community. This past fall, I teamed up with a new, non-profit organization called the Smile Again Foundation. This foundation was created as a resource for families that have experienced the death of a child. Whether it is a sudden death or the family has exhausted most of their monetary resources caring for a sick child, the Smile Again Foundation is dedicated to assisting bereaved parents with the financial aspect of the final arrangements for their deceased child.
The Smile Again Foundation is also committed to helping families’ access on-going grief support; this is where I come in. When I was four years old, we lost my older sister in a horrible accident. Although my family did the best they could to support me through the grieving process, most of the community resources available focused on grief support for parents. In collaboration with the Smile Again Foundation, I have developed the Smile Again Sibling Support Group; a group specifically for the children grieving the loss of a brother or sister. The Sibling Support Group helps youth understand the tragedy, identify and validate their feelings, commemorate the life lost, and learn to live, love and Smile Again.
The Smile Again Sibling Support Group will gather the first Wednesday of each month at Gonzaga Prep High School. The group will start at 6:00pm and conclude at 7:30 pm, snacks and beverages will always be provided. This grief support group is completely free of charge and always open to new members. If you know any children or teenagers who are dealing with the death of a sibling, please let them know about our support group.
Please contact me if you would like additional information or if you have other questions: 509.385.0292. You can also visit: www.smileagainspokane.org
Sincerely,
Juliann K. Haffey, M.A. LMHC
Executive Board Member
Smile Again Foundation
