Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss, a free grief support center for children and adults coping with loss due to death, is recruiting youth volunteers for its Fall 2016 class of Volunteer Youth Facilitators and for the Imagine Youth Advisory Council (iYAC.) Youth Facilitators provide support to children ages 3 to 12 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, or caregiver while iYAC provides advice, outreach and event support.
Caroline Sullivan, 17, of Cranford, has served as a youth facilitator in one of Imagine’s children’s groups for a year after attending a one day, seven hour training. Propelled by her experience as a bereaved child who received support, Caroline is now dedicated to helping other children while they grieve.
The experience thus far has been lifechanging. Caroline stated, “Volunteering for this program has given me the opportunity to provide for others the same support and acceptance that was once provided for me. Imagine breaks down the walls that separate us in the rest of our lives and provides a unique space for coping with loss.”
Volunteers come from all walks of life and need no special background other than a willingness to listen, a heart inclined to serve, and the ability to be with children and adults in pain without trying to fix, solve or give advice. No prior experience is necessary. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old. Volunteers serve as companions and loving listeners for those who are grieving.
Imagine is a free year-round peer grief support center located in Westfield, New Jersey and serving all of Union County and beyond. Imagine serves children age 3-18 who have had a parent or sibling die, with concurrent support groups for their parents or guardians. Support for children and teens living with a parent or sibling with a life-altering physical illness is also available through Imagine’s Coping with Illness program. Free year-round support groups are also available for adults 18 and up who have had a friend, sibling, parent or other important person in their life die, or who have a parent, sibling or friend living with an illness.
If you are interested in learning more about the upcoming training scheduled for September 10, 11:30 a.m. – 6:30 p.m., or about Imagine, please contact Connie Palmer, LCSW, Imagine’s Clinical Training Director at connie@imaginenj.org or 908-264-3100. For information about iYAC contact Program Director Mandi Zucker at mandi@imaginenj.org or 908-264-3100 or visit www.imaginenj.org.
(above) You too can be a Teen Facilitator! Pictured are our Fall 2015 Teen Training Class members: Conor Larkin-Westfield; Noelle Blackford-Westfield; Sarah Ward-Westfield; Aleacia Jensen-Scotch Plains; Julia Sikora-Scotch Plains; Caroline Sullivan-Cranford, Olivia Turner- Westfield; Julia Salvato-Westfield; Katie Sullivan-Westfield; Imagine Program Assistant Corey Wisler of Scotch Plains; Patrick Sullivan-Cranford; Kimmi Zimmerman-Westfield.
