Western New York Compassion Connection outlines free grief support for children and families

Patricia Schlavig, school services coordinator at Western New York Compassion Connection, told a family-resource audience that the new nonprofit grief center offers free, nonclinical peer-support groups and outreach for grieving children, parents and adults.

"All of our programs are free of charge. No cost. No insurance is needed," Schlavig said, describing group formats, therapeutic activities and school-based outreach. She said the center was formed out of the Hunt Pediatric Cancer Collaborative’s bereavement work and expanded after several community losses in 2022; the transcript records that organizers secured a state grant described during the talk as "half $1,000,000" to launch the center and renovate a former day-care space in Lancaster.

The center’s services include age‑stratified family groups (children ages 4–7, 8–12 and 13–18), a seven‑week family program that starts with a shared dinner and then splits into age-appropriate rooms, and adult groups for parent or spouse loss. Schlavig emphasized that peer facilitators are trained but not licensed counselors, and she urged attendees to offer concrete help to grieving families—meals, rides and specific, follow-through offers—instead of general offers like "reach out if you need anything."

Schlavig walked through developmentally appropriate ways to explain death to children and cautioned against euphemisms that can confuse young kids. She framed grief as non‑linear—"Grief is messy. Grief is confusing. Grief is overwhelming," she said in a video excerpt shown during the presentation—and reviewed common physical and cognitive effects, including fatigue, impaired concentration and intensified medical vulnerability in the months after a loss.

The presenter described supplementary activities at the Lancaster center, including art therapy, grief yoga and other therapeutic options, and said the organization is building partnerships with county agencies, harm‑reduction offices and groups such as Peace Incorporated to reach people affected by overdose or homicide. She said the center aims to serve Erie County and the seven surrounding counties, will offer virtual options, and is exploring satellite locations closer to residents.

Staff and volunteers have an RSVP system to match capacity; Schlavig said volunteer trainings happen periodically to prepare peer facilitators. She gave the center address as 3966 Walden in Lancaster and said transportation supports are available for families who face access barriers. Schlavig also announced a May 13 event with grief expert Dr. Donna Sherman, and invited attendees to take printed materials or visit the center’s online and social channels for schedule and registration details.

The presenter closed by sharing contact information and thanking attendees; the session ended with an offer for in‑person attendees to review program literature and sign up for future events.