Grandparents Raising Grandchildren
FCAN’s Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group is a 5-week support group held by FCAN’s MSW social workers and designed to support the unique needs of older caregivers raising young children. Within the HIV-affected community, many older caregivers have assumed the responsibility of raising grandchildren after the loss of a primary caregiver. The Grandparents Raising Grandchildren Support Group is a place for older caregivers to receive peer and professional support to best prepare them for the issues they face in their new roles. Past groups have demonstrated increases in coping with loss, stress, and increased education levels about issues specific to HIV-affected families.
Children’s Grief and Loss
FCAN’s Children’s Grief and Loss Support Groups are structured 10-week support groups held by FCAN’s MSW social workers and designed to help grieving, HIV-affected children access the support they need. Children may have lost parents or caregivers to HIV or to other factors in order to be eligible for grief services. Groups focus on talking about loss, supporting healthy coping skills, and educating children about the process of grief. Past groups have demonstrated increases in overall resilience, grief education levels, willingness to discuss personal grief and loss, and positive coping skills among participants.