Grief Support Doesn’t Gatekeep

By Susan Shaw

For the past few days, I’ve been at the annual symposium of the National Alliance for Children’s Grief (NACG), and it’s been an eye-opening experience. This is my first time attending, and I’m in awe.

Over 500 professionals have gathered here, representing grief centers, hospice groups, and bereavement programs from across the country. And this is just a fraction of NACG’s reach. With more than 1,700 members nationwide, the Alliance connects people doing essential work to support grieving children and families in every corner of the U.S.

Before I came to this conference, a potential donor told me he felt grief support was “too niche.” But I don’t think he knows the data.

Nationally, 1 in 12 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling before the age of 18. In Barnstable County, where I grew up, that number rises to 1 in 9.

One in nine.

That’s not niche. That’s urgent. That’s a crisis we cannot ignore.

And yet, there still aren’t enough grief programs, trained professionals, or community resources to go around. That’s why gatherings like this one matter so much. Here at the NACG Symposium, I’ve watched as leaders in this field share their work openly. Best practices, program models, training tools, curriculum strategies, marketing approaches. Freely, generously, without hesitation.

There is no gatekeeping in grief support.

Unlike many industries where knowledge is guarded, where trade secrets and non-compete clauses keep ideas siloed, this field is different. Everyone here understands the mission is bigger than any one organization. Whether they serve an urban community, a rural population, a school district, or a hospice program, everyone is here for the same reason:

“No child should have to grieve alone.”

That’s the NACG’s vision. And it’s the guiding principle of everyone I’ve met here. Every Executive Director I’ve listened to has said the same thing: Come visit. Learn from us. Take what we’ve built and bring it home.

Because why wouldn’t we share?

When a new grief support center wants to open in an underserved area, why should they start from scratch when so many proven, compassionate programs already exist? When one center develops an incredible peer-support curriculum, why wouldn’t they want it used far and wide?

This kind of collaboration is what makes the grief field so powerful. It’s built on kindness, empathy, and a shared commitment to healing. Other sectors could learn from this model. Less gatekeeping. More generosity. More focus on the greater good.

Because the goal is to make this world better for grieving children, and for all of us.

If you want to be part of this mission, I invite you to support The Green House, an initiative of William’s Be Yourself Challenge (WBYC). The Green House will be a grief retreat home for families like mine, those navigating life after profound loss.

You can learn more and donate through our website.

https://givebutter.com/thegreenhouse

And as always, thank you for showing up for the 1 in 12. For the 1 in 9.For every child searching for light after loss.