Rooted2024-09-23T23:42:06+00:00

Welcome to Rooted: Grieving & Growing Together. This free program offers a safe space for children and teens to spend time together with others who understand what it’s like to have a family member die. Participants have the option to take part in discussions, play, art, learning, and activities for expressing grief in a supportive environment with trained staff and volunteers. We offer seasonal programming that fosters community and engagement with your own personal grief.  

How the Rooted Program Works
Upcoming Sessions
& Sign-ups
Resources for Grieving Families
Frequently Asked Questions
Donate or
Volunteer
Refer a
Family

How the Rooted Program Works

Rooted serves our community’s grief support needs for youth aged 6-18 years old who have had a family member or someone close to them die. Our program offers peer support to youth and their caregivers. This is a non-clinical space that centers on connection, play, and community.

Grief can feel isolating at times, especially for children whose friends may never have experienced grief themselves. Rooted is a safe place where children and teens can connect with peers who are also grieving — who get where they’re coming from.

Our staff and volunteers do not provide counseling but are trained to support young people through age-appropriate activities as they express their feelings and experiences of grief. During youth sessions, accompanying adults are welcome to participate in group discussions in support of their own grief process.

Rooted: Grieving & Growing Together is based on the Dougy Center model for peer grief support and principles of grief-informed services. 

All services are free, and dinner is served at each session. Sign up for a session below, or feel free to reach out with questions.

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Upcoming Sessions & Sign-ups

WHEN: Tuesdays, October 8 – November 12 from 6pm – 8pm

WHERE: Heartwood House | 2136 State Route 20, Sedro-Woolley (adjacent to the hospital campus)

COST: FREE

AUDIENCE: Youth aged 6-18 years old who have had a family member or someone close to them die

After registering, our team will reach out to you to schedule a brief call to learn more about you and your family. This helps ensure we have the information we need to create the most supportive peer environment.

When a parent, caregiver, or sibling dies, it can be helpful for young people to be in a supportive space with other youth who are grieving. Family peer grief support is relaunching in Skagit through a new program called Rooted: Grieving and Growing Together (formerly known as The Landing) starting Tuesday, October 8.

Youth aged 6-18 years old and their adults can participate in a six-week evening program to share food, connect with their grief, spend time with other people who get it, and maybe even have some fun! There will be themes each week to support conversations, as well as plenty of time for play and expression.

Rooted is offered at no cost to community members and is facilitated by trained volunteers and staff. We ask families to commit to attending all sessions to provide continuity and uphold the spirit of peer-based programming. If you are not able to attend the fall session, please reach out to our friendly staff who can  notify you when winter program registration begins.

WEEKLY TOPICS

October 8: Building connections

October 15: Honoring the loss

October 22: Memories and recognition

October 29: In this together

November 5: Trusting the process

November 12: Support networks

Questions?

Contact: Grace Weinrich

Email: Grace.Weinrich@unitedgeneral.org

Resources for Grieving Families

 The Dougy Center for Grieving Children & Families | Portland, ORThe Dougy Center is the National Center for Excellence in Childhood Grief. They offer in person support in Portland, Oregon as well as guidance and best practices for grief centers worldwide. Rooted is informed by their standards and methods. They have a lot of resources on their website.  

Grief Support Resource Library – NACGNational Alliance on Children’s Grief is a nation wide network of grief centers. The alliance supports the grief centers through resources, mentorship, and annual gatherings. 

A Home for All who Hold Space for the Sacred Thresholds of Birth, Breath, and Death  – The Institute for the Study of Birth, Breath, and Death is an inspiring and nurturing organization/community dedicated to furthering the development and professional skill set of those called to hold space for birthing, living, and dying.

 

Invisible String by Patricia Karst  

Calling the Wind by Trudy Ludwig 

What Does Grief Fell Like? by Korie Leigh  

I Can’t Believe They’re Gone by  Karen Brough and Hiruni Kariyawasam   

A Kids Book About Grief by Brennan C. Wood  

The ABC’s of Grief: a children’s grief book for all different types of loss by Jessica Correnti 

Why do I feel so sad? By Tracy Lambert 

When Someone Dies: A Children’s Mindful How-To Guide of Grief and Loss by Andrea Dorn 

The Dead Bird by Margaret Wise Brown  

Lost in the Clouds by Tom Tinn-Disbury 

The Grief Rock by Natasha Daniels  

When Dinosaurs Die: A Guide to Understanding Death by Laurie Krasny Brown and Marc Brown  

A Terrible Thing Happened by Margaret M. Holmes  

Edna by Susan Paradis  

Wherever You Are: My Love Will Find You by Nancy Tillman  

Magic Breathe by Nick Ortner and Alison Taylor 

The Emotions Book: A Little Story About Big Feelings by Liz Fletcher  

Ruby Finds A Worry by Tom Percival  

Ida, Always by Caron Levis  

My Feelings are a Hurricane by Annabelle Wallick  

Don’t Feed the Worry Bug by Andi Green  

The Color Monster by Anna Llenas 

Grumpy Monkey by Lang and Lang  

There’s a Nightmare in My Closet by Mercer Mayer 

The Goodbye Book by Todd Parr 

Wild Edge of Sorrow by Francis Weller  

Die Wise by Stephen Jenkinson 

Holding Space: On Loving, Dying, and Letting Go by Amy Glenn Wright  

Life, Death, Grief and the Possibility of Pleasure by Oceana Sawyer  

Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet by Joan Halifax  

Understanding Your Grief: 10 Essential Touchstones for Finding Hope and Healing Your Heart by Alan Wolfelt  

Life, Death, Grief, and the Possibility of Pleasure by Oceana Sawyer  

It’s OK That You’re Not OK by Megan Devine 

Grief Out Loud Podcast with Jana DeCristofaro

Unlocking Us with Brene Brown

Griefcast with Cariad Lloyd

Terrible, Thanks for Asking with Nora McInerny

Grief and Loss Support – Hospice of the Northwest Hospice of the Northwest offers in person and online grief groups for adults for anyone in the community. Check their website for times and dates. They run continuously throughout the year. They also have a wonderful library of books related to grief, death, and support.

GriefShare GriefShare is a 10 week faith-based grief group held at various churches across Skagit County. Check their website for exact dates, times, and locations for the groups.  

Grief Rituals and Support — FIRE AND MOSS EMBODIMENT This is a space to deepen into your grief through dance and movement supported by music and a safe space to express yourself. This offering uses the Open Floor dance modality and is at Presence Studios in Bellingham, WA.  

Grief Work | Deeper Currents This is two women who offer one on one support, grief rituals, and grief tending in a sacred and non-clinical way. They also offer death doula services. 

Frequently Asked Questions

How soon after someone dies can I come to Rooted?2024-09-17T18:53:22+00:00

We recommend joining when it feels like you can verbally process the death and share your story with your community. This can look very different for everybody and can be at various times for everybody. No one can decide the timeline for you or your family. If you are curious about whether it would be a good fit or the timing is right, you can always reach out to talk to one of our staff members.

What happens if my child doesn’t know how their person died?2024-09-17T22:32:40+00:00

You get to decide how and when to share how your person died to your children. Based on the Dougy Center model, we really value honesty and sharing the whole story in an age-appropriate manner to all kids. It is important for trust building and the healing process to know the full story. This being said, we will honor the way you want your story to be told. 

What do I need to do to attend the sessions?2024-09-17T21:38:35+00:00

To attend the sessions, you will need to register on the ROOTED website and complete a brief call with a staff member. 

What happens if I miss a session? 2024-09-17T18:58:38+00:00

We urge everyone to plan to attend every session in the 6week time period. We understand that things come up that might make it not possible to attend. For the safety and connection of the group, we ask that in those circumstances you let us know that you will not be attending. 

Are there clinicians who work at Rooted?2024-09-17T19:07:19+00:00

There are no clinicians who work at Rooted. It is run by Americorps VISTA members and supported by trained volunteers. The model is inspired by the Dougy Center which utilizes a peer support model.

Are ROOTED services free?2024-09-17T21:40:50+00:00

YES! Our services are completely free, and dinner is provided at every session.  

Rooted: Grieving and Growing Together is provided free of charge to all participants.
We rely on donations from our community, and volunteers to support this program, and appreciate any support you can give.

Donate

Donations to the Rooted program are processed through the Foundation of District 304, a non-profit organization. You will be sent a receipt of the donation for your tax records.

Volunteer

Volunteers are key to the Rooted program’s success! If you are passionate about supporting youth through the grief process, we hope you’ll join us. We have opportunities to volunteer behind the scenes or co-facilitating groups.

Regular youth bereavement volunteer trainings are held throughout the year and must be completed before you can volunteer with the program. 

Note: All volunteers must pass a background check, and we suggest waiting at least a year after experiencing the death of someone you hold dear before beginning volunteering with Rooted.  

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