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FAQs
Does anything like this exist for high school and middle school aged students? Do you have chapters at high schools and middle schools?
Unfortunately, we don't have any high school chapters (yet, but maybe in the future), but there are typically a number of bereavement centers that young people can go to for support group meetings all throughout the US. Go to http://katesclub.org/howkccan.htm and
scroll down to the bottom and click on the "National Grief Resource Contact List (by State) (PDF)" which will provide information about all of the young bereavement (0-18 years old) centers around the US. Maybe there is one in your community.
Also, I just did a google search for "teenage grief support online" and found this site:
http://www.thelightbeyond.com/forum/forumdisplay.php?f=14
Of course, I am always here to talk to via email or phone if you need someone.
It is really awesome that you want to reach out to other students by starting a chapter as well. Unfortunately, for now, we are unable to start up chapters at high schools, currently we only start chapters on college campuses. We really hope to be able to have the resources to work with high schools, but for now we are unable to.
You can certainly feel free to work with your school to develop something similar to our college chapters. Please keep me posted on your progress!
Best of luck!
I think this program is great! How can I help?
We would love anything that you can provide. An in-kind gift such as legal advice or free printing of one of our materials is greatly appreciated. We also would love for you to help with our chapters that are in your area and attend their events. Finally, we would love your financial support, since we devote almost all of our time to developing chapters and programming.
My ex-wife died recently and she was only 46 years old. My two daughters are age 14 and 21. I am at a loss as to how to help them handle this. Can you help?
Dear Bob,
I am so sorry to hear about the recent loss of your ex-wife. She was so young. I know that must be extremely difficult for your children.
I wish I had answers, but I do have some advice from speaking with others in similar situations. As for what you can do to help your children cope, most importantly, let them know that you are there for them any time of any day (maybe through a note or in person). It is often more difficult for fathers (then mother) to take on the position of grief counselor/parent, but just telling them that you are there to listen to them when they need someone to talk to can mean so much.
While not knowing anything about the situation, I imagine this must be a difficult time for you as well and I think expressing that to your children will help to bring you all together.
Lastly, we have found that just letting someone know that other students that have gone through something similar are here is really helpful. Be sure to encourage them to visit www.studentsofamf.org and send me an email if they'd like to talk via email or phone.
I hope this helps.
Let me know if you have any questions or if I can do anything,
Dave
I am a Mom of 2 college students and my friend just died of colon cancer. Her son will be attending the same college as my sons in the fall. I would like some advise from those of you that have been there about what I can do to help him cope. Thank you!
I am so sorry to hear about the recent loss of your friend. I know that must be extremely difficult for you. Thank you for your concern for her son.
As for what you can do to help your friend's son cope, most importantly, let him know that you and your two sons are there for him (through a note or in person). Listen to him when he needs someone to talk to, let him know that you are here to talk any time he needs to talk, and remember that grief lasts much longer than most people who haven't experienced parental grief at a young age would expect. Many think that in a few months or at a most a year, that "people should move on." That is just not the way it is. I just received an email from someone who said she lost her mother when she was in college, but didn't tell anyone, not even her roommate and now shde is in her 60's and still hasn't been able to "get over it." The deeper you love someone the harder it will be to mourn their loss. It is easiest to think as grief as never having an end point, but continuously changing. After a period of time, "grief work" may even become thinking about a happy time with the lost loved one.
It may be difficult, but encourage your boys to reach out to him. Not necessarily talking about the recent loss, but making sure that they help him with the transition to college. Moving into college without a parent can be extremely difficult, maybe your family can lend a hand.
Lastly, we have found that just letting someone know that others exist that have had to go through this and that they are there is really helpful. Be sure to encourage him to check out www.studentsofamf.org. Let your sons know that if they were interested, we could help them start a chapter at their school and that there is far more than just support services, there is also a component open to all students that is dedicated to fighting back against terminal illness by doing service events and fundraisers.
I hope this was helpful.
My mother passed away on June 1,2008 from advanced liver cancer. She was a single parent raising only me and now I am independent. I am 19 and will be a junior this year. I was hoping to find information on any grants or scholarships available for me. If you could be of any assistance it would be so greatly appreciated! Thank you so much.
Thank you for contacting National Students of AMF. I am so sorry to hear about your very recent loss. I know that must have been devastating.
As for how we can help, there is a great website with info at: http://www.finaid.org/scholarships/cancer.phtml
Below are the examples of scholarships available.
National Collegiate Cancer Foundation
The National Collegiate Cancer Foundation sponsors an annual nonrenewable $1,000 scholarship for college students whose lives have been impacted by cancer and who are seeking to continue their higher education while still undergoing treatment. Applicants must be college students between the ages of 17 and 27. Recipients are selected on the basis of financial need, an essay, recommendations, cancer story, and demonstrating a "Will Win" attitude. The deadline is September 15. For more information, call 1-717-215-0943, write to National Collegiate Cancer Foundation, Scholarship Committee, PO Box 14521, Silver Spring, MD 20911, or send email to info@collegiatecancer.org.
Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation (United States)
The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation awards five scholarships of up to $10,000 per year to graduating high school seniors and current college students who are 25 years old or younger and who have lost a parent to breast cancer. Candidates who are already in college must have a college GPA of at least 2.8 on a 4.0 scale. Candidates must plan to atten a state college or university in the state where they reside. Candidates must be US citizens or permanent residents. The application deadline is in mid-November. (The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation also funds doctoral dissertation awards, postdoctoral fellowships and grants for cancer research.) For more information, write to The Susan G. Komen Breast Cancer Foundation, Attn: Grants Dept. -- College Scholarship, 5005 LBJ Freeway, Suite #250, Dallas, TX 75244, call 1-972-855-1616, or send email to ccombs@komen.org.
LIFE Lessons Essay Contest for Students
The Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education is sponsoring a scholarship for college-bound high school seniors and current college students, ages 17-24, who have suffered the death of a parent or guardian. Candidates must submit a written essay of up to 500 words or a short three-minute video essay about how the loss affected them emotionally and financially. The essay should indicate whether having (or not having) life, health and other forms of insurance helped stabilize family finances and cover college costs. The grand prize winner of the written essay contents will receive a $5,000 scholarship. There are also $1,000 scholarships for the four first place winners and $500 scholarships for the 14 runners-up. The 5 first prize winners of the video essay will receive $1,000 scholarships. There is also a bonus prize of $4,000. The deadline is April 20. Participants can enter online or call 1-202-465-5000 x106 to request a paper entry form. For more information, write to Life and Health Insurance Foundation for Education, 2175 K Street, NW Suite 250, Washington, DC 20037 or send email to scholarship@lifefdn.org.
Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship (United States)
The Marilyn Yetso Memorial Scholarship provides a $2,500 scholarship to college students who have lost a parent to cancer or whose parent is currently fighting cancer. The parent or guardian must have been diagnosed while the applicant was between the ages of 15 and 35. Applicants must be age 35 or younger at the time of application and be currently attending or accepted to a 2-year or 4-year college, university or vocational program (including graduate and professional schools). Recipients are required to complete 25 hours of community service. Scholarships are awarded on the basis of financial need, medical hardship, dedication to community service, commitment to educational and professional goals, and a demonstration of how the applicant has used their cancer experience to impact the lives of other young adults affected by cancer. The applicant must have been diagnosed with cancer since reaching age 15. The deadline is in May 1. Send email to scholarship@ulmanfund.org to request an application. This scholarship is one of several cancer scholarships offered by the Ulman Cancer Fund for Young Adults.
I hope this helps.
Our organization is interested in doing a link exchange with your organization.
We would love to exchange links with you. It will help our message to reach more students!
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