Support for Children, Teens, & Families
Our Circles of Hope Program provides a family-centered approach to grief support by investing in children, supporting parents, and strengthening the family. We accomplish this in part through our monthly Family Fridays, Day-to-Play Events, Kids Camp, Teen Group and School Based Grief Support. These programs provide support, community, and the tools that the family and children need to help navigate their grief. All of our programs are free but registration is required.
What others who have attended our family support programs have to say:
First Steps provides those who have experienced the death of a loved one, a safe place to share their story, understand more about grief, and learn about the grief support programs and resources that New Hope offers. This one-time scheduled meeting provides an opportunity to connect with a peer support facilitator that is similar in age and has experienced a similar type of loss. First Steps are available for both children and adults.
Please contact the New Hope office at (248) 348-0115 or at [email protected] if you would like to set up a First Steps support meeting.
Part of our Circles of Hope Program, Family Friday provides a family-centered approach to grief support by investing in children, supporting parents, and strengthening the family. Throughout the year, we offer this monthly family-based program. Dinner is provided, along with break-out sessions, discussions, and activities to provide tools to help navigate the grief journey. We offer a unique theme, and activity each month. Ages: 4-14
DECEMBER
Date: Friday, December 13, 2024
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
Registration Link: http://weblink.donorperfect.com/FF24DEC
2025 Family Friday Events
Click here to register for one of our 2025 Family Friday events. Separate forms must be submitted for each event you are interested in attending.
JANUARY
Date: Friday, January 31, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
FEBRUARY
Date: Friday, February 17, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
MARCH
Date: Friday, March 14, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
MAY
Date: Friday, May 9, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
JUNE
Date: Friday, June 20, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
AUGUST
Date: Friday, August 15, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
SEPTEMBER
Date: Friday, September 19, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
OCTOBER
Date: Friday, October 24, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
NOVEMBER
Date: Friday, November 14, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
DECEMBER
Date: Friday, December 12, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
Part of our Circles of Hope Program. Our annual kid’s grief camp is designed to help children connect with other children to know they are not alone in their grief, achieve opportunities to learn about the reactions and emotions associated with grief, the significance of developing healthy coping skills, and ways to grow through the grief journey be sharing their stories.
HITTING GRIEF OUT OF THE PARK
Date: Thursday, July 24 and Friday, July 25, 2025
Location: Millennium Park, 45769 Six Mile Road, Northville, MI 48168
Part of our Circles of Hope program that provides a family-centered approach to grief support by investing in children, supporting parents, and strengthening the family. Finding Your Superpowers is an interactive family event designed to help families respond to grief and loss through the stories of our favorite superheroes.
Date: Friday, April 11, 2025
Time: 5:30pm-7:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
Part of our Circles of Hope program, this special activity gives children the opportunity to connect and share with other children who have lost a loved one, while enjoying the day off from school. Ages: 4-14
Click here to register for one of our 2025 Day to Play events. Separate forms must be submitted for each event you are interested in attending.
PRESIDENTS’ DAY
Date: Monday, February 17, 2025
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: Farmington Hills Police Department, 31655 W. Eleven Mile Road, Farmington Hills, MI 48336
SUMMER
Date: Tuesday, July 15, 2025
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: TBD
ELECTION DAY
Date: Tuesday, November 4, 2025
Time: 1:00-3:00pm
Location: TBD
*As a reminder, Day to Play events are drop-off events. When you drop off your child at the location at 1:00pm, please check them in with a New Hope staff member or volunteer. At 3:00pm, please pick up your child and check them out with a New Hope staff member or volunteer.
Part of our Circles of Hope program. Teen group is an 8-week session support group designed for teens that are grieving the death of a loved one. This program will help teens better understand their grief, provide a safe space for them to communicate their thoughts and feelings, and provide them with healthy coping skills, and the tools they will need to help them navigate their grief journey. Ages 13-18.
SPRING
Date: Mondays, March 10 – April 24, 2025
Time: 6:45-8:30pm
Location: Ward Church, 40000 Six Mile Road, Northville, MI 48168
FALL
Date: Mondays, September 15 – November 3, 2025
Time: 6:45-8:30pm
Location: Ward Church, 40000 Six Mile Road, Northville, MI 48168
Click here to learn more and register.
*For the fall session, teens will be dismissed at 8:15pm but facilitators will remain on-site until 8:30pm in case their caregiver is attending the “From Grief to New Hope” 8-Week Workshop that runs until 8:30pm. There will be games and activities provided from 8:15-8:30pm for the teens to partake in.
Programs aim to help schools identify and track students impacted by grief and prepare and collaborate with schools to support those students. Our programming includes childhood bereavement training, First Steps Advocacy, direct support after the loss of student or staff, 8-week on-site grief support group, and ongoing support and resources. These services are offered to schools with designated Memorandum of Understandings (MOUs) with New Hope Center for Grief Support. Please contact your school to see if they currently partner with New Hope.
SCHOOL-BASED GRIEF SUPPORT PROGRAMMING INCLUDES:
Childhood Bereavement Training for School Professionals: New Hope specializes in trainings to help school professionals become more grief-sensitive and provide them with tools and techniques on how to best support bereaved students throughout their academic careers.
First Steps Advocacy: This program supports bereaved students on a one-to-one basis with a New Hope Grief Coach to help support the unique grief needs of the student. This program includes up to four one-on-one meetings with individual students to help normalize and naturalize the grief process by creating a safe space to learn and share.
8-Week On-Site Grief Support Group for Bereaved Students: Our school-based grief groups are an 8-week model designed to help bereaved students connect with other students who have experienced the death of a loved one, learn about the emotions and reactions of the grief journey, and to help them grow through the experience of sharing their stories.
Direct Support After the Loss of Student or Staff: In the rare circumstance a staff member or student dies during the term of an agreement, we will help provide and facilitate additional grief support to the school based on the needs of students, staff, and families impacted by the loss.
Ongoing Support and Resources: New Hope will continue to support schools by providing information on upcoming grief support programs and services to share with staff and students. In addition, New Hope will provide resources, referrals, and information to help support bereaved students, staff, and families in the district.
If you are an educational professional interested in bringing New Hope to your district, please reach out to [email protected] for more information and click here to view our brochure.
Learning how to navigate your own grief while helping your child through theirs can be challenging. Parent Camp is designed to connect those who are caring for children under the age of 18 and are grieving the death of a loved one. The camp will include resource tables ranging from resources on mental health and childhood bereavement to finance and education. Parent Camp will provide the opportunity to connect with other caregivers who are grieving the death of a loved one, learn more about the resources that are available, and grow through grief to better support your child through their grief journey. Dinner will be provided.
Date: Thursday, August 7, 2025
Time: 6:00pm-8:00pm
Location: Plymouth First United Methodist Church, 45201 N. Territorial Road, Plymouth, MI 48170
Please click here to register.
Free childcare for children ages 3+ will be provided upon request. Please let the New Hope office know ahead of time by reaching out to Laurel at [email protected] or calling 248-348-0115.