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The Program

The Safe Crossings Program is a bereavement counseling service that has been specially created to help children prepare for the death of someone they love, and to offer ongoing support after the death occurs. Four professional bereavement counselors provide all Safe Crossings Program services, which include:

• Individual Counseling: Face-to-face, one-on-one counseling was provided for over 1,500 children in 2010, including parents and extended families, both before and after the death of a loved one.
• Parent/Child Support Groups: Each spring and fall, parents and children come together for group counseling and support. Facilitated by one of the Safe Crossings Program counselors, parents and children meet in separate groups. This provides for a peer sharing, learning, and support experience.
• Camp Erin® King County: In 2010, 84 children (39 boys and 45 girls) between the ages of five and eighteen attended this three day, overnight bereavement camp held at Camp River Ranch in Carnation.
• Summer Day Camps: Three family day-camps are held in the summer for grieving children and teens to come together, along with their families, for education, play, and support in an outdoor setting.
• Support Groups in King County Public Schools: Grief support groups for children and teens are held in over fifteen local elementary, middle, and high schools, many during the school day, as requested by teachers and school counselors.
• Seasonal Community Events: A winter bonfire and spring and summer picnics are seasonal events held for children, teens, and their families to celebrate the seasons and to honor loved ones who have died. These gatherings provide an opportunity for families to share stories, participate in creative activities and games, and support one another in lovely park settings. Community Educational Presentations: Safe Crossings Program counselors often are asked to speak to health care and educational professionals as experts in the field of bereavement support for children, including tailoring emotional support to the developmental age of the children served.

All services provided by the Safe Crossings Program are offered at no charge. The Safe Crossings Program is managed and operated by Providence Hospice of Seattle. For more information about the Safe Crossings Program please call 206-320-4000 or visit Safe Crossings Program