Boys & Girls Club Blog

June 24, 2025

Did you know the Boys & Girls Club of Oshkosh offers a one-of-a-kind Youth & Family Grief Support Group for children and families who have experienced the loss of a loved one? Open to the entire community, this compassionate program creates a safe and supportive space to share, heal and navigate grief—together. You don’t need to be a Club member to participate.

The Grief Group meets once a month for a two-hour evening session that begins with a shared meal. Families come together around the table in a welcoming and understanding environment. After dinner, participants split into smaller, age-appropriate breakout groups—adults, teens, and young children—each guided by trained staff or volunteers. Even the youngest attendees (under age 5) can receive individual therapeutic support, making this one of the few local programs serving entire families, regardless of age.

Each breakout group offers a space where individuals can connect with others experiencing similar loss. For younger children, sessions are often activity-based to help them process feelings in age-appropriate ways. For teens and adults, the focus is on open conversation, mutual understanding, and emotional support. At the end of the evening, everyone comes back together as one group to reflect and close in community.

We know grief doesn’t discriminate. It touches grandparents who have lost a son or daughter and are now the caretakers of their grandchildren. It touches the husband who is now raising his children after the loss of his wife. It touches the mom who is unexpectedly caring for the family on her own. Everyone handles grief differently, but through this program, we strive to support everyone and anyone touched by loss. We’ve witnessed the healing power of shared experience and the strength that comes from building a supportive community.

What makes this program truly special is its holistic and inclusive approach. Therapy dogs are often incorporated into sessions, providing a calming and comforting presence for participants of all ages. By offering support tailored to each stage of life, we ensure no one has to face grief alone.

A Story of Shared Strength:

Two families currently attending the Grief Group share a particularly powerful connection—both experienced the heartbreaking loss of a young child. Each family endured traumatic incidents and had to perform CPR on their own child. Through the group, these parents have found a deep understanding in one another’s stories, helping them feel less isolated in their grief. Similarly, in the youth sessions, children and teens who have lost a parent have found comfort and community in peers walking a similar path.

This is what the Grief Group is all about—connection, healing and hope.

If you or someone you know could benefit from this program, we welcome you to reach out. Contact us at griefsupport@bgcosh.org or call Danielle Bittelman, Director of Youth & Family Engagement, at (920) 233-1414, ext. 124 for more information.