Menu
Join the National Conversation Around Child Abuse & Neglect

Supporting Children and Youth Dealing with the Loss of a Parent or Caregiver

Supporting Children and Youth Dealing with the Loss of a Parent or Caregiver


  1. Home
  2. •
  3. Topic Areas
  4. •
  5. Trauma and Healing
  6. •
  7. Supporting Children and Youth Dealing with...

IRWIN SANDLER, PhD, REACH Institute and Arizona State University
DEBORAH LANGOSCH, PhD, GrandFamilies Outcome Workgroup (GrOW)

The loss of a parent or caregiver can have cascading impacts on child well-being. The COVID-19 pandemic has placed a spotlight on the impact on these losses because of the more than 250,000 children who are estimated to have lost a caregiver due to the pandemic. Dealing with loss and adequately supporting a grieving child are issues that predate the pandemic and include children who have lost caregivers to the termination of parental rights, incarceration, and other issues. Come learn more about how to work with caregivers so they can best support a grieving child.