LightHouse for New Hope

The LightHouse for New Hope has established a permanent grief center in Dallas and surrounding counties. We provide our program and services free of charge to adults and families. Services provided include grief support and individual counseling for children and adults who have experienced the loss of a loved one. That loss may be from a death, divorce, separation, or abandonment.

Our Needs

COVID-19 has taken an extreme toll on a staggering number of children younger than 18 years who have lost the most important people in their lives. The authors of a recent study published in Pediatrics estimated that 142, 637 youths in the US lost a parent, custodial grandparent, or grandparent caregiver to COVID-19 in 2021  That estimate included direct COVID-19 deaths and indirect fatalities such as those due to pandemic-related difficulties accessing health care. Worldwide, more than 10.5 million children lost at least 1 parent or custodial grandparent during the pandemic, according to a modeling study in The Lancet Medical Journal. 

Losing a parent is among the adverse childhood experiences associated with significant mental health problems: depression, posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), suicidal ideation and attempts, and an increased risk of substance abuse, violence, risky sexual behaviors and sexual abuse, and dropping out of school. 

Children, adolescents, and caregivers often benefit from attending a bereavement support group. “These groups may reduce the likelihood of serious long-term health problems from complicated grief, if not for any other reason than problems will be recognized early,” 

The LightHouse for New Hope is seeing more and more families that have experienced a Covid-19 death and provides a safe and fun environment for children and adults to heal from their loss's. Your contribution will provides games, activities, books, art, puppets, music that facilitates healing for a child. 

Here is what some of our past participants say about the Lighthouse support groups.

"It helped with not feeling so alone, misunderstood, & helped me socialize & not slip into isolation from grief."

"Informative and I'm thankful for new tools to relate with my child."

Great, I've been able to help my children open up and express themselves."