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Season’s Greetings!
Let’s be real for a moment: December can be…rough. Whether we celebrate a holiday or not this month, for those of us who are grieving, this season can sometimes feel similarly to grief anniversaries: gigantic reminders of who (and what) we’ve lost.
In December, sometimes our grief can be further amplified: the sunlight is shorter, our routines get off schedule with the kids off from school, and busy holiday events on the calendar fill up the evenings when we most need rest. And on top of it all, the media inundates us with images and messaging about togetherness and holiday magic, which may not always feel true or accessible for those of us on grieving and healing journeys.
So especially at this time of year, I like to remind myself where hope can be found, and Uplift’s grief groups are always at the top of that list. To us, hope (within grief) doesn’t just necessarily mean happiness. Instead, hope can take many forms: the authentic connection between our youth in group as they support each other in grief, the relief of realizing you are not alone, the legacies we carry forward to honor the people we’ve lost, the astounding courage it takes to reach out for grief support via Uplift’s Philly Hope Line, and most of all, our team’s gratitude for being trusted in the journey.
In these days, I offer you the same words that can be true anytime of year: it’s okay for December to be whatever it is, and to feel however it feels (no matter how un-magical that may or may not be). Some moments might feel broken, but we are already whole.
We thank you for the hope & support you bring to Uplift’s work, all year round. Sending gentleness, rest, and joy (if and when it comes) to you and yours,
Katherine Streit, MSW, LCSW, M.S.Ed
Associate Director
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Uplift's 2022 Annual Appeal: Make A Gift and Help Us Begin 2023 With Hope
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By making a gift to Uplift during our end-of-year appeal, you help ensure all youth can access free, trauma-informed, and high-quality grief support. Uplift clinicians create nurturing environments in the grief groups they facilitate in schools and the community, while also helping children and caregivers express grief through activities, creative projects, and sharing with peers who are also grieving. Children and caregivers learn tools and practices to grow through grief.
By the end of 2022, it's projected that about 15,430 people will have died in Philadelphia County. Each of these lives lost deserves to be remembered and honored, and the city's children should be equipped with the skills they need to thrive. Please make a gift and help us begin 2023 with hope. |
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Announcing Uplift's New Director of Clinical & Education Services
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 | An Uplift team member since 2015, Crystal Wortham, MSW, LCSW was recently promoted as Director of Clinical & Education Services. In her leadership at Uplift through the years, Crystal has encouraged a workplace culture grounded in creativity, clarity, and communication, and has guided Uplift's expanded services in order to provide the best care possible to the families we serve. In her new role, she will manage Uplift's team as we continue to serve youth, families and communities impacted by grief, loss, and trauma. |
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Uplift in the News
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| In recognition of Children's Grief Awareness Day on November 17, Senior Uplift Clinicians Samantha Anthony, MS, NCC and Michelle Gonzalez, MS co-authored an op-ed with board members Kristine Grady Derewicz and Brian Sumner for The Legal Intelligencer. In it, they discuss the way grief can impact youth behavior, and share how participation in mental health programs like Uplift’s peer grief support groups may help reduce recidivism and help youth exit the criminal justice system earlier. | | | |
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Read Uplift's 2022 Impact Report
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 | Uplift's Impact Report 2022 is now available on our website. Learn more about Uplift's grief groups, support services, and education offerings during the 2021-2022 fiscal year. | | | |
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Follow Uplift On Social Media:
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