Childhood Traumatic Grief: Suggested List of References, Resources, Books, Games, Websites

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Childhood Traumatic Grief
Suggested List of References, Resources, Books, Games, Websites
Parents, mental health and medical professionals, and school personnel are encouraged to
consult the following articles and resources to gain an understanding of childhood traumatic
grief (CTG). Background information sheets about the condition, as well as assistance
locating an appropriate mental health professional with expertise in Childhood Traumatic
Grief are available from the National Child Traumatic Stress Network at (310) 235-2633 or
(919) 682-1552 or at www.NCTSNet.org. The list is divided into the following sections:
• Childhood traumatic grief handouts, videos, training guide resources
• Professional References – Bereavement
• Professional References – CTG
• Professional References – PTSD
• Books for Children and Teens - Trauma and Bereavement
• Books for Children and Teens- Sibling Death
• Books for Caregivers – Sibling Death
• Resources & Websites – General Bereavement
• Resources & Websites – Military
• Resources & Websites – Sibling death
• Resources & Websites – Mental health, trauma, school
• Supplies



Childhood Traumatic Grief Handouts, Videos, Training Guides, Manuals
A web based learning course for using TF-CBT with Childhood Traumatic Grief. CTG-Web
http://ctg.musc.edu/
Compassionate Friends. (1993). This healing path. Northbrook, IL: Film Ideas, Inc. (VHS
video)
This 35-minute video addresses issues and concerns that affect those who are grieving the
loss of a sibling. It includes an introduction by former Chicago Bear middle linebacker Mike
Singletary, himself a bereaved sibling, and a discussion guide. The siblings interviewed
share their pain, sadness, anger, and fear. They also discuss issues such as parental
overprotectiveness and their own hope for the future as they meet the challenge of their loss
1 Childhood Traumatic Grief Educational Materials (brief and in depth information for
professionals; handouts for parents, school personnel, pediatricians and pediatric nurses,
news media) http://nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=typ_tg
The Courage to Remember Videos and Curriculum Guide (public information video and
professional training materials) http://nctsn.org/nccts/nav.do?pid=typ_tg
Traumatic Grief in Military Children Information for Educators
http://nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/military_grief_educators.pdf
Traumatic Grief in Military Children Information for Families
http://nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/Military_Grief_Families_final3.pdf
Traumatic Grief in Military Children Information for Medical Providers
http://nctsn.org/nctsn_assets/pdfs/military_grief_medical.pdf
Cohen, J., Mannarino, A. & Deblinger, E.  (2006).  Treating trauma and traumatic grief in
children and adolescents. NY: Guilford.
Lieberman, A. F., Compton, N. C., Van Horn, P. & Ghosh Ippen, C. (2003). Losing a parent to
death in the early years: Guidelines for the treatment of traumatic bereavement in infancy
and early childhood. Washington, D. C.: Zero to Three Press.
Saltzman, W.R., Layne, C.M., & Pynoos, R.S. (2003). Trauma/grief-focused intervention for
adolescents, available by contacting wsaltzman@sbcglobal.net.
Professional References – Bereavement
Christ, G. H. (2000). Healing children's grief: Surviving a parent's death from cancer. New
York: Oxford University Press.
Baker, J. E., Sedney, M. A., Gross, E. (1996). Psychological tasks for bereaved children.
American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 62(1), 105-116.
Bowlby, J. (1973). Attachment and loss, Vol 2: Separation: Anxiety and anger. New York:
Basic Books.
Dyregrov, A. (1991). Grief in children: A handbook for adults. London: Jessica Kingsley
Publishers Ltd.
Emswiler, M.A. & Emswiler, J.P. (2000). Guiding your child through grief. New York: Guilford.
Fitzgerald, H. (1998). Grief at school: A manual for school personnel. Washington, DC:
American Hospice Foundation. [Available from the American Hospice Foundation, 2120 L
Street NW, Suite 200, Washington, DC 20037, www.americanhospice.org]
2 Geis, H. K., Whittlesey, S. W., McDonald, N. B., Smith, K. L. & Pfefferbaum, B. (1998).
Bereavement and loss in childhood. Child and Adolescent Psychiatric Clinics of North
America, 7(1), 73-85.
Grollman, E. A. (1995). Bereaved children and teens: A support guide for parents and
professionals. Boston: Beacon Press. Goldman, L. (2000). Life & loss: A guide to help
grieving children. Philadelphia: Accelerated Development.
Oltjenbruns, K. A. (2001). Developmental context of childhood grief. In M. S. Stroebe, R. O.
Hansson, W. Stroeb, & H. Schut (Eds.), Handbook of bereavement research: Consequences,
coping, and care (pp. 169-197). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Pennels, M. & Smith, S. (1995). Forgotten mourners: Guidelines for working with bereaved
children. Briston, PA: Jessica Kingsley Publishers Ltd.
Rando, T. (1984). Grief, dying and death: Clinical interventions for caregivers. Champaign,
IL: Research Press.
Rando, T. (1991). How to go on living when someone you love dies. New York: Bantam.
Webb, N.B. (2005). Helping bereaved children (2nd
 Ed). New York: Guilford.
Wolfelt, A. D. (1996). Healing the bereaved child: Grief gardening, growing through grief and
other touchstones for caregivers. Fort Collins, CO: Companion Press.
Worden, J. W. (1991). Grief counseling and grief therapy: A handbook for the mental health
professional, (2nd
 ed.). New York: Springer Publishing.
Professional References – Childhood Traumatic Grief
Black, D. (1998). Working with the effects of traumatic bereavement by uxoricide (spouse
killing) on young children’s attachment behavior. International Journal of Psychiatry in
Clinical Practice, 2(4), 245-9.
Brown, E. J., Pearlman, M. Y., & Goodman, R. F. (2004). Facing fears and sadness: Cognitive
behavioral therapy for childhood traumatic grief. Harvard Review of Psychiatry, 12(4), 187-
198.
Brown, E. J., & Goodman, R. F. (2005). Childhood traumatic grief: An exploration of the
construct in children bereaved on September 11th
. Journal of Clinical Child and Adolescent
Psychology, 34(2), 248-259.
Burgess, A. (1975). Family reaction to homicide. American Journal of Orthopsychiatry, 45(3),
391-398.
Cohen, J.,  Mannarino, A., &  Deblinger, E.  (2006).  Treating trauma and traumatic grief in
children and adolescents. New York: Guilford.
3 Cohen, J. A., & Mannarino, A. P. (2004). Treatment of childhood traumatic grief. Journal of
Clinical Child and Adolescent Psychology, 33(4), 820-832.
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., Greenberg, T., Padlo, S., & Shipley, C. (2002). Childhood
traumatic grief: Concepts and controversies. Trauma Violence & Abuse, 3(4), 307-327.
Cohen, J. A., Mannarino, A. P., & Knudsen, K. (2004). Treating childhood traumatic grief: A
pilot study. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent Psychiatry, 43(10),
1225-1233.
Eth, S., & Pynoos, R. (1985). Interaction of trauma and grief in children. In S. Eth & R.
Pynoos (Eds.), Post-traumatic stress disorder in children )pp. 171-183). Washington, DC:
American Psychiatric Press..
Green, B. (1997). Traumatic loss: Conceptual issues and new research findings. Keynote
address presented at the 5th International Conference on Grief and Bereavement in
Contemporary Society and the 19th Annual Conference of the Association for Death
Education and Counseling, Washington, D.C.
Goldman, L. (2001). Breaking the silence: A guide to helping children with complicated grief:
Suicide, homicide, AIDS, violence and abuse. Bristol, PA: Taylor and Francis.
Jacobs, S. (1999). Traumatic grief: Diagnosis, treatment, and prevention. Philadelphia:
Brunner/Mazel.
Layne, C. M., Pynoos, R. S., & Cardenas, J. (2001). Wounded adolescence: School-based
group psychotherapy for adolescents who have sustained or witnessed violent injury. In M.
Shafii,  & S. Shafii (Eds.), School violence: Contributing factors, management, prevention
(pp. 184-211). Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Layne, C. M., Pynoos, R. S., Saltzman, W. S., Arslanagic, B., Black M., Savjak, N., Popovic, T.,
Durakovic, E., Campara, N., Djapo, N., Ryan, H., & Music, M. (2001). Trauma/grief-focused
psychotherapy: School based post-war intervention with traumatized Bosnian adolescents.
Group Dynamics: Theory, Research, and Practice, 5(4), 277-290.
Melhem, N. M., Day, N., Shear, M. K., Day, R., Reynolds, C. F., & Brent, D. A. (2004).
Traumatic grief among adolescents exposed to a peer’s suicide. American Journal of
Psychiatry, 161(8), 1411-1416.
Melham, N.M., Moritz, G. Walker, M., Shear, M.K. & Brent, D. (2007) Phenomenology and
correlates of complicated grief in children and adolescents. Journal of the American
Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 46, 493-499.
Nader, K.O. (1996). Children’s exposure to traumatic experiences. In C. A. Corr & D. M. Corr
(Eds.), Handbook of childhood death and bereavement (pp. 201-220). New York: Springer
Publishing Company.
4 Nader, K. (1997). Childhood traumatic loss: The interaction of trauma and grief. In C. R.
Figley, B.  Bride, & N. Mazza  (Eds.), Death and trauma: The traumatology of grieving (pp. 17-
41). Washington, DC: Taylor & Francis.
Pfeffer, C. R., Jiang, H., Kakuma, T., Hwang, J., & Metsch, M. (2002). Group intervention for
children bereaved by the suicide of a relative. Journal of the American Academy of Child and
Adolescent Psychiatry, 41(5), 505-513.
Prigerson, H.G. & Jacobs, S.C. (2001). Diagnostic criteria for traumatic grief. In M. S.
Stroebe, R. O. Hansson, W. Stroebe, & H. Schut (Eds.), Handbook of bereavement research
(pp.614-646). Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Pynoos, R. (1992). Grief and trauma in children and adolescents. Bereavement Care, 11(1),
2-10.
Pynoos, R., & Nader, K. (1990). Children’s exposure to violence and traumatic death.
Psychiatric Annals, 20(6), 334-344.
Raphael, B. (1997). The interaction of trauma and grief. In D. Black &  M. Newman (Eds.),
Psychological trauma: A developmental approach (pp. 31-43). Arlington, VA: American
Psychiatric Press.
Raphael, B., & Martinek, N. (1997). Assessing traumatic bereavement and posttraumatic
stress disorder. In J. P. Wilson & T. M. Keane (Eds.), Assessing psychological trauma and
PTSD (pp. 373-395). New York: Guilford Press.
Saltzman, W. R., Layne, C. M., Steinberg, A. M., & Pynoos, R. S. (in press). Trauma/grieffocused group psychotherapy with adolescents. In L. A. Schein, H. I. Spitz, G. M. Burlingame,
& P. R. Muskin  (Eds.), Group approaches for the psychological effects of terrorist disasters.
New York: Haworth.
Sigman, M. & Wilson, J.P. (1998). Traumatic bereavement: Post traumatic stress disorder
and prolonged grief in motherless daughters. Journal of Psychological Practice, 4(1), 34-50.
Sims, D. (2001). What color is dead? Cross Country Seminars, Inc., Nashville, TN.
Webb, NB (2004) Mass trauma and violence: helping children and families cope. New York:
Guildford Press.
Wraith, R (1997, May 7-10). Debriefing for children: What is it we should be thinking about?
Traumatic grief–growing at different life stages. Proceedings of the Joint National
Conference of the National Association of Loss and Grief, Australasian Critical Incident
Stress Association, and Australasian Society of Traumatic Stress Studies: Trauma, Grief and
Growth - Finding a Path to Healing (pp. 384-6), Sydney, Australia
Professional References – PTSD
Alexander, D. W. (1999). Children changed by trauma: A healing guide. Oakland, CA: New
Harbinger Publications.
5 Allen, J. G. (1995). Coping with trauma: A guide to self-understanding. Washington, DC:
American Psychiatric Press.
Amaya-Jackson, L. (2000). Post-traumatic stress disorder in children and adolescents. In B.
J.Sadock& V. A.Sadock (Eds.) Comprehensive Textbook of Psychiatry/VII. Philadelphia:
Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Black, D., Emanuel, R., & Mendelsohn, A. (1997). Children and adolescents. In D. Black& M.
Newman (Eds.), Psychological trauma: A developmental approach (pp.281-293).
Washington, DC: American Psychiatric Press.
Cohen, J. A., Berliner, L,. March, J. S. (2000). Treatment of children and adolescents. In E. B.
Foa, T. M. Keane, & M. J. Friedman (Eds.), Effective treatments for PTSD: Practice guidelines
from the international society for traumatic stress studies (pp.106-138). New York: Guilford.
Davies, D. R., Burlingame, G. M., & Layne, C.M. (in press). Integrating small group process
principles into trauma-focused group psychotherapy: What should a group trauma therapist
know? In L. A. Schein, H. I. Spitz, G. M. Burlingame, & P. R. Muskin  (Eds.), Group
approaches for the psychological effects of terrorist disasters. New York: Haworth.
Donnelly, C. L., Amaya-Jackson, L., & March, J. S. (1999). Psychopharmacology of pediatric
posttraumatic stress disorder. Journal of the American Academy of Child and Adolescent
Psychopharmacology, 9(3), 203-220.
Follette, V. M., Ruzek, J. I., & Abeug, F. R. (1998). Cognitive-behavioral therapies for trauma.
New York: Guilford Press.
LaGreca, A.M., Silverman, W.K., Vernberg, E.M., & Roberts, M.C. (2002). Helping children
cope with disasters and terrorism. Washington, DC: American Psychological Association.
Ollendick, T. H., & Cerny, J. (1981). Clinical behavior therapy with children. New York:
Plenum Press.
Books for Children and Teens on Trauma and Bereavement
Preschool and early grades
Aliki (1979). The two of them. New York: Greenwillow Books. (ages 3-8)
de Paola, T. A. (1973). Nana Upstairs and Nana Downstairs. New York: Putnam. (ages 4-8)
Harris, R. H. (2001). Goodbye  Mousie. New York: Margaret K. McElderry Books. (ages 4-8)
Holmes, M. M., Mudlaff, S. J. (2000). A terrible thing happened: A story for children who
have witnessed violence or trauma. Washington, DC: Magination. (ages 4-8)
Mellonie, B. and Ingen, R. (1983). Lifetimes: A beautiful way to explain death to children.
New York: Bantam. (ages 3-8)
6 Thomas, P. (2001). Miss you: A first look at death. Hauppauge, NY: Barrons. (ages 4-8)
Varley, S. (1984). Badger’s parting gifts. New York: Lothrop. (ages 5-8)
Viorst, J. (1971). The tenth good thing about Barney. New York: Atheneum. (ages 4-7)
White, E. B. (1952). Charlotte’s Web. New York: Harper. (ages 4-8)
Middle grades
Agee, J. (1957). A death in the family. New York: Bantam. (ages 13 and up)
Gray, A. (Ed.) (1999). Stories for a teen’s heart . Sisters, OR: Multnomah Publishers. (ages
13 and up)
Paterson, K. (1977). Bridge to Terabithia. New York: Crowell. (ages 12 and up)
Porterfield, K. M. (1996). Straight talk about post-traumatic stress disorder: Coping with the
aftermath of trauma. New York: Facts on File. (ages 13 and up)
Romain, T. (1999). What on earth do you do when someone dies? Minneapolis: Free Spirit.
(ages 9 and up)
Smith, D. B. (1973). A taste of blackberries.  New York: Crowell. (ages 9-12)
High school and beyond
Canfield, J. Hansen, M. V., & Kirberger, K. (Eds.). (1997). Chicken soup for the teenage soul:
101 stories of life, love and learning. Deerfield Beach, FL: Health Communications, Inc.
(ages 12 and up)
Grollman, E. (1993). Straight talk about death for teenagers: How to cope with losing
someone you love . Boston: Beacon Press. (ages 13 and up)
Gunther, J. (1949). Death be not proud: A memoir. New York: Harper. (ages 13 and up)
All ages
Buscaglia, L. ( 1982). The fall of Freddie the leaf: A story of life for all ages. Thorofare, NJ:
Slack, Inc. (all ages)
Krementz, J. (1988). How it feels when a parent dies. New York: Knopf. (all ages)
O’Toole, D.(1998). Aarvy Aardvark finds hope: A read aloud story for people of all ages about
loving and losing, friendship and loss. Burnsville, NC: Celo Press. (all ages)
7 Books for Children and Teens – Sibling death
Preschool and Early Grades
Blanford, C. (2008). Something happened: A book for children and parents who have
experienced pregnancy loss. Western Springs, IL: Cathy Blanford Publishing.
This paperback picture book is designed especially for children between the ages of
two and six whose families have experienced a miscarriage, stillbirth, or neonatal
death. The simple, clear story helps children to understand what has happened and
to deal with their feelings and fears. It also reassures them that they are loved and
secure.
Johnson, J., Johnson, M. (1982). Where's Jess? For children who have a brother or sister die.
Omaha, NE: Centering Corporation.
This easy-to-understand picture book for children aged three to six is considered a
classic about sibling grief. The authors wrote it after losing their daughter Jess to
sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS).
Keough, P. (2001). Remembering our baby: A workbook for children whose brother or sister
dies before birth. Omaha, NE: Centering Corporation.
This workbook for children aged four to nine begins with the family finding out that
the expected baby has died before birth. The book offers activities that allow children
to express and share their feelings and to remember the brother or sister they never
had a chance to know.
Munoz-Kiehne, M. (2000). Since my brother died: Desde que murio mi hermano.. Omaha,
NE: Centering Corporation..
In this bilingual Spanish-English paperback book for children aged four to eight, the
young narrator talks about what it was like to lose his brother and how he learned to
keep memories in his heart. The book includes a bilingual section for caregivers and
teachers.
Old, W.C. (1994). Stacy had a little sister. Morton Grove IL: Albert Whitman & Company.
In this illustrated hardcover book for children aged four to nine, Stacy is so jealous of
her new little sister that she sometimes wishes the baby would “go away.” When the
baby dies of sudden infant death syndrome (SIDS), Stacy feels guilty and begins to
fear that she too might die in her sleep. Her parents try to comfort and reassure her.
The book includes information and resources about SIDS for parents.
Roper, J. (2001). Dancing on the moon. Cheverly, MD: SIDS Educational Services.
This paperback for toddlers to preschoolers tells the story of five-year-old Carly, who
is jealous of her new baby brother Nigel. But when he dies of sudden infant death
8 syndrome (SIDS), she feels confused and sad. She dreams that she flies to the moon
to find him but he tells her that he will always be with her in her heart.
Schwiebert, P. (2007). Someone came before you. Portland, OR: Grief Watch.
This paperback picture book is for very young children through preschool age who
were born after their parents lost a child born earlier. It describes the parents’ grief
and sadness and how they eventually decide they want to bring another child into
their lives. The book offers ideas for keeping the deceased child’s memory alive.
Schwiebert, P. (2003). We were gonna have a baby, but we had an angel instead. Portland,
OR: Grief Watch.
This illustrated paperback helps children aged two to eight to confront and deal with
their grief when a baby brother or sister dies before or shortly after birth. It includes
practical suggestions for parents on how to help children cope and remember the
baby who died.
Temes, R. (1992). The empty place: A child’s guide through grief. Far Hills, NJ: Small
Horizons.
In this paperback for children aged four to eight, a nine-year-old boy has trouble
facing the reality of death and the pain of his loss when his beloved older sister dies.
His babysitter, who had lost her own brother as a child, becomes an empathetic role
model who helps him learn to cope and heal.
Yeomans, E. (2000) Lost and found: Remembering a sister. Omaha, NE: Centering
Corporation.
In this paperback for children aged five to nine, a young girl explores what it means to
“lose” her older and only sister to death. She copes with her grief as she tries to
“find” Paige, and she learns that she and her family will always keep Paige in their
lives.
Middle Grades
Aiken, S. (2001). Anna’s scrapbook:: Journal of a sister’s love. Omaha, NE: Centering
Corporation (www.centering.org).
This spiral-bound book for middle-school readers tells the story of Anna, whose
preschool sister Amelia dies from an accidental fall. Anna deals with her grief by
keeping a diary and then decides to create a scrapbook in which she can keep her
memories of Amelia. The rest of the book offers readers blank pages in which they
can create their own diary and scrapbook.
Couloumbis, A. (2000). Getting near to baby. New York: Putnam.
Intended for sixth- to eighth-graders, this novel (a 2000 Newbery Honor Book) tells
the story of Willa Jo and Little Sister, whose family falls apart after their baby sister
9 dies. When their mother sinks into a serious depression, the two older girls are sent
to live with their strict Aunt Patty and their more sympathetic Uncle Hob. But no one
understands what the girls are going through until the morning they climb up onto
Aunt Patty’s roof and refuse to come down. During that long, sad day, the girls and
their family realize the healing power of love in the face of grief and loss.
Gryte, M. (1999). No new baby: For siblings who have a brother or sister die before birth.
Omaha, NE: Centering Corporation (www.centering.org).
This paperback, for children aged nine to twelve, is a first-person account about the
different feelings children may have when a sibling dies before birth. It answers
children’s most-asked questions and includes a section for parents and
grandparents.
Jackson, A. (2004.) Can you hear me smiling? A child grieves a sister. Washington, DC: Child
& Family Press.
This paperback, for grade two to four, recounts the illness and death of AfricanAmerican author Aariane Jackson’s beloved older sister at age twelve. Both girls were
adopted, and Jackson describes their sibling intimacy and the difficult and conflicting
emotions she had to cope with following her sister’s death. The book includes a
preface by the girls' mother and an afterword by grief counselors that offers advice
on how to help children cope with the anguish of losing a sibling.
Jampolsky, G.G. (Ed.), (1983). Straight from the siblings: Another look at the rainbow.
Millbrae, CA: Celestial Arts.
This collection of images and quotes from bereaved brothers and sisters, for children
aged nine to twelve, is a memorial to love between siblings. The quotes and stories
by the bereaved siblings who contributed to the book describe not only sadness but
also the difficult feelings, such as jealousy and guilt, that have troubled them.
Park, B. (2009). Mick Harte was here. New York: Scholastic.
In this paperback for sixth- through ninth-graders, eighth-grader Phoebe must come
to terms with the death of her fun-loving brother Mick after he is killed in a bicycle
accident at age twelve. The story leavens sorrow and grief with humor in capturing
the pain that Phoebe and her family go through as they try to cope with their loss.
Rothman, J.C. (1996). A birthday present for Daniel: A child’s story of loss. Amherst, NY:
Prometheus Books.
In this paperback for children aged seven to twelve, young Ellen shares what her
brother Daniel’s death means to her, and especially how she and her parents resolve
the painful issue of how to acknowledge his birthday each year. Highly recommended
by grief counselors and support groups, the book helps parents support their children
as family members explore different ways of grieving and communicating their
feelings about their loss.
10Samuels, V.R. (2006). Always my twin. (N. Clemmons, Illus.). Victoria, BC: Trafford
Publishing.
This illustrated paperback, for children aged seven through twelve, tells the story of a
young girl who loses her twin sister shortly after their birth. Based on the experience
of the author, who lost a twin daughter in infancy, it is a story of heartache, healing,
and hope. The book includes interactive pages that readers can respond to by using
pictures and describing feelings. It also lists support resources for families that have
experienced the death of a baby, including a twin or other multiple sibling.
Simon, J. (2002). This book Is for all kids, but especially my sister Libby. Libby died. Kansas
City, MO: Andrews McMeel Publishing.
In this hardbound book for children aged nine to twelve, the author tells of the death
of his younger sister Libby from a rare medical condition when she was 3½ years old.
Jack was only five and, like other small children facing such a huge loss, he thought
no one else could understand how he felt. However, the universality of his story
captures the emotions of every grieving sibling.
Thomas, C. (2005). Hugs & kisses from Brittany: A children's book about the death of
another child, from a child's point of view. Orchard Hill, GA: Brittany's Books.
This paperback for children aged eight to twelve explores how one young girl coped
with the death of a younger sibling. Shelby’s discovery of the importance of hugs and
kisses after her baby sister Brittany dies of a brain tumor opens the way for talks and
sharing about grief, loss, hope, and healing.
High School and Beyond
Linn-Gust, M. (2001). Do they have bad days in heaven? Surviving the suicide loss of a
sibling. Albuquerque, NM: Chellehead Works.
This paperback for teen and adult readers recounts the author’s personal experience
of losing her younger sister to suicide. Considered the first comprehensive resource
for sibling suicide survivors, it offers a journey of hope. It includes available research
and practical advice for survivors and those who care about them and want to help
them. The author is the creator of Sibling Survivors (www.siblingsurvivors.com; see
listing in “Web Sites” section below).
Ruiz, R.A. (2001). Coping with the death of a brother or sister. New York, NY: Rosen
Publishing Company.
This hardbound book for seventh- to twelfth-graders offers honest, descriptive
narratives in which young survivors of sibling loss talk about how they handled their
grief. When a brother or sister dies, everything changes for the survivors, even if the
death occurred when the surviving child was very young. A chapter on finding
additional help and resources speaks to youngsters who may be coping with feelings
of anger or rage in the aftermath of their loss.
11Books for Caregivers
Davies, B. (1998). Shadows in the sun: The experiences of sibling bereavement in
childhood. New York: Routledge.
This study summarizes a great deal of information about how the death of a sibling
affects the remaining children. The author discuss the bonds among siblings and how
the survivors may react to their loss, how children understand death, how a sibling’s
death affects the overall functioning of the family, and the long-term effects of the
death. The book includes practical guidelines for those seeking to help grieving
siblings, children, and families.
DeVita-Raeburn, E. (2007). The empty room: Understanding sibling loss. New York, NY:
Scribner.
The author, a science journalist, tells how the death of her older brother at age
seventeen of aplastic anemia (which forced him to live in a sterile hospital “bubble
room” for almost half his life), affected her. She uses powerful interviews with more
than 200 sibling survivors to explore how difficult it can be, and how long it can take,
to finally come to terms with the grief of losing a brother or sister.
White, P. G. (2006). Sibling grief: Healing after the death of a sister or brother. Lincoln, NE:
iUniverse.
The author, a psychologist who specializes in working with people who have lost a
sibling, was only fifteen when her sister died of a rare form of soft-tissue cancer.
White draws on her own experience as well as on her professional background to
explain the griefwork involved in sibling loss. She also explores how grief and healing
are reflected in siblings’ dreams. White is the creator of The Sibling Connection, a
not-for-profit support organization and web site (http://www.counselingstlouis.net)
for bereaved siblings (see listing in “Web Sites” section below).
Resources & Websites – General Bereavement
Association for Death Education
 http://www.adec.org/
The Centering Corporation
http://www.centering.org
Compassionate Friends
(http://www.compassionatefriends.org/Local_Chapters/Frequently_Asked_Questions.aspx)
This national organization, with chapters throughout the United States and
worldwide, is dedicated to helping parents following the death of a child at any age by
offering peer support groups for grieving parents. The web site also provides a list of
resources.
The Dougy Center: www.dougy.org.
12Genesis Bereavement Resources: www.genesis-resources.com.
The Center for Loss: www.centerforloss.com.
National Association of Home Care and Hospice
http://www.nahc.org/
National Center for PTSD Managing Grief after Disaster:
www.ncptsd.org/facts/disasters/fs_grief_disaster.html.
National Child Traumatic Stress Network:
www.NCTSNet.org.
Resources & Websites - Military
Army Morale Welfare and Recreation (MWR)
http://www.armymwr.com
Local Veterans Centers
http://www.vetcenter.va.gov
800-273-TALK (Emergency Hotline) 800-827-1000
Mental Health America
http://www.mentalhealthamerica.net/reunions/infoWarChildLoss.cfm
(800) 969-6642
Military Child Education Coalition (MCEC)
http://www.militarychild.org  
254-953-1923
Military OneSource
http://www.militaryonesource.com
800-342-9647
National Military Family Association (NMFA)
http://www.nmfa.org
800-260-0218
Operation Render Comfort
http://www.operationrendercomfort.org
979-821-2266
Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
http://www.taps.org/youth/
800-959-TAPS (8277) (24-hour hotline)
Tricare: Your Military Health Plan
http://www.tricare.osd.mil
13ZERO TO THREE (Military Families)
http://www.zerotothree.org/site/PageServer?pagename=key_military
202-638-0851
Resources & websites: Sibling death
Open to Hope (http://opentohope.com/hope-online/dealing-with-grief/dealing-withloss/death-of-a-sibling/)
This link on the web site of the Open to Hope Foundation (www.opentohope.com), a
general online grief resource, focuses specifically on sibling grief. It offers a series of
first-person accounts and reflections on sibling loss, and visitors are invited to leave
comments.
The Sibling Connection (http://www.counselingstlouis.net/)
Created by psychologist P.G. White, author of Sibling grief: Healing after the death of
a sister or brother (see the listing in “Books for Caregivers”), The Sibling Connection,
offers support to anyone who has lost a sibling. It includes extensive information,
articles, and resources about sibling grief at different ages of the life cycle. It also
lists resources on sibling loss in films, art, and psychology. Visitors can submit their
own stories and communicate through the site’s message board.
Resources & websites: mental health, school
American Psychological Association
http://www.apa.org
http://www.apahelpcenter.org/featuredtopics/feature.php?id=56&ch=5
(800) 374-2721
American School Counselor Association
http://www.schoolcounselor.org
(800) 306-4722
Center for School Mental Health
http://csmh.umaryland.edu/resources.html/index.html
(888) 706-0980
Center for Mental Health in Schools
http://smhp.psych.ucla.edu
(866) 846-4843
National Institute of Mental Health
http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/topics/coping-with-traumatic-events/index.shtml
(866) 615-6464
National Association of School Psychologists
http://www.nasponline.org
(866) 331-NASP
14School Social Work Association of America
http://www.sswaa.org
(888) 446-5291
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
National Mental Health Information Center
www.mentalhealth.samhsa.gov/databases
(800) 789-2647
Supplies
The Goodbye Game, M & B Distributors
PH: 1(204) 728-3758
The Grief Game, Jessica Kingsley Publishers, 116 Pentonville RD, London N1 9JB,
www.jkp.com
Black, C (1984). The Stamp Game: A game of feelings. Denver: MAC Printing and
Publications.
O’Conner, K (1983). The color-your-life technique. In C.E. Schaefer & K.J. O’Conner (Eds.),
Handbook of play therapy (pp. 251-258). New York: Wiley.
WPS-11 Emotional Bingo for Children (6-12). Available @ www.slosson.com/item98761.ctlg