The Douglas County School System is the first metro Atlanta school system awarded a grant to support children coping with grief and loss, thanks to the New York Life Foundation (NYLF).
The $17,500 grant will support 35 DCSS schools by providing resources to K-12 educators, helping school communities better support grieving students.
Through the program, trained New York Life ambassadors connect with schools and nonprofit organizations in their local communities to raise awareness of the impact and prevalence of grief among school-age children. Additionally, they provide direction to critical resources designed by the Coalition to Support Grieving Students.
Superintendent Trent North expressed heartfelt appreciation for the contribution, recognizing the grant’s significant impact on advancing the DCSS mission.
"We are deeply grateful to receive the Grief-Sensitive School grant from New York Life's Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative," said North. "This support will enhance our ability to care for grieving students within our school community. With these additional resources and training, our educators will be better equipped to provide support for grieving students. New York Life's initiative aligns perfectly with the Douglas County School System's mission of nurturing the whole child, prioritizing not only academic success but also the emotional well-being of our students."
Statistics suggest an estimated 1 in 13 children will experience the death of a parent or sibling by age 18, and the majority experience some kind of close, personal loss before graduating high school. Furthermore, a joint survey conducted by NYLF and the American Federation of Teachers revealed that only 7 percent of teachers had received training to support bereaved students.
New York Life Agent Ayanna Hicks is proud to support this meaningful endeavor.
“Our goal is to ‘do good’ by bridging the financial literacy gap in our communities," Hicks said. "The Grief-Sensitive School Initiative exemplifies this commitment.”
Hicks also expressed gratitude to Douglas County School Board Member Michelle Simmons and Assistant Superintendent of Student Services Mitch Springer for their significant contributions in securing the grant.
NYLF invests in programs that benefit young people, specifically in educational enhancement and childhood bereavement support. The nonprofit organization launched the Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative (GSSI) in 2013.
“Thank you to New York Life for helping us positively impact our students' lives,” said Springer.