BOUNTIFUL—The death of a loved one can be devastating. For a child, processing that grief is different than for an adult. The Grandview Grief Center in Bountiful, recently opened its doors and will help families and children through grief and trauma. It is a project of the nonprofit Grandview for Good and is the first facility of its kind in Davis County.

“As a community, we must recognize that children grieve differently than adults and they need safe spaces, resources, and compassionate support to help them heal,” said Katie Wood, Mrs. Davis County, who has chosen this as her platform for the upcoming Mrs. Utah pageant. “By coming together, we can surround grieving children with the love and encouragement they deserve as they learn to carry their loss and find hope again.”

Wood has a personal experience with grief. “My dad was five when his dad and sister died in a drowning accident,” she said. “There were not really any grief services and it wasn’t talked about much in the 70s. You can still see the effects.”

The grief center can give people the tools they need, said Wood. “I wish that was something my dad would have had.”

“Our grief center will serve families impacted by grief and loss through age appropriate individual and group therapy in collaboration with several local counseling centers,” said Amanda Grow, CSW, Executive Director Grandview for Good. “All services are free to families. It is funded in part by grants from the New York Life Foundation and a Davis County Social Services Block Grant.”

Davis County doesn’t have a grief center, she said. “If there was a loss in the family they would go to Salt Lake’s Sharing Place or Center for Grieving Children in Ogden. People in Davis County were referred to other places. The Sharing Place often has a long waiting list and it’s in Taylorsville. We wanted to bring something to our community.”

The grief center has several rooms where children can work through their trauma and grief through play therapy. “Play therapy is an evidence-based form of therapy,” said Grow. “We have registered play therapists with extensive training. I appreciate that those working with kids get the highest level of training.”

The rooms have figurines, doll houses and kitchens where children can choose to tell their stories, she said. “They can use sand trays that help them put an overwhelming experience in a confined space to process it in a manageable way. Symbols help tell the story for the human parts of the brain that language can’t touch but symbols can access when the brain doesn’t have words.”

 All operating costs for the center are covered by private donations, said Grow. “The block grant provides direct therapy services for children and caregivers in Davis County.”

“The grant given by Davis County Health Department to the Grandview for Good Grief Center was one way to support grief resources in our community,” said Teresa Smith, Community Outreach Planner for the Davis County Health Department. “The Grief Center supports families of all ages through grief and offers a variety of resources to help us be a compassionate community.”

Local grief and loss resources were compiled onto a website that includes general grief information, tips to support those who have lost a loved one, what to do following an unexpected death and local resources and support groups, said Smith. “Grandview for Good compassionately supports those who are grieving and has been a great partner in sharing their expertise in a community-wide initiative.” 

Smith said they have also created a “sympathy card” that is given through first-responders, hospitals, schools, faith leaders, friends, neighbors, etc. to those who are grieving. “The card includes a QR code to the webpage daviscountyutah.gov/health/grief-and-loss as well as the phone number of a therapist who can personally help connect to local resources.” 

Everyone can do something to support someone who is grieving, said Smith. “Most importantly, it is to show up and be present. It is OK not to know what to say, but be prepared to listen.”

For more information about the Grandview Grief Center visit [email protected]. The center is located at 1576 S. 500 West, Bountiful.