Free Highmark Caring Place Kids & Teens Grief Peer Support — Pennsylvania

The Highmark Caring Place is a Center for Grieving Children, Adolescents and Their Families, providing free grief support services across Pennsylvania since 1996. Funded by Highmark Health, the Caring Place model is rooted in peer support and operates four locations in Pennsylvania (Pittsburgh, Erie, Lemoyne, and Warrendale).

What to Expect

Children and teens come together in age-grouped peer support circles led by trained volunteer facilitators while parents and adult caregivers meet in a concurrent adult group. The Caring Place uses a peer support model — kids learn that other children have had similar losses and that grief is normal and not something to be “fixed.” Programming includes art expression, play, memory work, and structured discussion. Children typically attend for 6-8 sessions in a small group.

Pennsylvania Locations

Pittsburgh (the original Caring Place, opened 1996). Warrendale (north of Pittsburgh). Lemoyne (Harrisburg area). Erie (northwest PA). Each location runs ongoing peer support groups; check caringplace.org for the current schedule at each.

Who This Is For

Pennsylvania-area children ages 3-18 who have experienced the death of a parent, sibling, grandparent, or other significant family member. The Caring Place serves all causes of death — illness, accident, suicide, overdose, homicide. Parents and caregivers attend concurrent adult groups.

Why The Caring Place Model Works

The Caring Place’s combination of peer support, trained volunteer facilitation, and supportive physical spaces (sensory rooms, art rooms, expressive play spaces) gives kids multiple ways to process their grief. Many families return for refresher cycles in subsequent years as their child’s understanding of the loss evolves.

How to Join

Call your local Caring Place location (Pittsburgh 412-432-2400; Erie 814-871-6855; Lemoyne 717-302-4900; Warrendale 724-933-1830) or visit caringplace.org to begin enrollment.