Grief Peer Support Groups - Imagine NJ - Free for Kids & Families

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss provides peer grief support to New Jersey children and families experiencing the death of an immediate family member — a parent or a sibling. Imagine believes deeply in the peer group support model: families mourning alongside other families, learning they are not alone.

What to Expect

In-person peer grief support groups meet at Imagine’s Mountainside and Newark locations every other week, with families typically participating for one year. Each interested family begins with a one-hour orientation with Imagine’s clinical team to determine the family’s needs. Families are then assigned to a Night of Support, where children and adults go into separate age-appropriate groups — kids with kids their own age, caregivers with other grieving adults. Virtual grief peer support is also available for families who can’t attend in person.

Who This Group Is For

New Jersey children, teens, and their caregivers grieving the death of a parent or sibling. Groups are organized by age and stage so every member of the family lands in a room that fits.

Why Peer Support Works

When a parent or sibling dies, a child’s world divides into people who get it and people who don’t. Imagine’s model surrounds each family member with people who get it. Age-matched peer groups give children permission to grieve in their own way — through words, play, and silence alike — while caregivers draw strength from other adults parenting through loss. A year of steady, every-other-week support builds the kind of community that grief otherwise dissolves.

How to Join

Start with the interest form on Imagine’s website or contact the center to schedule your family’s orientation. Groups meet biweekly at the Mountainside and Newark locations, with virtual options available. Imagine’s peer support services are provided free of charge to families.