Fernside Center for Grieving Children

Fernside Center for Grieving Children offers a Family Program for children and teens ages 3-18 and a parent or guardian, a Family Summer Art Series for families, School Program groups for area elementary, middle, and high school students, and Camp Program outdoor experiences for children, teens, adults, and families. It also offers Crisis Program support following a death, Special Collaboration Program support groups for those with special needs, Community Outreach & Education presentations on grief-related topics and services, Phone Consultations for grief-related questions or concerns, and Resources & Reading for grieving families and helping professionals.

Programs

• Family Program — children and teens ages 3-18 and parent/guardian · Twice-a-month meetings from September-May; at 5 locations; families can join at anytime
• Family Summer Art Series — families · Once a month during the summer (June-August) and once a month in December
• School Program — area elementary, middle and high school students · Time-limited groups, on-site, during the school day; groups are scheduled throughout the year
• Crisis Program — schools and other organizations · Following a death
• Special Collaboration Program — those with special needs · Support groups
• Camp Program — children, teens, adults and families · Outdoor experiences
• Community Outreach & Education — community · Presentations on grief-related topics and services
• Phone Consultations — families and helping professionals · Grief-related questions or concerns
• Resources & Reading — grieving families and helping professionals · Resources and reading materials

At a glance

• Ages: 3–18 years old

About the provider

Fernside Center for Grieving Children was established in 1986 and became affiliated with Hospice of Cincinnati in 2002. It provides grief support services and outreach and education to the community and families, including support for grieving children, teens, adults, families, and helping professionals working with grieving children. The program is free of charge with the help of generous donors, and over 1,300 children, teens, and adults attend support groups annually.

Children must be registered by a parent or legal guardian. Family Program meetings are offered at 5 locations from September-May: Anderson, Blue Ash, Bridgetown, Downtown and Liberty Township. School Program groups are offered at no cost to the school or to the students and are scheduled on a first come, first-served basis. Fernside has limited capacity to run school-based groups.

Last updated October 16, 2026.