Brooklyn School Shares a COVID-19 Grief and Loss Resource Kit

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Few feel fully prepared for the COVID-19 pandemic that is sweeping the world. Indeed, as educators, we cannot ever fully prepare for the loss of a colleague, student, or family member.

Brooklyn LAB has been hit hard by the pandemic, and in the process of trying to make sense of how to support our school community, we greatly appreciated the insights and templates shared by our peer organizations and colleagues. It got us thinking about how we could share some of our experience with other education communities.

“During these most difficult moments, it’s important to have established norms and protocols regarding how to best communicate with and serve our school communities.” – Jonathan Flynn, Manager of Family Engagement and Community Affairs

We hope that no other school community finds themselves in the scenario of dealing with loss due to COVID-19, but because of our experience, our colleagues (with generous contributions from peer organizations) developed a COVID-19 Grief and Loss Resource Kit to help other schools navigate their own community loss.

“The impact of COVID-19 on our students, families, staff, and community members is harsh and unfair, often disproportionately so. We want to support your extended school communities during this time of anxiety, sadness, and grief.” – Greg Rodriguez, High School Director at Brooklyn LAB

“When a loved one is lost, we come together as a village. During social distancing, we can remain emotionally and mentally close through our virtual support: communicating our love and solidarity; listening to families and their wishes; sending care packages or meals; providing resources to cope with grief and trauma: and being a source of stability through the storm.” – Cecile Kidd, the Brooklyn LAB Bursar

The COVID-19 Grief and Loss Resource Kit includes the following documents to serve as guides for other school communities that can be adapted to suit their unique environments.

-Guidance on How to Handle the Loss of a Staff Member: Protocol for the communication of the loss of a staff member and appropriate resources to include

-Guidance on How to Handle the Loss of a Student or Parent/Primary Caregiver: Protocol for the communication of the loss of a student or parent/primary caregiver and appropriate resources to include

-Grief and Bereavement Resources: Resources for managing grief, counseling and therapy, self-care, and protecting mental health in the COVID-19 era

-How to Respond to the Loss of a Staff Member or Scholar (During Closure): A remote counseling support plan that identifies social workers and their availability, a universal contact number, and additional procedural guidance

-How to Respond to the Loss of a Scholar’s Family Member (During Closure): Remote counseling support plan that identifies standard procedures for the activation of social workers in the event of the loss of a scholar’s family member

-Letter to Families Communicating the Loss of a Staff Member: Template that includes reflections on the individual’s meaning to the community and information regarding funerals or other services

-Script for Informing Parents/Families of a COVID-19 Death in the School Community: A template for outreach via phone that includes condolences and information on support

-The Social Worker Support Call-Line Protocol: Guidance on how to set up a call line, how to approach and document calls, and resources for ongoing support

-Website Content Template: Information for your website that may help support your school community during this difficult time

-Letter to School Community: Template acknowledging grief and loss, expressing gratitude for commitment to students and families, and overviewing crisis response

Resources
This case study focuses on a set of resources put together by Brooklyn LAB Charter School. This link contains all the resources discussed.
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National Alliance on Mental Illness
NAMI
Brooklyn LAB worked to provide those affected by the pandemic as many resources as possible. This HelpLine is available Monday-Friday, 10:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m., EST at (800) 950-6264.
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Open to Hope
Open to Hope
Helpful resources including podcasts and support groups for homelessness, for children who have lost family members and friends, parents who have lost children, and partners who have lost their loved one
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The Center for Complicated Grief
The Center for Complicated Grief
Columbia University has resources including one that talks about Managing Bereavement around COVID-19.
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Coalition to Support Grieving Students
Coalition to Support Grieving Students
This is a site specific to educators and is designed to provide educators with the information, insights, and practical advice they need to better understand and meet the needs of the millions of grieving kids in America’s classrooms.
This National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) provides information, guidelines, and resources to help support the learning and well-being of students, their families and others in the school community during the COVID-19 crisis.
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Helping People With Intellectual Disabilities Cope With Loss
Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities
This resource from the Vanderbilt Kennedy Center for Excellence in Developmental Disabilities provides suggestions and resources for this specific population.
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Grief and Bereavement Resources
Autism Speaks
These resources compiled by Autism Speaks serve as an entry point for discussing grief and loss with students with autism.
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Addressing Grief
NASP
This resource from The National Association of School Psychologists (NASP) serves to promote the ability of children and youth to cope with traumatic or unsettling times.
This resource from the National Center for School Crisis and Bereavement offers resources tailored for various audiences, such as educators, mental health professionals, and parents.
This resource from Harvard University provides specific recommendations for handling stress during the pandemic.
This compilation from the American Clinical Social Work Association links to tools and resources available from agencies such as Center for the Study of Traumatic Stress, The Wellness Society, and the Red Cross.
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Supporting Grieving Children & Teens during the COVID-19 Global Health Crisis and School & Community Toolkit
The National Center for Grieving Children & Families
These documents from The National Center for Grieving Children & Families provide frameworks and resources for responding to grief and loss during the pandemic.
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Responding to Change & Loss Toolkit
National Alliance for Grieving Children
This resource from the National Alliance for Grieving Children suggests activities and strategies that can be used to help students cope with feelings associated with grief and loss, as well as rapid change.
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Navigating Children's Grief
Children’s Grief Education Association
This resource from the Children’s Grief Education Association outlines age-specific expectations for how students may deal with grief, as well as suggestions for each.
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About Children & Grief
Scholastic
Scholastic’s website provides a wealth of information about how children grieve and that teachers can help children manage loss.
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The National Child Traumatic Stress Network
NCTSN
This site links to resources to help schools to raise the standard of care and improve access to services for traumatized children, their families and communities throughout the United States.

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