Children & Youth Grief Support
Programs
Helping young hearts understand loss, one step at a time.
When a child or teenager is facing serious illness, anticipating a death, or grieving a death of someone, it can be overwhelming—for them and for their family. Hope House offers compassionate, developmentally appropriate grief support programs designed to help children and youth feel seen, understood, and supported through every stage of grief.
How Our Programs Work
Who It’s For
Our HUUG Program (Help Us Understand Grief) supports children, youth (under 18 years), and families who are:
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Experiencing a serious illness
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Anticipating a death
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Grieving a death
HUUG aims to normalize feelings, thoughts, and experiences related to illness, dying, death, and grief through play, conversation, creative activities, and group connection, all within a safe and supportive environment.
How HUUG Support Begins
Following referral and intake, our HUUG Counsellor connects with the parent or caregiver(s) to learn more about the child(ren) and family situation. An in-person assessment is then scheduled, where the counsellor collaborates with the family to develop a personalized care plan aligned with the family’s goals and needs.
Support plans may include group programming, individual counselling, and family consultation, tailored to each family’s circumstances.
HUUG Kids’ Camp - Group Support
Children aged 7-12 years are invited to come together in a supportive environment to explore grief through meaningful activities, express themselves through crafts and play and remember their special person in thoughtful ways. Camp runs 9:30-3:30pm Monday-Friday
IN PERSON
July 13-17 & July 20-24, 2026
Facilitator: Julia & Volunteers
Support for Children & Youth
Our Help Us Understand Grief (HUUG) program is available to children and youth of families navigating serious illness, end of life or grief. Both counselling and group activities are available and support is tailored to individual needs
IN PERSON
Throughout the year
Facilitator: Julia
Individual Counselling Support
One-to-one counselling is available for children and youth anticipating the death of a close person or grieving a loss. Support is individualized and may include: -Diagnosis education -Emotional expression and coping strategies -Legacy work and memory-making -End-of-life preparation -School and disclosure support
IN PERSON
Throughout the year
Facilitator: Julia
Our Children & Youth Grief & Bereavement Programs
Additional Support May Include
Depending on individual and family needs, HUUG support may also include:
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Grief and diagnosis education
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Legacy work and memory making
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End-of-life preparation
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School advocacy and support
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Illness disclosure guidance
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Identifying support systems
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Young caregiver support
Program Registration
To become a Hope House client, to register to a specific programs or for more information. Please fill out this form, Call us or Email us.
Meet Our HUUG Counsellor
Julia Zinn, MSc, BA, CCLS, CT
Julia Zinn is a Certified Child Life Specialist (CCLS) and Certified in Thanatology (CT). Child Life Specialists are allied health professionals who support the emotional well-being of children, youth, and families facing stressful life experiences.
Julia holds a BA in Psychology and Thanatology, along with a Certificate in Grief, Loss, and Bereavement Studies from Western University, and an MSc in Child Life and Pediatric Psychosocial Care from McMaster University. She brings extensive clinical experience in child development, attachment, family systems, serious illness, dying, death, grief, and loss.
HUUG Program Resources
Grief often extends beyond scheduled sessions. Hope House offers additional grief and bereavement resources to support children, youth, and families between visits and at home.
Visit our Resources Page to explore grief-specific materials, caregiver guidance, booklets, and trusted community links—including resources focused on helping children and families navigate loss.