Research shows that unaddressed grief among children and teenagers can have a major impact on their functioning and personality. When these young people have not developed the coping skills they need to process grief, they often turn to violence, drugs, or alcohol. I Have a Friend provides a healthy outlet for children with the opportunity to form a real bond with someone who has experienced the same major loss. Understanding the importance of this program, Kenny Slaught notes, “Recognizing that the child’s life will never be the same, the mentor offers a positive example for how to process and deal with the pain of loss. The mentor serves as a symbol that happiness and wholeness can be achieved no matter how the child may feel in the years immediately following a major loss.”

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