Kara

KARA PROVIDES GRIEF SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN, TEENS, FAMILIES AND ADULTS. GUIDED BY ITS CORE VALUES OF EMPATHY AND COMPASSION, AND BELIEF THAT LOSS AND GRIEF IMPACT EVERYONE, KARA SUPPORTS PEOPLE OF ALL AGES ON THEIR JOURNEY THROUGH GRIEF SO THEY CAN MOVE TOWARD RENEWED HOPE AND MEANING.

SERVING THE SF BAY AREA SINCE 1976, KARA PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE GRIEF SUPPORT AND EDUCATION SERVICES TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGH INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PEER SUPPORT; IN-HOUSE PSYCHOTHERAPY; ON SITE CRISIS INTERVENTION; BEREAVEMENT EDUCATION AND TRAINING SERVICES; CAMP KARA, A BEREAVEMENT CAMP FOR CHILDREN 6-17 YEARS OLD; AND COMMUNITY EVENTS. STAFF AND OVER 200 TRAINED VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE THE CARE, COMPASSION, CONNECTION, AND COMMUNITY NECESSARY TO FACILITATE HEALING FOR THOSE WHO ARE GRIEVING. PEER SUPPORT GRIEF SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON A DONATION BASIS AND WITHOUT LIMIT TO THE DURATION. IN ADDITION, FEE-BASED THERAPEUTIC SERVICES ARE PROVIDED ON A SLIDING SCALE. DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMIC, THE PRIMARY MEANS OF SERVICE DELIVERY SHIFTED TO TELEHEALTH (VERSES IN-PERSON) IN 2020. SERVICE SUMMARY: DESIGNED TO MEET THE UNIQUE NEEDS OF THOSE COPING WITH LOSS AND GRIEF, KARA OFFERS INFORMATION, EMOTIONAL SUPPORT, CONNECTIONS, AND A SAFE SPACE TO EXPRESS AND NORMALIZE FEELINGS OF GRIEF. FOR INDIVIDUALS AND FAMILIES, WE OFFER BOTH PEER SUPPORT AND THERAPY SERVICES. PEER SUPPORT SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN BOTH ENGLISH AND SPANISH, AND PROVIDED BY HIGHLY TRAINED VOLUNTEERS WITH EXPERIENCE IN HEALING FROM THEIR OWN PERSONAL LOSS. FEES ARE NOT CHARGED FOR OUR PEER SUPPORT SERVICES. SERVICES INCLUDE:ONE-ON-ONE SUPPORT FOR ADULTS;GROUP SUPPORT FOR ADULTS (INCLUDING LOSS SPECIFIC AND GENERAL DROP-IN GROUPS);ACTIVITIES FOR YOUNG ADULTS (INCLUDING HIKES AND EXPRESSIVE ARTS WORKSHOPS)GROUP SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN, MIDDLESCHOOLERS, AND TEENS;SCHOOLS-BASED GROUP SUPPORT FOR CHILDREN; ANDCAMP KARA AN ANNUAL WEEKEND GRIEF CAMP FOR AGES 6 17.GRIEF THERAPY SERVICES ARE AVAILABLE FOR INDIVIDUALS OR FAMILIES WHOSE LOSS IS COMPLICATED BY HIGHER DEGREES OF TRAUMA OR EMOTIONAL CIRCUMSTANCES. SERVICES ARE OFFERED IN ENGLISH AND ON A LIMITED BASIS IN SPANISH, AND ARE PROVIDED BY SUPERVISED MENTAL HEALTH COUNSELORS WORKING TOWARD THEIR LICENSING. FOR ORGANIZATIONS, SCHOOLS AND PROFESSIONALS, KARA PROVIDES SUPPORT THROUGH OUR COMMUNITY OUTREACH PROGRAM. SERVICES ARE OFTEN CUSTOMIZED AND CAN INCLUDE: CRISIS RESPONSE & DEBRIEFINGS OFFERED ON-SITE TO HELP PROCESS GRIEF WHEN A DEATH HAS OCCURRED OR IS EXPECTED. CONSULTATIONS TO PROVIDE GUIDANCE AND DIRECTION ON SUPPORTING AN ORGANIZATIONS COMMUNITY.TRAINING & EDUCATION - ON TOPICS SUCH AS UNDERSTANDING THE SYMPTOMS OF GRIEF, TALKING WITH CHILDREN ABOUT DEATH, AND SUPPORTING GRIEVING FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES.ANNUAL COMMUNITY EVENTS ALSO PROVIDE THE BEREAVED A COLLECTIVE OPPORTUNITY TO REMEMBER OR HONOR LOVED ONES WHO HAVE DIED. EACH YEAR, KARA HOSTS OUR: WALKNRUN TO REMEMBER, DAY OF THE DEAD CELEBRATION (DA DE MUERTOS), AND CANDLELIGHT SERVICE OF REMEMBRANCE. 2020 ACCOMPLISHMENTSKARA SERVED OVER 4,300 BAY AREA COMMUNITY MEMBERS WITH HIGHLIGHTS AS FOLLOWS: SUCCESSFULLY PIVOTED TO PROVIDING ALL CLIENT SERVICES TO TELEHEALTH SUPPORT DUE TO THE ONGOING CORONAVIRUS PANDEMICCOMPASSIONATE VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED INDIVIDUAL AND GROUP PEER SUPPORT TO 943 ADULTS AND CHILDREN.CLINICAL STAFF AND ASSOCIATES SERVED 73 INDIVIDUALS WITH GRIEF-SPECIFIC THERAPY, PROVIDING 1,429 SESSIONS.WE REACHED 1,788 INDIVIDUALS THROUGH CRISIS SUPPORT, EDUCATION AND TRAINING, SERVING 56 ORGANIZATIONS.CARING STAFF OFFERED GRIEF CONSULTATIONS AND COMMUNITY REFERRALS TO 491 INDIVIDUALS.201 VOLUNTEERS PROVIDED 6,898 HOURS IN SERVICE TO THE BEREAVEDTHE IMPACT OF OUR SERVICES AS EXPRESSED THROUGH OUR CLIENT VOICES: THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH FOR A HEALING HOUR AND A HALF. KARA IS A MIRACLE FOR THIS TIME OF GRIEF... I TRUST KARA PERSONNEL. I FEEL ACCEPTED, ENCOURAGED, AND SAFE DURING ONE ON ONE, AND GROUP MEETINGS. I MENTION SAFE, BECAUSE I NEVER HAVE TO WORRY THAT I WON'T BE HEARD, AND BECAUSE I NEVER FEEL JUDGED OR CRITICIZED. I'M FREE TO BE ME.KARA UNFAILINGLY PROVIDES A SAFE AND SUPPORTIVE ENVIRONMENT FOR PEOPLE TO NAVIGATE THEIR GRIEF. I KNOW MY JOURNEY WOULD BE HARDER WITHOUT KARAS SERVICES."I BELIEVE THIS GROUP HELPED OUR STUDENTS IMPROVE EMOTIONALLY AND SOCIALLY. STUDENTS WERE GIVEN THE OPPORTUNITY AND TOOLS TO BEGIN IDENTIFYING AND EXPLORING THEIR OWN GRIEF IN A SPACE WHERE THEY CAN FEEL CONNECTED TO OTHERS IN THE GROUP THAT HAVE A SIMILAR EXPERIENCE. STUDENTS REPORTED FEELING A SENSE OF RELIEF TO SHARE THEIR EXPERIENCE AND FEEL VALIDATED WEEKLY."I AM EXTREMELY GRATEFUL FOR THE HELP THAT I RECEIVED. IT HELPED ME TO TALK THROUGH THINGS THAT CLEARLY THE INDIVIDUALS AT KARA UNDERSTOOD. MY COUNSELOR WAS UNDERSTANDING, CARING AND HELPED ME PUT THINGS IN PERSPECTIVE SO THAT I FELT LIKE I COULD BEGIN TO MOVE ON. I THINK SEEING THAT SHE WAS ABLE TO MOVE FORWARD AND ENJOY LIFE AFTER HER SON'S DEATH, GAVE ME HOPE THAT ONE DAY I WILL BE ABLE TO AS WELL.