The Most Ignored

I volunteer at a centre for grieving children here in Ontario, Canada.  It's a great place, and a hugely important resource for kids who have lost a loved one to death.  The people who founded it and run it are deeply committed to helping children work through their feelings surrounding the death of a family member.  Sadly there are many kids that need this service.  The good news is that there are numerous grieving centre's across the US and Canada.

I often think of the population of children I work with when I volunteer there.  Where do they go for help?  The reality is, there are very few programs specifically for children who love someone with addiction.  These kids are in pain and grieving.  Some have physically lost a loved one to substance abuse; all have suffered emotionally.

Recently, Sis Wenger, president of NaCoa, released a statement questioning why the needs of these kids, the most vulnerable in our population, aren't being addressed.  It's powerful, well-written, and to the point.

It leaves me asking the question again, where do they go for help?  Why are they the most vulnerable, yet the most ignored?