Reducing Depression Among Adolescents Dealing With Grief and Loss: A Program Evaluation Report
Reducing Depression Among Adolescents Dealing With Grief and Loss: A Program Evaluation Report
Reducing Depression Among Adolescents Dealing With Grief and Loss: A Program Evaluation Report
Walker
CCC and Shaffer
Code: 0360-7283/07 $3.00 /©2007
Reducing Depression
National among
Association Adolescents
of Social Workers Dealing with Grief and Loss: A Program Evaluation Report 67
provide language, concepts, and activities that assist incarcerated youths in 88 percent of program par-
in promoting the healing process. Art therapy is ticipants. A study conducted between August 1995
the creative component of the program that allows and July 1997 at the Indianapolis Juvenile Correc-
participants to create a memorial wreath, which tional Facility revealed a 25 percent recidivism rate
communicates that the loss is a real and permanent for those who completed the program as compared
aspect of the person’s life history. Family genogram with the 75 percent recidivism rate for nonpar-
activities also provide an opportunity for participants ticipants (Indianapolis Grief & Loss Consulting &
to identify destructive family patterns or behaviors. Educational Services, 2003).This program is not an
Participants are encouraged to become the genera- attempt to help adolescents forget about their loss
tion of change within their families. Youths learn experiences, as lives are forever changed by loss.
to define future goals through the creation of a Rather, it is a program designed to help hurting
personal mission statement identifying a purpose youths integrate single or multiple loss experiences
for living, personal character, and responsibilities into their life story in a way that is meaningful and
to family and community. Memory books provide hopeful rather than overwhelming and self-de-
opportunities for artistic and creative expressions structive. The journey of grief is a lifelong process,
of pain. Growing Through Loss concludes with a and often one’s greatest strengths are recognized
“Letting Go” ceremony, which offers agency staff through painful experiences. The experience of
and family an opportunity to recognize the effort of understanding the tasks involved in the grieving
participants. Participants light a candle symbolizing process, the opportunity to share painful experi-
their commitment to make a difference in the lives ences with others in a nonjudgmental setting, and
of others in an effort to find meaning to the painful the opportunity to learn new and healthy coping
loss they experienced. skills serve to benefit group participants and society
as well.
Program Outcomes
Since the inception of the Growing Through Loss References
program, approximately 5,000 adolescents have Cunningham, L. (1996). The subject of anger. Newhall, CA:
completed the program in correctional facilities, Teen Age Grief, Inc. Retrieved September 4, 2001,
from http://www.smartlink.net/~tag/anger.html
alternative and traditional schools, and residential Indianapolis Grief & Loss Consulting & Educational Ser-
treatment centers and community centers. vices. (2003). Loss study. Indianapolis: Author.
Schilling, R. F., Koh, N., Abramovitz, R., & Gilbert, L.
The following are documented program out- (1992). Bereavement groups for inner-city children.
comes achieved by participants: Research on Social Work Practice, 2, 405–420.
YWCA Indianapolis. (1993). [Survey responses of incar-
• Ninety percent of program participants dem- cerated female adolescents at the Eliza Hendricks
School in the Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional
onstrated and reported an understanding of Facility]. Unpublished data.
the correlation between grief and loss and
maladaptive behaviors. Paulette Walker, LSW, is director, Indianapolis Grief & Loss
• Eighty-eight percent of incarcerated ado- Consulting & Educational Services, 8306 Balmoral Lane,
Avon, IN 46123; e-mail: paulette@indygriefloss.com, and
lescent girls showed a reduction in levels of
adjunct instructor, Indiana University School of Social Work.
depression as measured by the Beck Depres-
Michelle Shaffer, LCSW, is clinical therapist, Cummins
sion Inventory; 87.5 percent of adolescent Behavioral Health, Inc.; adjunct instructor, Indiana University
boys showed a reduction. School of Social Work; and, formerly, director, Intensive Treat-
• Ninety-eight percent of program participants ment Unit, Indianapolis Juvenile Correctional Facility. For more
wrote a personal mission statement, created a information on the Growing Through Loss program, contact the
symbol of loss, maintained a personal journal, authors at Indygriefloss@sbcglobal.net or visit http://www.
and created a family genogram. indygriefloss.com
• Ninety-eight percent of participants com- Original manuscript received July 14, 2003
pleted 90 worksheets from the Growing Final revision received October 16, 2003
Accepted October 28, 2003
Through Loss student workbook.
Conclusion
The Growing Through Loss program has been
successful in reducing levels of depression among