There are no fees or charges for your congregation to use our services. In November 1999, The Center for Child and Family Studies received a two-year grant from the Project on Death in America to develop bereavement resources and assistance services for faith communities in South Carolina. This project is the result of months of exploring the needs of faith communities, forming initial partnerships with faith groups and then developing a foundation of resources and services related to bereavement. The idea for this Project came from Center staff who are seasoned social work practitioners with years of experience in serving clients struggling with loss and grief issues. It has been through these years of practice experience that we have come to recognize two vital truths.
Bereavement issues are often very complex.
Faith communities are often the primary, if not the only, source of support for dealing with bereavement needs. As matters of death and dying become more sterilized in our society, issues of loss, grief, and bereavement become more challenging. For faith communities this means new struggles in balancing their spiritual approach to dying with the enormous needs individuals and families may face. The Dying Well Project was funded through the Project on Death in America , of the Open Society Institute . The Open Society Institute is a private operating and grant making foundation that promotes the development of open societies around the world.