About
About Families Helping Families
Families Helping Families (FHF) was born to give people a new way to treat people grieving. When Jenna Druck died tragically in 1996, her father Dr. Ken Druck sought help to survive the grief. As a mental health professional, Dr. Druck consulted within his community of peers only to find no solace.
The expert model, based on a rigid understanding of grief and a dogmatic approach to ‘recovery’ did not work for him. Rather than resign himself to the status quo, Dr. Druck poured his energy and love for Jenna into the creation of The Jenna Druck Foundation and its innovative Families Helping Families program.
Rather than an expert model, FHF is a peer program. We realize that grief is an individual journey, with no right way and no ‘cure.’ There are generalities that may be applicable to an individual, but each person’s journey is a result of their entire life, their existing relationships, and the relationship with the person they have lost – and that is absolutely unique.
FHF provides a network of peers for exploring the deeply personal experience of grief, in a supportive and empathetic environment. Sometimes, all one needs is to know that they are not alone in their grief, and there is a shoulder to lean on.
The activities of FHF are led by certified bereavement counselors who have personally experienced losses, and who strive to provide a safe and comforting environment for others to explore their own feelings towards loss, as well as allowing an opportunity to build the foundation of a new life – hence our motto that ‘Hope Loves Company.’
Our Approach
Our FHF staff are trained bereavement facilitators and parents, many of whom have lost a child. Services are provided at no cost to families in all parts of the community. FHF takes a practical, non-pathological approach to supporting people in grief.
The Four Core Values of Families Helping Families
Emotional Safety
The death of a loved one leaves a family in choice-less pain. A heartbroken search begins for the raw courage to go on without their loved one. This begins the long process of healing.
We provide a safe forum for expression and bold inquiry into the myriad of issues, emotions and problems that arise for grieving individuals, families and communities. We then help execute a flexible, effective strategy for survival and healing.
Respect the Uniqueness of Each Individual
The grieving process is different for each of us. People are challenged to reconstruct their lives slowly over time.
Families Helping Families goes beyond the traditional teacher/expert/therapy/recovery models. In our approach, the “Respect” model, each individual is honored as they discover their unique path to healing.
To “Be With”
At the core of our approach is a quiet strength of presence we refer to as “being with.” To be with is to listen with one’s heart, suspending judgment, beliefs and assumptions. To be with is to be fully present to the other person. Open. Authentic. Caring. Accepting. Non-judging.
Strength of Heart
We recognize that the journey of healing is lifelong, requiring great courage and compassion. Jenna Druck called this combination “strength of heart.”
Please take a few moments to explore our website, and please contact us if you feel that we can offer you a ray of hope.