Kelly Waddell

Agency: Tu Nidito Children and Family Services

Term: Spring - 2005

Tu Nidito and the loving welcoming staff use this warm place to serve grieving families in a number of ways. There are support groups for all ages that center on either dealing with a sick child or sibling, the death of a family member or loved one, or anticipating the death of a loved one. There is also more one-on-one care where volunteers visit a sick child either in the hospital or the home. During the holidays and other times during the year there are activities and meals provided for the families.

My role in the agency is two-fold. One service I provide is general office support for events. This is an important part because without the organization of fundraising events Tu Nidito would not be able to monetarily support the programs for these families. The other service I provide is facilitating groups.

Before I was able to start working with the children in the groups I needed to complete an extensive training program lasting 4 weeks. Recently I completed the training and chose to work in two groups: one is Children to Children, which is a group for children dealing with the death of a family member, usually a parent. The other group is Family Ties, in which I work with children who have a seriously ill family member. The Children to Children group meets on the second and fourth Tuesday of every month, and I work with the middles ages 7-12. During the evening the groups meet and have group time, group activity and free play. During group time the children share their name, the name of the person that died and how he or she died. Group activity is a time when the children participate in a grief-related activity. Finally, a good portion of the evening is devoted to free play where children are allowed to work though their grief though play.

Family Ties is structured very similarly to the other group except the children share who is ill and the ill child, if able, can join the group. I have only been to a few groups thus far, though I am already very touched by the children and anticipate growing even fonder of them.

My first night in the Children to Children group I was so touched by two little girls. Throughout the night I was mingling trying to get to know the children, but two little girls that later turned into three decided to attach to me. We sat together for part of the meal, we sat near each other in group, and during free play we dressed up in funny costumes and played in the imagination room. Then at the end of the night when we were saying our good-byes two of those girls came up to me and said, "I had so much fun with you, I hope you come back next time. You’re my new favorite facilitator." I was so touched and knew that I made a real connection and that it mattered to a least those two girls that I come back.

My advice to anyone thinking about an internship is: be prepared. Be prepared to make the commitment to being present and ready to serve because these people really need you. Be prepared to be touched and given back to in amazing unexpected ways. Be yourself that is who they need. Finally, this may seem scary now, but know that you are never alone, there is always someone to pick you up again all you have to do is ask.

University of Arizona | College of Agriculture and Life Sciences
School of Family and Consumer Sciences | Family Studies and Human Development

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