Westfield School District Partners with Imagine for Comprehensive Grief Support Initiative

As schools across New Jersey prepare to meet new state requirements for grief education, the Westfield School District is taking a proactive lead. Recently, Westfield’s School Counselors and Student Assistance Counselors (SACs) completed Imagine’s training series which includes their 101, 201, 301 and Loss and Grief Specialist Trainings thanks to the generous support from the Bogart Grant from the Westfield Foundation.

This session marks the beginning of a multi-phase partnership designed to equip Westfield’s counseling staff with the specialized skills and knowledge required to facilitate peer support groups directly within the schools. Once the trainings are completed, Imagine staff will provide ongoing supervision and support as these school-based groups begin.

The collaboration carries significant local weight. Imagine first opened its doors in Westfield, offering groups at the First United Methodist Church before moving to its current Mountainside Center in 2017.

“Bringing this training back to Westfield feels incredibly meaningful,” said Veronica C. Ortiz, LPC, Imagine’s Training and Education Director. “We began this journey years ago by training district administrators, including Superintendent Dr. Raymond Gonzalez. Now, working alongside Matt Bolton, Assistant Superintendent, and Falynn Balassone, K-12 Director of Counseling, we are turning that vision into a sustainable reality for Westfield students.”

The initiative is particularly timely following the passage of the New Jersey Grief Bill (S3330), which requires schools to provide grief education to students in grades 8-12. Through a dedicated grant, this program will expand beyond counselors to also include physical education and health teachers as well as parents and caregivers.

“Westfield is not just meeting a state requirement; they are building a culture of empathy,” noted Ortiz. “By investing in their skills and knowledge, the district is ensuring that when a student is grieving, they are met with a staff that is grief informed, compassionate, and ready to listen.”

For more information on Imagine’s Training and Education Program, please contact Veronica C. Ortiz at veronica@imaginenj.org or visit www.imaginenj.org.

Imagine, A Center for Coping with Loss is a 501c3 that offers training and education on loss and grief to the community and free year-round grief support groups for children ages 3-18 and young adults 19-30 who are coping with a loss due to death. Concurrently, support groups are available for the parents and caregivers of the children in the groups and offered in English and Spanish. Imagine has centers in Newark and Mountainside and offers virtual groups as well. For more information, please contact Imagine at 908-264-3100 or info@imaginenj.org or visit our website at www.imaginenj.org.