Rays of Hope Children’s Grief Centre Programs

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 HopeWorks is a peer support group whose aim is to guide children through the various stages of grief. This program meets weekly for ten consecutive weeks. Participants are placed in groups of similar ages and circumstance. 

 Through the use of the creative arts, these classes focus on peer support, expression of feelings and acquiring new coping skills.  TOE classes are held April through August of each year and the artistic theme rotates monthly. 

Creative Wednesdays are a great way for the family to spend time together in a relaxed setting and explore the creative offerings at Rays of Hope.  Every Wednesday from 3:30 – 5:30 p.m. our building is open for making crafts, playing music and other fun activities. This is an open house time and no pre-registration is required. 

 Special events for families to come together and enjoy Back-to-School festivities, Holiday celebrations, Summer Fun Nights and other special occasions. 

 Fostering Hope is a peer support group specifically for children who are currently in or have previously been involved in the foster care system. This program meets for six consecutive weeks. 

 MAD Camp utilizes the expressive arts of Music, Art and Drama as tools of exploration and coping. Each day of camp includes opening and closing activities, discussion time and snacks.  

 Journey Camp is exclusively for children and teens who have previously attended the Hope Works course. This camp is designed as the next level in their grief work. This week of exploration introduces campers to the Forest of Fear, Challenge Mountain, the Ocean of Emotion, the City of Change, the Jungle of Anger and the Island of Hope. 

Teen Camp is a special time, just for our teens. Adolescents who are rising 7th through 12th graders are invited to attend. We have designed this camp to navigate the work of grief as the participants are also navigating puberty and the rituals of growing up. 

 Volunteers are vital to the success of Rays of Hope. We always welcome those who have a love and a heart for children. If you wish to make a tremendous difference in the lives of children of the Permian Basin, then make the decision to join us.  Please call (432) 684-KIDS today to learn about volunteer opportunities. 

 When children are navigating their grief journey, it is essential to allow them the time, space, and creativity to express themselves in their unique way. Music Therapy is an established health profession in which music is used within a therapeutic relationship to address individuals' physical, emotional, cognitive, and social needs. At Rays of Hope, our Board Certified Music Therapist designs and implements goal-oriented music activities in most of our programs, including: Creative Wednesday, MAD Camp, Journey Camp, and HopeWorks. Students are encouraged to create, explore, and learn in a safe, non-judgmental space in both group and individual settings that will meet them in their level of ability. The music room boasts a piano, keyboard, guitars, ukuleles, and a wide variety of percussion instruments to help kids of all ages express and explore feelings that are often hard to put into words.