Why EMPACT?

Throughout their lives, children encounter many forms of loss and disruption. Death is only one of them. Experiences such as parental divorce, relocation, school changes, losing contact with a friend, the loss of a pet, war, disasters, and forced migration can all trigger deep grief responses in children. However, children often cannot express their emotions as adults do; instead, they may show withdrawal, anger, disengagement from school, physical complaints, or behavioral signals as calls for help. Schools are one of the most critical social environments where children spend a large part of their time. Yet, teachers are often not adequately prepared to respond to these situations.