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Dedicated resources to support young people of color who experience the death of a loved one are in short supply, and according to a recent survey given by the New York Life Foundation with the American Federation of Teachers as part of our Grief-Sensitive Schools Initiative, 99% of educators agree that grief can frequently have an adverse impact on learning at school. As a thought leader and investor in the childhood bereavement space, the Foundation invested $140,000 with The Steve Fund to increase access and equity for young people of color, as well as develop multicultural resources in partnership with diverse experts in this field.

The Steve Fund develops and delivers curricula to students of color who learn about the impact of loss and grief on their mental well-being and provides resources to support their grief journey. In addition, educators, counselors, administrators, and families gain strategies to support their young students of color through the bereavement process.

Our partnership with The Steve Fund will focus on supporting young students of color in New York City with culturally sensitive grief and bereavement content delivered through a series of workshops for middle schoolers. The Steve Fund is also planning a virtual citywide awareness-building conference for educators as a pilot program that could be rolled out nationwide.

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