Grief recovery support group starts at 50 North

FINDLAY — A new program at 50 North will help members deal with grief — whether it's from a death, addiction or trauma; loss of a career, trust or health; or changes in finances, estranged relationships, divorce or the end of a relationship. The eight-week program is called the Grief Recovery Method: Grief Support Group. "I participated in a group a few years ago for myself personally as I was dealing with a loss," said Amy Kantz, outreach case manager at 50 North. "I felt it was sort of a catalyst that help me move through that pain, so I am excited to start this group and lead the group and help others." Outreach Director Gary Bright said this program is one they've wanted to offer for a quite sometime. Grant money from Family Resource Center, awarded by the Ohio Department of Mental Health and Addictions Services (OHMAS), will enable the center to offer a pilot class free of charge beginning in August. Krantz has been working with Amber Wolfrom, adult prevention specialist with Family Resource Center (FRC), to bring the workshop to 50 North. "We had been wanting to train someone. Amy's been saying for a long time she would like to get trained so we were just waiting for an opportunity to get one of our case managers, or ideally we wanted to get a couple trained," said Bright. "This grant came across and it only funded training one person, but that's great that we had that." 50 North Executive Director Carolyn Copus gave her okay for the program. "She was excited about it, to be able to offer this for members because there are different ones offered around the community from time to time. But something I think about the community here, like our members who come here I think feel comfortable here," said Bright. "So we thought if we can offer it internally, we always wanted to do that." There was one hitch though, he said. Because of how these grants operate, all of the programming has to be completed by Sept. 30. "So we had to get somebody trained and offer an eight-week course to members by the end of September," Bright said. Krantz did an online Zoom training with people all over the country, spending about eight hours over four days to become certified. "It's learning from the other participants because obviously it's other loses. It's being able to learn from everybody else. This is what I experienced versus what someone else is experienceing in life and loss," she explained. Four 50 North members have signed up for the program that will be held every Tuesday — Aug. through Sept. 23 — from 4-6 p.m. The center hopes to continue to offer the support group at least once a year, if not twice. "It's a very valuable support group," said Krantz, noting that everything is kept confidential. "And it is a part of the population we work with," Bright added. "People have losses. It is definitely something that will continue to be relevant." Krantz said the program follows the Grief Recovery Handbook written by John W. James and Russell Friedman, founders of the Grief Recovery Institute. "It starts out identifying obviously what loss it is for you personally that they want to work through. Then it follows the homework, the different exercises, activities. And then you would partner up with at least one other person in the group to share," she said. "It's identifying the loss you want to work on. It's coming up with a timeline and then a relationship graph. And then at the very end it's writing a letter." Bright said the Hancock County Board of Alcohol, Drug Addiction and Mental Health Services has been good about finding funds to train people in the community to run the program. "Again, we'll just be another site serving our particular population," he said. "And when funds become available, we'll probably try to train another person. So we keep on trying to expand just this kind of thing. We just want to offer as much as we can to our members right here where they're comfortable. It really feels like home to a lot of people." The deadline to register is Tuesday. Reach out to Krantz at 419-423-8496 with questions.