Wendt Center for Loss & Healing

Rekindling hope. Rebuilding lives.

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Grief & Trauma Resources

On this page:

Wendt Center Tip Sheets »
Resources for Mental Health Support »
Resources for Caregivers & Families »
Resources for Seniors »
Resources for Healthcare Workers »
Resources for Employers »
Resources for Pressing Needs »

Wendt Center Tip Sheets

Wendt Center Videos

Youth Voices & COVID-19 with Dr. Reed Tuckson
Grief & Post Traumatic Growth with David Kessler, Grief Expert and Michelle Palmer
Styles of Grieving – Spectrum of Intuitive and Instrumental Grievers
Cinco Actividades de ‘Grounding’ – Five Grounding Activities
Storytime: “The Invisible String”, written by Patrice Karst and illustrated by Joanne Lew-Vriethoff
Mindfulness Phrases – Mick Neustadt leads you through phrases for coming back to the present moment.

Resources for Mental Health Support

  • Call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 for free and confidential support 24/7 for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.
  • SAMHSA’s Disaster Distress Helpline provides 24/7, 365-day-a-year crisis counseling and support to people experiencing emotional distress related to natural or human-caused disasters.
  • Text TalkWithUs to 66746 for additional support.
  • The Access HelpLine at 1(888)7WE-HELP or 1-888-793-4357 is the easiest way to get connected to services provided by the Department of Behavioral Health and its certified behavioral health care providers.
  • EveryMind Crisis Line at 301-738-2255 offers phone, text and chat call specialists 24/7 to listen and provide support for anxiety.

Resources for Caregivers and Families

How to Talk to Children

More tips and information for parents

Helping children understand the pandemic

Stress and coping tools for kids and teens

Activities to Do at Home

  • #FitDC Free live workouts for kids and seniors
  • Scholastic Learn at Home: Day to Day Projects to Keep Kids Learning at Home
  • Go Noodle: indoor recess, mindfulness and brain break videos
  • Lunch Doodles with Mo Willems, weekdays at 1pm
  • Khan Academy, free, fun educational program for children ages two to seven

Resources for Seniors

  • Call the Legal Counsel for the Elderly at 202-434-2120 for free legal and social work services.
  • Visit the AARP website to learn more about their Ombudsman Program. You may also call the helpline at 202-434-2190.
  • The Department of Aging and Community Living’s hotline is operational, and seniors who need information or assistance should call (202) 724-5626. The call center will conduct a quick assessment and connect you to the appropriate service.
  • Information on meal delivery services are available here.

Resources for Healthcare Workers

COVID-19 Resources for Healthcare Staff

Tips and information on healthcare staff coping and wellbeing at work / related to COVID-19

Considering and coping with ethical challenges

General stress and coping tools 

  • Professional Quality of Life Measure (ProQOL)  https://proqol.org/ProQol_Test.html
  • Measure of both negative and positive effects on professionals from helping others who experience suffering and trauma.  Available in 27 languages, or download the “Provider Resilience” app for iOS or Android
  • The ProQoL is included in this set of quick, evidence-based tools to gauge your stress as well as your compassion satisfaction.  Give yourself a regular “checkup” – the app will help you track your responses over time.
  • Headspace for Healthcare Professionals
  • Tools for calming and coping.  Headspace is offering free accounts for healthcare professionals during the pandemic

Resources for Employers

Resources for Pressing Needs

Funeral Assistance

  • FEMA offers funeral assistance for deaths due to Covid. For a single death, a family can apply for $9,000. For multiple deaths, a family can apply for up to $35,000. For more information, call (844) 684-633 Monday through Friday, 9am to 9pm or access FEMA Covid-19 Funeral Assistance here.

Access to Essential Items

  • District residents who have been directed by a medical provider to self-quarantine, or have no other means to acquire essential items can access the COVID-19 Needs Hotline and Web Portal to request food and other essential items be delivered to your homes. Qualifying residents can also call 1-888-349-8323 or visit coronavirus.dc.gov to request assistance.
  • DC Mutual Aid Network offers groceries, toiletries, other hygeine essentials, and even childcare in Wards 7 & 8. Their hotline is 202-630-0336.

Food Resources

  • Any DC resident under 18 (they can be enrolled in school or not) can get a meal from any of the DCPS meal sites during hours listed.
  • Food resources, including student meal distribution sites and meal delivery for senior residents
  • Additional Listings of Food Resources

Rental Assistance

Utility Assistance

  • The Utility Discount Programs (UDP) assists low-income District residents reduce their utility costs. To qualify, your utility bills need to be in your name and you must meet income guidelines (below) established by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. For Lifeline discount phone service call 1(800) 253-0846. Click here to apply online.
  • Pepco has suspended service disconnections and is waiving new late payment fees through at least May 1 and will be working with customers on a case-by-case basis to establish payment arrangements and identify energy assistance options. Customers who may be challenged in paying their bill should contact Pepco Customer Care at 202-833-7500. Click here for more info.
  • Information on utility relief from Pepco, Washington Gas, and DC Water

WiFi & Internet Assistance

Pet Food Assistance

Information from DC Government