are not like anything I have ever seen,” said Danielle Visone, LCSW,
Tidewell’s Family Grief Program Specialist. “Here, they understand
each other, they are heard and not judged, and they can talk about
their feelings and their grief without being shut down.”
Summer events are offered to Blue Butterfly families with the
assistance of community partners. Recently, The Ringling Museum’s
education department hosted Blue Butterfly families for a special
night of bonding, art, and culture. Families were treated to a catered
meal, story time, a special art project, and a free visit to the museum.
This special event permitted families from different group nights to
cultivate bonds where perhaps none existed before. It helped kids
understand they’re not alone and are part of a supportive network
and community.
A similar event took place on the Saturday of Father’s Day Weekend
when the Conservation Foundation of the Gulf Coast hosted a
kayaking day. The mom of a teen Blue Butterfly participant said: “I
am so grateful you had this event available on Father’s Day weekend.”
Teens and their caregivers were invited to a fun day on the water
as a way to build camaraderie on an otherwise difficult weekend.
Programs like the Kayak Day, or Ringling Museum Day, are
scheduled throughout the summer for the Blue Butterfly families
and serve as just a couple examples of how family engagement
and fun can strengthen the support group members’ bonds.
“It’s a way to bring a bit of joy to the lives of the families we serve,”
Visone added.
Other summer programs for Blue Butterfly include TreeUmph!,
Common Grounds Adventure, fishing at the Conservation
Foundation, and another evening at The Ringling Museum.
Thanks to the generosity of donors and community partners, Blue
Butterfly provides all programs and peer support groups free of
charge to enrolled participants. Any family grieving the death of
a significant person can reach out for support to the program by
calling 941-894-1752 or emailing d visone@tidewell.org.
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