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Thursday, Mar 28th

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You are here: Opinions Viewpoints Children’s Grief Center receives generous grant from insurer

Children’s Grief Center receives generous grant from insurer

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ALBUQUERQUE – The Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico announced March 13 that it received a $15,000 grant from Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico (BCBSNM) through its Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative.

Because of our commitment to provide a safe and supportive environment where children, teens and their families can share experiences and feelings while grieving a death, we are now partnering with BCBSNM whose Healthy Kids, Healthy Families vision is to help improve the health of youth and their families in local communities.

“We’re proud to give our support to the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico as a Healthy Kids, Healthy Families partner,” said Janice Torrez, vice president of external affairs for BCBSNM. “Their work is so important and makes a difference during such a difficult time after the death of a loved one.”

Healthy Kids, Healthy Families is a signature program of Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico. The initiative focuses on engaging children and their families in understanding the importance of nutritious food, raising the level of physical activity, improving immunizations rates, better managing chronic conditions and promoting safe environments.

Likewise, the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico provides a safe environment for children to talk about their feelings with other children that have also experienced a death of a loved one. Since 2001, trained bereavement facilitators have led these free and much-needed support groups that promote hope, healing and healthy coping skills for bereaved youth.

“We are honored to have BCBSNM support through their Healthy Kids, Healthy Families initiative. This support will help us to continue to provide hope and healing to almost 500 children and their families annually,” said Jade Richardson Bock, executive director of the Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico. A 13-year-old that attended group after the death of her mother said, “I talked about it and let the tears go that I was never able to shed.

The Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization that provides free support services for grieving children and is the only such program in central New Mexico through our North Valley and Rio Rancho locations.

We are also the only organization in the state that supports children outside central New Mexico through our annual summer Camp Corazon. Before the grief center’s inception in 2001, this much-needed service did not exist. Children who attend bereavement support groups come from all backgrounds and circumstances. The main 3 reasons that children and families come to the center is because of an experience of death due to car accidents, cancer or suicide.

Blue Cross and Blue Shield of New Mexico is the largest commercial health insurer in New Mexico with 550,000 New Mexicans carrying a Blue Cross and Blue Shield card. Since 1940, BCBSNM has been committed to promoting the health and wellness of its members and communities through accessible, cost-effective, quality health care.

BCBSNM is a Division of Health Care Service Corporation, the country’s largest customer-owned health insurer and fourth largest health insurer overall. Health Care Service Corporation is a Mutual Legal Reserve Company and an Independent Licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association.

Contact: Children’s Grief Center of New Mexico - Jade Richardson Bock (505) 323-0478 or This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it