According to the JAG Institute’s 2025 Childhood Bereavement Estimation Model Report, 1 in 11 children (approximately 6.4 million children) in the United States will experience the death of a parent or sibling by the age of 18. We know that death is not the only way adolescents experience grief and loss and, according to research, educators recognize childhood grief as a serious issue that needs more attention in schools.

The Middle Ground, supported by the New York Life Foundation, is a space created for students navigating all types of grief and loss. Inspired by the New York Life Foundation’s graphic novel Lost in the Middle, these spaces not only provide a welcoming physical environment but also serve as hubs with opportunities for storytelling, creative expression and peer connection and will reflect a commitment to fostering supportive, inclusive environments where students feel seen, heard and connected to ensure no child feels alone in their grief.

Resources provided support PTAs to partner with their school to build The Middle Ground space in support of a grief-sensitive school culture.