Youth Program

Taps Youth The Tragedy Assistance Program for Survivors (TAPS)
is America's only nonprofit Veterans Service Organization chartered solely to assist the surviving families of military members who have died while serving our nation. A significant part of TAPS' mission is to minister to the mental, emotional and spiritual welfare of children who are a part of the military family and have suffered the traumatic death of a parent.

TAPS accomplishes this mission by providing compassionate care, age-specific information, a range of resources, national networks for children, and counseling for all ages. The youth learn to rebuild their shattered lives, look to the future with hope, and remember the love of their family member. The TAPS program, including efforts for children, is known throughout the Department of Defense.

Surviving parents indicate the most critical need for their young surviving families is an organized program of assistance for the children. That is why the TAPS Children's Outreach Program is an essential component to our military survivor programs.

Taps Youth The TAPS Children's Outreach Program:

Enables children to deal with their grief and the accompanying traumatic stress;

Through partnerships with sister Veteran Service Organizations, the children learn how to honor those who have served and died for their nation;

Teaches our children to discover and realize their loved ones were a part of something very important in our society, and that they embodied character, courage, honor and ability in their military duty; and

Provides care and compassion so the children find they are not alone in their grief through sharing their pain and offering comfort in a network of military children around the country and the world.

Taps Youth

Currently, the TAPS Children's Outreach Program gives youngsters a solid foundation on which to build a healthy future following a tragic loss. The average American doesn't understand the immense sacrifices that military families make for America. Being a military family requires special people and dedication. When a parent in that family dies, the rest of that family deserves the very best care possible. These surviving youth learn coping skills and will learn the feelings they are experiencing are normal reactions to an abnormal event -- the untimely death of a parent.

Links:
Living with Grief, The Military Model for Children and Grief
By Bonnie Carroll and Major Judy Mathewson

Good Grief Camp for Young Survivors