Grief resource for kids gets national grant
Tu Nidito Children and Family Services is using a $100,000 grant to provide free grief support to children in outlying areas of Pima County.
The two-year grant from the New York Life Foundation's national Grief Reach Program will enable Tu Nidito to provide grief support groups for children ages 3 1/2 to 18.
Tu Nidito is the only agency in Southern Arizona providing child-centered grief support.
"Many people don't realize how many children are affected by grief. Nearly 20 percent of children will experience the death of someone close to them - parent, sibling, friend - before they turn 18," Tu Nidito Executive Director Liz McCusker said. "We know that not every child grieving a death can come to us, and we're very excited about this opportunity to bring our services to them."
Tu Nidito helps children find healthy ways to process their grief and prevent unresolved childhood grief, which can include depression, health problems, anxiety, drug abuse, promiscuity, gang activity, truancy and suicide.
Adult caregivers may attend a concurrent group, where they will learn how to best support their children. Support groups will meet for 90 minutes one weekday evening for eight weeks at Copperview Elementary School in Sahuarita and Cottonwood Elementary School in Vail. Groups begin on Thursday, March 28, in Sahuarita and Wednesday, April 3, in Vail.
Contact Tu Nidito at or support@tunidito.org or 322-9155. Space is still available, but registration is required for participation. Volunteer opportunities are also available.
Lecture to explore diet and disease
"Is there an autoimmune diet?"
It's the question that Dr. Randy Horwitz is expected to answer at the next Living Healthy With Arthritis lecture scheduled for 6 p.m. on Wednesday, March 6, in the Chase Auditorium of the University of Arizona Medical Center, 1501 N. Campbell Ave.
Horwitz is the medical director of the University of Arizona Center for Integrative Medicine.
The association of nutrition and disease has been the subject of both academic research and anecdotal folklore for generations. Typically there are three primary associations: prevention of disease with specific dietary interventions; the avoidance of certain foods or nutrients to prevent symptom exacerbation; and the enrichment of diet in order to alleviate symptoms.
Horwitz will examine the role of different dietary interventions in the modern management of autoimmune diseases, including various forms of arthritis.
To register for the lecture email livinghealthy@arthritis.arizona.edu or call 626-5040.
Contact Star medical reporter Stephanie Innes at sinnes@azstarnet.com or 573-4134.
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