WHAT ARE BEST GROUPS?
BEST Groups provide a compassionate, peer-supported space for children and youth navigating grief and loss. Established in 2011 through a partnership between Putnam County Schools and Heart of the Cumberland, Inc., BEST Groups have since helped hundreds of students each year find a safe and supportive environment to process their emotions.
Participants in BEST Groups explore feelings related to:
The loss of a parent, sibling, or close family member
Divorce or family separation
Foster care placement
A parent or guardian’s absence due to substance abuse, incarceration, abandonment, military deployment, or deportation
Each group is intentionally small, fostering meaningful connections where students can Be Each other’s Support Team. This peer-based format promotes empathy, emotional awareness, and healthy expression.
At the heart of BEST Groups are 11 Heart Messages, reinforced through guided journaling, hands-on object lessons, and interactive activities. Facilitators are equipped with a comprehensive guide, including detailed lesson plans, supply lists, and implementation strategies to ensure a structured and impactful experience.
BEST Groups provide a place of healing, understanding, and growth—because no child should navigate grief alone.
ABOUT OUR CURRICULA
Our curricula, originally designed for school settings, contain content that supports Building Strong Brains Tennessee. Grounded in evidence-based practices, the curricula takes the form of peer support groups called BEST Groups (Be Each other’s Support Team).
Available in two individual formats—our children’s curriculum (Exploring My Feelings) and our youth curriculum (Navigating this Maze of Emotions) are both aligned with the following:
• TN Board of Education School Counseling Model and Standards Policy.
• TN Department of Education K-12 Social and Personal Competencies.
• American School Counselor Association Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success.
This curricula can be utilized in a variety of settings including:
Child Advocacy Groups
Juvenile Prevention Programs
Professional Mental Health Settings
Boys and Girls Clubs
Grief Support Camps
Drug Endangered Children Programs
EXPLORING MY FEELINGS
Grief and Loss Curriculum for Children
The Exploring My Feelings curriculum is designed to help grieving children learn what feelings are common to those who have experienced loss and how to express those emotions in healthy ways. Exploring My Feelings provides opportunities for children to receive the support they need to experience hope and healing in a peer support setting. The 95-page facilitator's guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to conduct a BEST Group, a list of materials needed, and the objectives of each lesson.
Each Exploring My Feelings Art Journal includes activity pages for participants to reinforce what they are learning through practical expression. Participants will explore feelings of loneliness, worry, anxiety, and anger. They will learn the importance of forgiveness, making healthy choices, and goal setting. The curriculum concludes with lessons on encouragement, hope, and courage. Exploring My Feelings is designed to be facilitated with a small group of children in elementary or early middle school grades. Groups typically meet for 11 weeks (an introduction week followed by 10 lessons). Sessions are designed to be held within a 60-minute time frame, although adaptations can easily be made for groups with less time.
BEST Groups recognizes that grief and loss can be experienced due to a variety of circumstances: death, divorce, foster care placement, deportation, deployment, caregiver addictions, incarceration, abandonment, terminal illness, living with grandparents, and so much more.
Navigating This Maze of Emotions
Grief and Loss Curriculum for Youth
The Navigating This Maze of Emotions curriculum provides opportunities for youth to receive the support they need to experience hope and healing in a peer support group setting. As participants attend group meetings and work through the Navigating This Maze of Emotions Journal, they will begin to explore the feelings that are common to those who have experienced a loss and how to express those feelings in healthy ways. The 127-page facilitator's guide includes step-by-step instructions on how to conduct a BEST Group, a list of materials needed, and the objectives of each lesson.
Each Navigating this Maze of Emotions Journal includes activity pages for participants to reinforce what they are learning. Participants will explore feelings of loneliness, worry, anxiety, and anger. They will learn the importance of forgiveness, making healthy choices, and goal setting. The program concludes with lessons on encouragement, hope, and courage. Navigating this Maze of Emotions is designed to be facilitated with a small group of youth, typically middle-school age up to young adults. Groups typically meet for 11 weeks (an introduction week followed by 10 lessons). Sessions are designed to be held within a 60-minute time frame, although adaptations can easily be made for groups with less time.
BEST Groups recognizes that grief and loss can be experienced due to a variety of circumstances: death, divorce, foster care placement, deportation, deployment, caregiver addictions, incarceration, abandonment, terminal illness, living with grandparents, and so much more.
PURCHASE CURRICULUM OR REGISTER FOR TRAINING
Exploring My Feelings Curriculum & Training
Navigating This Maze Of Emotions Curriculum & Training
TESTIMONIALS
FROM BEST GROUP PARTICIPANTS
When asked, “What did you learn in BEST Groups that helped you the most?” participants said:
"That dealing with life is hard and other people also go through hard things."
"It’s not always easy to forgive the ones you love the most."
"I learned I can help others, no matter what."
"That no matter who you are, you are special."
"Men can share their feelings."
"Not to worry so much when you can’t control the situation."
"If you have problems, talk it out."
FROM PUTNAM COUNTY SCHOOL ADMINISTRATORS AND MORE!
“BEST Groups were very helpful for children facing challenges in foster homes, with depression/suicide, and behavioral issues. They became a close-knit group in both locations and continue to share ‘rainbows’ and ‘raindrops‘ with me.”
“BEST Groups create a feeling of belonging - that there is someone who cares.”
Training Events
Need Details?
Come join us for the next Cookeville, TN BEST Groups Facilitator Training Event! Explore the curriculum lesson by lesson, gain valuable insights from seasoned facilitators, and move forward with the resources you need to start your first groups.
ONLINE TRAINING AVAILABLE:
BEST Groups Facilitator Training Events are now available online! Do you have at least four people interested in training on the same curriculum? BEST Groups can come to you via Zoom training. Contact us to schedule a Zoom training at 931-559-2378.
Download On-site Training Registration Form
Need More Information on Training?
Questions? Contact us
(931) 559-BEST (2378)
MaKayla Ramsey, BEST Groups Program Manager
bestgroups@journeyofhopetn.org
ABOUT BEST GROUPS
OUR HISTORY
At BEST Groups (Be Each Other’s Support Team), we believe no one should face grief alone. Founded in 2011 as an innovative school-based extension of Heart of the Cumberland, BEST Groups was born from the heartfelt experiences of our co-founders, Paula King and Jill Horner, who each turned personal loss into a lifelong mission of compassion and healing. Recognizing that grief isn’t limited to the loss of a loved one but can stem from many life challenges, our program was designed to provide safe, supportive peer groups for children and youth. Through the dedicated efforts of school staff, committed volunteers, and strong community partnerships, BEST Groups continues to expand its reach—empowering young people to share, heal, and build resilience in the face of life’s most difficult moments
BEST GROUPS ARE EVIDENCE-BASED
The BEST (Be Each other’s Support Team) Groups program, initiated in 2011 in Putnam County, Tennessee, is a national peer support initiative designed to assist children and youth navigating various forms of grief and loss. By providing a safe environment, the program encourages participants to explore feelings related to the death of a loved one, divorce, foster care, or the absence of a parent due to circumstances such as substance misuse, incarceration, abandonment, deployment, or deportation. The structured small group format fosters empathy and aids children and adolescents in identifying, understanding, and expressing emotions in healthy ways.
Peer Support Group Effectiveness
The effectiveness of peer support programs like BEST Groups is well-documented in the literature. Peer support groups have been shown to enhance well-being of bereaved individuals, reducing grief symptoms and promoting personal growth (Bartone et al., 2019; Metel & Barnes, 2011). Such groups provide a platform for participants to share experiences, thereby normalizing grief responses and reducing feelings of isolation. A qualitative interview study, published in Child and Adolescent Mental Health, focusing on peer-group support for bereaved children highlighted the value of these programs. Children and parents reported positive experiences, noting that peer-group support facilitated the expression of emotions and provided a sense of belonging. The study emphasized the importance of creating a safe space where children can share their feelings and experiences with peers who have faced similar losses (Metel & Barnes, 2011).
Furthermore, evidence-based practices for childhood grief and trauma underscore the effectiveness of structured interventions. Programs that incorporate journaling, object lessons, and interactive group activities, similar to the 11 Heart Messages core to BEST Groups, have been found to help children process their grief. These activities encourage self-expression and provide tools for managing complex emotions associated with loss. Additionally, such groups are shown to have a significant positive impact on anxiety, depression, and other factors associated with grief while serving to contribute to overall well-being among participants (Abuhegazy, 2017; Petursdottir & Thorsteinsson, 2024)
Curricula Overview: A Targeted Support Intervention
In addressing the complex emotional needs of children and youth experiencing grief, these curricula offer targeted, evidence-based approaches to facilitate healing and emotional resilience. Designed to meet the distinct developmental needs of each age group, the following programs provide structured opportunities for self-expression and peer support, enabling participants to explore their feelings in safe and nurturing environments.
BEST Groups Curricula Options
Exploring My Feelings (for Children)
The Exploring My Feelings Art Journal is designed to help grieving children identify common emotional responses associated with loss and to learn how to express these emotions in healthy ways. This curriculum uses creative art journaling as a medium for self-expression, enabling children to externalize and process complex feelings. The hands-on approach is particularly effective in facilitating emotional literacy and resilience, aligning with evidence-based practices in childhood grief interventions.
Navigating This Maze of Emotions (for Youth)
The Navigating This Maze of Emotions curriculum is tailored for youth, providing structured opportunities to receive support and build hope within a peer support group setting. This program encourages participants to explore and articulate their feelings in a guided environment, fostering peer empathy and mutual understanding. The approach supports youth in developing adaptive coping strategies and contributes to improved emotional regulation and overall psychological well-being.
BEST Groups Curricula Standard Compliance
Both Exploring My Feelings and Navigating This Maze of Emotions were developed specifically for schools and contain content that supports Building Strong Brains Tennessee and aligns with the following:
Tennessee State Board of Education School Counseling Model and Standards Policy.
Tennessee Department of Education K-12 Social and Personal Competencies.
American School Counselor Association Mindsets and Behaviors for Student Success.
Summary
In summary, the structure and objectives of BEST Groups align with evidence-based practices in supporting grieving children and adolescents. By fostering peer support and providing structured activities, the program offers a research-validated approach to helping young individuals navigate the challenges of grief and loss.
References
Abuhegazy, H. (2017). The effect of support group therapy on parentally bereaved adolescents: A randomized controlled trial. MOJ Addiction Medicine & Therapy, 3(5)10.15406/mojamt.2017.03.00055
Bartone, P. T., Bartone, J. V., Violanti, J. M., & Gileno, Z. M. (2019). Peer support services for bereaved survivors: A systematic review. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, 80(1), 137–166. https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0030222817728204
Metel, M., & Barnes, J. (2011). Peer-group support for bereaved children: A qualitative interview study. Child and Adolescent Mental Health, 16(4), 201–207. 10.1111/j.1475-3588.2011.00601.x
Petursdottir, A. B., & Thorsteinsson, H. S. (2024). Evaluating the effect of participation in bereavement support groups on perceived mental well-being and grief reactions. Omega: Journal of Death and Dying, , 302228241253363. 10.1177/00302228241253363
