Tu Nidito Children and Family Services

About:

No child grieves alone. The vision of Tu Nidito Children and Family Services is concise, yet the programs and services offered to grieving children in Southern Arizona are expansive. Since incorporating in 1994, Tu Nidito has been dedicated to delivering its mission to create a community of acceptance, support, and understanding regarding children in grief. We believe that the single most important factor in healing from loss is having the support of others, and with the help of the community each individual has the natural capacity to heal. Based on this foundation, Tu Nidito has established eight unique programs to serve Southern Arizona’s children and families as they grieve over the diagnosis of a serious medical condition, or the death of a loved one.

 

Tu Nidito, an IRS-approved 501(c)3 non-profit organization, is Pima County’s “Little Nest,” offering emotional, social and educational support to: children grieving the death of a loved one, children diagnosed with a serious medical condition, children who have a parent diagnosed with a serious medical condition, and young adults grieving the death of a loved one.

History:

Spanish for “Your Little Nest”, Tu Nidito was named in honor of six-year-old Jimmy Busey, who had a rare form of cancer. When doctors said there was nothing more they could do in the hospital for Jimmy, he was sent home. Jimmy’s mom knew he was apprehensive about leaving the hospital. To reassure him, she promised to create a special place for Jimmy in the corner of their sectional sofa: a few pillows, his favorite blanket, some toys and a spot that was especially for him. Jimmy and his mom called it his little nest. Although financial strains caused his family to move several times, Jimmy’s nest was a constant. That’s where Jimmy stayed until the day he died. The words “your little nest” have evolved into the perfect analogy of what Tu Nidito staff and volunteers accomplish every day. At Tu Nidito, we create a safe and comfortable environment to support children and families through the most difficult times; we build Nests.

Tu Nidito’s first client was accepted in October of 1996. In its first year of service, Tu Nidito served 12 dying children and their families. Since that time, Tu Nidito has expanded from one to eight core programs, providing a continuum of child-centered support for nearly 800 grieving children each year. Tu Nidito is the only organization in Southern Arizona that offers its unique services to children whose lives have been impacted by the diagnosis of a serious medical condition or the death of a loved one.

Programs:

As the only agency in Southern Arizona offering support to children and families from diagnosis through treatment or bereavement, Tu Nidito is dedicated to advancing child-centered grief support. We remain committed to educating our community on the lasting impact of unresolved childhood grief, which includes: depression, health problems, anxiety, drug abuse, promiscuity, gang activity, truancy, and suicide. Tu Nidito is dedicated to providing our Southern Arizona community with the resources to help children process their grief and heal.

At Tu Nidito children can share their loss experiences in a caring environment surrounded by understanding peers and trained volunteers. Using age appropriate activities and discussions, Tu Nidito staff and volunteers help each child and family process the emotions they experience through their grief journey. Children can express their grief physically in one of three special rooms. In the Volcano Room, children are able to safely erupt their anger in a padded room with punching bags, boxing gloves, and foam blocks. In the Art Room, they can draw, write and paint. In the Imagination Room, children play dress up, put on a puppet show, or go wherever their imagination leads them. These rooms serve as outlets for children to process their grief through creative expression.

While our community faces many challenges, childhood grief is one that is often overlooked. It is our vision that no child grieves alone, and to achieve this we need the support of the community. With your support, our Tucson can become a community in which no child grieves alone. Together, we can transform at-risk youth of into healthy, productive adults.