Prince George’s siblings build grief support network after father’s death

Prince George’s County siblings Raina and Cole McCarter spent the days before Father’s Day turning a private loss into a place for other children and teens to gather, talk and cope. After their father was killed by a drunk driver in 2019, the McCarters founded B.R.A.V.E. as a peer support network for young people facing grief.

The timing carried extra weight for families in Prince George’s County, where Father’s Day can sharpen the pain for children who have lost a parent or father figure. Raina was nine when her father died, and the years since have shaped both siblings’ response: rather than keeping their experience inside one household, they built a space meant to make grief feel less isolating for other young people.

B.R.A.V.E. is filling a gap that many families do not know how to navigate until they are in it. The group is aimed at children and teens who need a place to talk openly about loss, trauma and recovery without feeling singled out or misunderstood. That kind of peer-led support can matter in a county where youth mental health is already a priority and where grief after a sudden death can affect school performance, family stability and day-to-day functioning long after the funeral.

Prince George’s County says its Health Department provides linkage-to-care services for children, youth and families with behavioral health needs, helping connect residents with community-based providers. Prince George’s County Public Schools also maintains grief resources for students and families, including links to the Dougy Center and Roberta’s House free grief support groups.

Several local and regional providers offer additional support. Roberta’s House provides Prince George’s County grief services, including 10-week family sessions for children ages 5 to 17 that focus on grief, healthy coping, honoring memories and strengthening relationships. Capital Caring Health offers grief groups, workshops, remembrance services and grief camps for children. Montgomery Hospice offers grief support groups and workshops for families in Montgomery and Prince George’s County.

The county’s behavioral-health provider directory is designed to help residents find community-based mental-health services. For families trying to match a child’s age, needs and comfort level with the right kind of support, that list, along with school-system grief resources and organizations such as B.R.A.V.E., gives Prince George’s County a broader network than many parents may realize exists.