July 10, 2023 Update: The Voorheesville Central School District’s crisis team has developed a support plan for staff, students and the greater community following a fatal house fire on July 8 that claimed the life of one of the district’s elementary school students and three of their family members.
Counselors from Albany County’s Mental Health Department will be at Voorheesville Elementary School daily to provide counseling support services to those in need. Please ring the doorbell at the front entrance to be let in. Counselors will be using the library and other rooms in the building as needed for privacy.
The team will be flexible based on the community’s needs as the week progresses. They are planning to be on site the following days and times:
- Monday, July 10: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 11: 2-4 p.m.
- Wednesday, July 12: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
- Thursday, July 13: 2-4 p.m.
- Friday, July 14: 10 a.m. to 12 p.m.
Another option for mental health support is Northern Rivers: 518-952-9032. Its hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Monday through Friday; Saturday and Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.
Hospice has also offered its services and can be reached at 518-724-0200 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. It provides free individual and small-group counseling and can do intake over the phone. Hospice is located on New Karner Road in Colonie and will work with individuals if there are transportation needs. It also offers online support if needed: https://hospicegriefservices.com.
The following links from the Dougy Center: The National Grief Center for Children & Families provide strategies and techniques to support children coping with loss:
More resources will be shared here as they become available.
- July 11, 2023: The Voorheesville Public Library has compiled picture books and parenting books about grief, bereavement and healing that may help children and families have conversations about the news children may be hearing and questions they may be asking about it.
- July 12, 2023: There are several grief groups online and in person.
- Online Resources
- AMF App, communities of like-minded individuals after a death loss
- Home » Online Grief Support Groups: Loss of A Loved One
- Loss Of A Loved One » Evermore » Resources & Support
- HealGrief – The tools and resources for a healthy post-bereavement growth
- Actively Moving Forward®, a young adult and college grief support network (This is more social media based and great for teens and young adults)
- Grief and Loss Counseling in Albany, NY. Therapists for Trauma, Loss, and Bereavement
- Sesh Groups – Sesh (No specific grief groups through this site; however, it has other groups like coping with depression and anxiety that may be useful)
- The Trevor Project (Grief and mental health resources)
- In-person Resources
- Online Resources
Original Post: July 8, 2023: The Albany County Sheriff’s Office notified the Voorheesville Central School District that a residential fire during the early morning hours of July 8 resulted in the death of a Voorheesville Elementary School student and several members of their family.
The Sheriff’s Office has not yet publicly released the names of the deceased.
“This is heartbreaking news,” Superintendent Frank Macri said. “The loss of a student is always tragic, but this is compounded by the community’s loss of several members of the family. On behalf of the school district, I want to express my heartfelt sympathy to those who loved and cared for the family.”
Macri notified district staff and families Saturday of the tragedy, and the school’s crisis team was activated to develop a grief support plan for students and staff in need.