To foster healing for grieving youth, their families and the community through peer support programs, counseling, training, education and outreach.
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas exists to help children and families who have experienced the death of someone significant in their lives. Besides offering on-going support groups, the center provides training, crisis intervention, counseling, peer support and consultation services to individuals, schools, churches, and community agencies of all kinds. The children/teens we help have suffered a death due to accident, illness, homicide, or suicide. Each child/teen is interviewed before being placed into our program. If the family and the interviewing counselor feel that our program will be of benefit, the child/teen is placed on a program night based on the type of death he or she has experienced.
The Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas is dedicated to helping children and teens through the grief process. We provide emotional peer support through a group format for children and teens, ages 3-18, and their parents or caregivers who have experienced a death. Everyone comes together to share their experience in a support group environment full of caring, acceptance, and understanding. We place together children and teens with similar death experiences to help diminish their feelings of isolation.
The CBCST is a place to rest, to feel normal, to find support, and to learn how to heal. It is a place where someone will listen and discuss concerns after the death has occurred. We use many creative activities which are natural and non-threatening ways to express feelings about death and the subsequent loss of security, trust, and control. All of the creative and expressive activities are used to help describe and communicate to others what happened and to help re-establish feelings of control. The children and teens choose what to do that will be uniquely comforting and healing to them.
After an initial interview and assessment with a member of our staff the child/teen is placed in a program based on the type of loss they have experienced.
Each program is open-ended which means children may participate for as long as they choose. Each program is regularly scheduled and meets twice a month. On program nights, families, volunteers and staff members share a potluck meal before beginning group.
…."And ever has it been that love knows not its own depth until the hour of separation." -- Kahil Gibran
Staff members from the center provide grief training and workshops to local school districts, local hospitals, law enforcement, hospices, service organizations, and mental health professionals. We provide crisis intervention when called upon to do so.
The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas is located near downtown San Antonio in historic Monte Vista. Built in 1911, our three-story home provides a safe, comfortable place for grieving children to share their feelings with others who have had similar experiences. Groups were first held at our HEB Home in the fall of 2000.
The Center is a 501 (c)(3) nonprofit agency. We are completely privately supported from donations from individuals, foundations and corporations. We receive no support from federal, state, or local governments, no insurance reimbursements or third party payments, and there is no charge for our peer support programs.
We could not begin to do what we do without the efforts of a core group of very giving, very gracious individuals. We publicly recognize these selfless men and women for their commitment to the Children's Bereavement Center of South Texas.
Board of Directors
Traci B. Gomez
Executive Director
 A native Texan, Traci Burkhart Gomez was born in San Antonio and raised in Kerrville. She received a BA in psychology from the University of Texas and began her career in Austin. She now returns “home” to San Antonio with her husband, Roger and step-son, Grant and has been named the new Executive Director for The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas. Traci brings over 15 years of professional experience to the CBCST. Her background in executive management demonstrates success and concentration in the fields of education, youth and family programming, business and operations management, new program and staff development, fundraising, public relations and fiscal management.
Traci possesses a sound mission-driven ethic and has devoted her career to building strong children, families and communities through her work. Her focus will now be dedicated to carrying out the mission of providing help and support to grieving children and their families.
“For our children and families, the physical space of the Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas is like a fortress, as it is a safe place to come and experience the healing benefits of being nurtured by others who understand. The children feel safe here. They discover they are not alone. The support and encouragement they receive at the CBCST helps them know that THEY have the power to face death. It is truly humbling to know that children and families will experience hope and healing because of the work you do.” said Gomez
Patricia McNaught, L.P.C.
Director of Program and Counseling Services
Patricia McNaught received her Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy and Religion from Boston University and her Masters of Arts in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She is the Director of Program and Counseling Services and staff counselor at the CBCST. She designs and implements the therapeutic activities for the programs and manages the daily operations of the department and its counseling services.
Patricia lives with her husband, their four children, and four dogs in Boerne, Texas. She is a member of the Play Therapy Association, the American Counseling Association, and the Art Therapy Association. Patricia says that working at the CBCST with families in grief enables her “to work inside the power of the heart”.
Michelli Gomez, LMSW
Program and Outreach Services Coordinator
Michelli Gomez received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Biology from St. Mary’s University, a Masters of Science degree in Environmental Science from the University of Texas at San Antonio, and her Masters of Social Work degree from Our Lady of the Lake University. She serves as the Program Services Coordinator. In this capacity, Michelli assists in the coordination of the various support groups provided by the CBCST. In addition, she provides individual and family counseling to CBCST clients.
Michelli is a native Texas, born and raised in San Antonio. She is a member of the National Association of Social Workers. Regarding her work at the CBCST, Michelli says, “My heart is opened by the work we do here. Everyday I feel honored to step through the doors.”
 Tracey Mather
Director of Business Management
Tracey Mather has been with the CBCSTsince 1999. She started as the Administrative Assistant and currently holds the title of Director of Business Management. She has watched the center move from meeting in churches to owning the beautiful house where groups meet today. She is very excited for the future of the center as it grows to serve even more children.
Tracey lives in San Antonio with her husband and four children.
Michelle Muñiz, LPC-Intern
Program and Volunteer Services Coordinator
Michelle Muñiz has received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from Texas State University, and her Masters of Arts in Counseling from the University of Texas at San Antonio. She serves as the Program and Volunteer Services Coordinator. In this capacity, Michelle assists in the coordination of the various support groups and is responsible volunteer organization at CBCST. In addition, she provides individual and family counseling to CBCST clients.
Michelle is a native Texan, born in Mc Allen and raised in Uvalde. She is a member of the American Counseling Association and the Association for Creativity in Counseling. “Working at CBCST has been a humbling experience in which I hope to continue to make a difference,” says Michelle.
McCall Taylor
Program Coordinator
Born and raised in Tuscaloosa, Alabama McCall has called San Antonio home for four years after completing her undergraduate studies at The University of Alabama and The University of Mississippi. She completed her Child Life internship at Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City and pursued her career in Child Life at University Hospital. Currently she works as a Program Coordinator at The Children’s Bereavement Center of South Texas and is pursuing her Masters in Healthcare Administration at Trinity University. She enjoys traveling, cooking, working with children and being outdoors.
Natalie Ross
Natalie is a senior Psychology major at the University of San Antonio and carries a minor in Business Administration and Non Profit Management. Natalie started her internship with the CBCST in May of 2007. She is certified from American Humanics a national organization for non-profits. Natalie assists the staff of the CBCST with administration and fundraising. She also helps with volunteer coordination and support group facilitation. Natalie is originally from Panama City, Panama and was raised in Virginia and Texas. |
