What is Tu Nidito’s Mission
Tu Nidito exists to create a community of acceptance and understanding for those grieving a serious medical condition or death.
What is Tu Nidito’s Vision
No child grieves alone.
What services does Tu Nidito offer?
- Support groups for families who have a child 4 to 18 grieving the death of someone significant to them.
- Support groups for families who are grieving a serious medical condition diagnosis of an adult caregiver.
- Support group for Young Adults 18-29 grieving the death of someone significant.
- Home or community based one-on-one support sessions for families who have a child, birth to age 18, diagnosed with a serious medical condition.
- Community Education and Grief Intervention programs.
When do support groups meet?
- Support groups are held Monday through Thursday of each week. Families are required to complete an intake and paperwork prior to attending their assigned group.
- Groups meet twice monthly, in-person at Tu Nidito.
How often can I expect to receive a visit from a Support Specialist if I have a child with a serious medical condition?
Each family is different depending on their needs. Visits can range from several times per week to weekly or even monthly.
What does Tu Nidito consider a serious medical condition for families with a diagnosed child interested in one on one community-based support?
Tu Nidito defines a serious medical condition as a progressive, degenerative or malignant medical condition that indicates a strong possibility of the child’s life being endangered or significantly impacted. Due to Tu Nidito’s need for some parameter of service, chronic, long-term diagnoses/conditions (where the child is expected to live well into adulthood) are not generally enrolled in services. These are considered on a case by case basis. Examples of such conditions are asthma, diabetes and chromosomal/genetic diseases.
How do I enroll for services?
- Legal guardians can fill out the Referral Inquiry Form and someone will call you back within 24 hours. Or, you can call Tu Nidito at 520-322-9155.
- Anyone can make a referral as long as the legal guardian has given permission via the website or by phoning Tu Nidito.
Is there a waiting list?
Tu Nidito works hard to avoid having a waiting list for services.
What happens after I am referred or self-refer?
- For support group only, you will be asked to make an appointment with Tu Nidito for an in-person or virtual intake at Tu Nidito and complete some paperwork. During your intake you and your family will get a tour of Tu Nidito and learn more about what to expect from your experience. Once your paperwork is complete you will be placed into a support group night depending on your availability and reason for coming to Tu Nidito.
- Families with a seriously ill child referred will be contacted by a Support Specialist within 24 hours of referral. The Support Specialist can contact you virtually or come to your home, hospital or another location outside of Tu Nidito to meet you, explain services and determine your family’s needs.
How many people do you support each year?
In 2023 Tu Nidito supported 440 families representing 658 children and 489 adults. An additional 39 young adults were supported and over 1,100 community members received education or intervention services.
How much does it cost to enroll in Tu Nidito services?
All Tu Nidito services are offered at no cost.
How do I become a volunteer and what roles do they serve?
Direct care volunteers work with children, teens and/or caregivers impacted by serious medical conditions or death. Direct roles include: Support Group Facilitators, One on One Volunteers and Interns. Internship positions are available for indirect care as well. Direct care volunteers must be at least 16 years old (except where otherwise indicated), complete all required paperwork, pass a background check, participate in an introductory interview, participate in all required training and a post-training, and make a minimum commitment of 1 year. For direct care volunteers, previous experience working with children, teens or families around grief, trauma, or through group facilitation is preferred, but not required. What is required is responsibility, compassion, adaptability, a joy for work with others, strong communication skills, and the ability to learn and implement our model.
See our Volunteer page for more information.
How long do families participate in service?
Tu Nidito outcome statistics and best practices indicate that families benefit the most staying in services for 24 months. After a family has been in group for 24 months we celebrate their launch from group. Families that launch from group are equipped with a toolbox to continue their grief journey at home.
For families with a seriously ill child, Tu Nidito services last for as long as the family needs support and can range from nine months to multiple years.
How long after the death does a family need to wait before calling?
A family can call and start the process of information gathering as soon as they feel ready. Each family is unique and each family member grieves differently. We will provide information about our program and offer our insights, but each family is the “expert” of their own grief. We respect their decision to start when the time is right.