PARENTS RETREAT

A relaxing weekend to help your family heal

Next Event: Oct 20th – 23rd, 2023

C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat

C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat is planned for surviving parents and step-parents of law enforcement officers who died in the line of duty, as determined by C.O.P.S. criteria.  Couples, as well as single parents, are encouraged to attend.

Losing a child can be the most devastating thing for a parent to experience, especially in a sudden and traumatic death.  After the loss of their child, surviving parents are left to cope with their own grief while still trying to support other family members. At the C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat, you will also be surrounded by other parents who can understand the gravity of your loss.

Licensed mental health professionals will offer group sessions that focus on individual and family grief, as well as optional private one-on-one counseling.  

C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat also provides you with the opportunity to relax and participate in fun activities.  In the past, attendees had the opportunity to ride ATVs, enjoy a nature hike, and even learn to cook with a Dutch oven.

Our hope is that you will leave the C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat with tools to use every day as you continue your grief journey, a support system you can truly rely on, and a sense of personal growth.

Watch How

What to Expect

Losing a child can be the most devastating thing for a parent to experience, especially in a sudden, traumatic, and often violent death. After the loss of their child, surviving parents must handle their own grief along with trying to support other family members.

Licensed mental health professionals will be present to support you through sessions that focus on individual and family grief as well as offer private one-on-one counseling. You will also be supported by other parents attending who can relate to and understand your loss./p>

C.O.P.S. Parents Retreat provides you with the opportunity to participate in activities that may be relaxing, educational, and even challenging. In the past, attendees have gotten the opportunity to ride ATVs, enjoy a nature hike, and even learn to cook with a Dutch oven.

C.O.P.S. Parents retreat also provides a place to unwind in a stress-free environment. You will leave the retreat with tools to use every day as you continue your grief journey, a support system you can truly rely on, and a sense of personal-growth.

Session Examples
  • Finding a Purpose in Life
  • The Grief and Loss a Step-Parent Feels
  • Taking Care of You
  • My Only Child is Gone
  • How Can I Help My Other Children?
  • Emotional Courage and Hard Conversations
    Travel Information

    If you are flying: You should plan to arrive at Little Rock National Airport (LIT) between 9:00 a.m. and 4:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20. You will be met by a C.O.P.S. representative and transported by bus to the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center, a 30-minute ride from the airport. You will be transported back to the Little Rock Airport by 10:00 a.m. on Monday, October 23. Be sure your flight is AFTER 11:30 a.m. to allow time for check-in. 

    If you are driving: You will need to arrive at the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center between 2:00-5:00 p.m. on Friday, October 20 and depart AFTER breakfast on Monday, October 23.

    Additional Travel Information: It has become a ritual for some parents to arrive a day early. That is still possible. Those parents can arrive in Little Rock on Thursday, October 19, and stay at the Holiday Inn Airport Conference Center in Little Rock. If you would like to arrive a day early, be sure to make your reservation under the “C.O.P.S. room block” to receive the $96 room rate. Call 501-490-1000 for reservations. The room block will be held until October 5, 2023. The hotel has a complimentary airport shuttle service. The hotel cost for Thursday, October 19, will not be paid nor reimbursed by C.O.P.S. and you are responsible for making your own reservation.

    If you arrive in Little Rock a day early, all costs associated with early arrival will be the responsibility of the individual. Upon final arrangements, C.O.P.S. will provide information on how to meet the bus going to the C.A. Vines Arkansas 4-H Center.

    Limited travel assistance may be available. Contact our president at president@copsarizona.org or contact the C.O.P.S. National Office for additional information.

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