Children's Grief
Support Groups

Joel’s Place provides non-denominational grief support services free of charge.

For the initial intake meeting, our program staff meets with families one-on-one to assess their needs. We schedule the intake meeting at Bay Presbyterian Church so you can see the space in which you will be meeting should you choose to attend Joel’s Place.

Twice monthly grief support groups are held at Bay Presbyterian Church in Bay Village for children 5-18 and their families. We meet on Tuesday evenings.

We also offer a support group for adults who bring children to Joel’s Place. The adult sessions are held at the same time as the children’s sessions.

Dinner is offered beginning at 6:30 pm. Sessions take place from 7:00 – 8:15 pm.

Group participants share their experience and learn from the experiences of others. Age-appropriate discussions, craft projects, games, and books are selected to facilitate the expression of feelings. Sessions are confidential. What happens at Joel’s Place stays at Joel’s Place, unless we think safety is at risk.

While your children are participating in our groups, we are committed to providing a safe environment. All sessions are facilitated by at least two trained adults. References and fingerprinting are required for all facilitators.

Joel’s Place offers grief support groups. We do not offer therapy or counseling.

For more information, or to register, please call 440-248-4412 or Contact Us to tell us more about you and we will be in touch.

“People were very understanding and welcoming. It is a comforting place where everyone can relate.

- One of our parents

Upcoming Support Group Dates

2022
Sept 20
Oct 4 & 18
Nov 1, 5, 29
Dec 13

2023
Jan 24
Feb 7 & 21
Mar 7 & 21
April 4 & 18
May 2 & 16

Our support groups meet at:

Bay Presbyterian Church 25415 Lake Road
Bay Village, OH 44140
440-871-3822 ext. 101

The night begins with a family dinner
at 6:30 PM, followed by the group meetings
from 7:00 – 8:15 pm.

For more information on group sessions, support groups, or to register, please call, email or Contact Us online:

How We Do It

We train volunteer facilitators to accompany children and teens on their grief journey. Joel’s Place is supported primarily by tax-deductible donations from individuals, corporations, and foundations. We are supported in the community by organizations who donate space for our groups and by volunteers who donate everything from professional skills to snacks and supplies.

We are based on the Dougy Center Model of children’s bereavement support, in that we believe children have the power to help each other navigate and make meaning in their lives after the death of someone special. Our facilitators are trained to listen, and to encourage age-appropriate conversation among the children. Often crafts are made, games are played,

Meet Our Children & Teen
Grief Support Group Facilitators

These trained, dedicated volunteer facilitators work with our children and teen grief support groups.
Each group has at least two adult facilitators. Get to know our facilitators below:

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Save The Date for our 20th Anniversary Celebration Saturday October 7, 2023 1-4pm at Forest City Brewery!

Celebrate 20 Years of Grief Support!

Joel's Place for Children celebrates 20 years of grief support this year! Come join us for an afternoon fundraiser featuring delicious Italian food catered by Bucci's Rocky River and highlights from our two decades serving grieving families in Northeast Ohio. Tickets are available to purchase online or by mail. If you would like to purchase tickets by mail to avoid online fees, please email info@joelsplaceforchildren.org to let us know, and send your check to PO Box 180 Avon Ohio 44011.

Joel's Place for Children provides grief support for school-aged children and their families who have experienced the death of someone special. Our programs are always free to the families we serve.