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A Center for Grieving Children & Teens
Kathleen CramerManaging Director, Ele’s Place
Peggy Galimberti, LMSW, ACSW
Program Director, Ele’s Place
Ele’s Place• Established in 1991 in honor of Ele Stover, who
died in 1989 at the age of 11 months.• Ele’s mom, Betsy Stover, looking for support for
Ele’s siblings. • Mission – to create awareness and support for
grieving children and their families.• Provide peer support groups for families with
children 3-18, and young adults. • Parent/Caregiver Groups –
– Peer support- individually and regarding parenting grieving children
– Psychoeducation – facilitators provide info about grief and development as needed.
– www.elesplace.org
Ele’s Place Services in Ann Arbor
• We run 17 free weekly support groups for grieving children ages 3- 18 (and YA) and their parent/ caregivers.
• Kids groups are divided by age and developmental level; Adult groups by type of loss.
• Our population is any child or teen who has experienced the death of someone significant to them. (Not loss due to divorce, deployment, etc.)
• Support groups are on-going and are held on Monday and Tuesday evenings. (Wednesdays also starting in October).
Ele’s Place Services, cont.
• Ele’s Group (8 week school- based sessions).
• Assistance and support with crisis situations in schools and other similar settings.
• Consultation/ Collaboration:– Free resource and referral assistance on the
phone.– Telephone consultation to individuals, families,
and professionals re- grief related issues.– Staff are available to talk to your agency’s staff
about children’s grief.
Loss is common
• 1 in 20 students will experience the death of a parent by the age of 18.
• Before the age of 20, 9/10 people will experience the death of someone important in their lives.
• It is likely that you work with grieving individuals and families every day, even if you are not aware of it.
Basic Premises
• Grief is a normal reaction to any loss (people, places and things).• Grief is unique to each
person, and is a life-long process.• Grief does not progress in
an orderly or predictable manner.• Every person has the
capacity to heal, given an emotionally safe environment .
Providing support to a grieving person
• Be present and authentic
• Listen more, talk less
• Avoid trying to “cheer up” the person
• Allow emotional expression
• Show empathy
• Stop harmful or dangerous behaviors
Common Times People Re- experience Loss
• Holidays- birthday, anniversary of the death, mother’s/ father’s day.
• Transitions to a new grade or school.• Special events- concerts, sporting
events, prom, awards ceremonies, graduations.
• Grief triggers- songs, smells, places that remind them of their person.
Grief reactions of concern
• Continued problems at school or work• Difficulty participating in regular daily
activities• Increased aggressiveness or ongoing
angry outbursts• Excessive guilt• Depression • Social withdrawal and isolation• Self destructive behaviors• Suicidal thoughts
Referral information
• Call Ele’s Place at (734) 929- 6640.• Note- We are not a crisis center- our
practice is to return family calls within one business day.
• Families seeking support will need to contact us directly.
• Professionals are invited to call for information/ consultation.
• www.elesplace.org