WHAT ABOUT REMEMBERING ME CENTER INC

WHAT ABOUT REMEMBERING ME, INC. (THE WARM PLACE) IS A NONPROFIT 501(C)(3) AGENCY, OUR MISSION IS TO PROVIDE YEAR-ROUND GRIEF SUPPORT SERVICES TO CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 18 AND THEIR FAMILIES, AS WELL AS YOUNG ADULTS AGES 19 TO 25 WHO HAVE EXPERIENCED THE DEATH OF A LOVED ONE.FROM DAY ONE, OUR FOUNDERS AGREED THAT FAMILIES SHOULD NOT HAVE TO BEAR THE FINANCIAL BURDEN OF GRIEF SUPPORT TO PARTICIPATE IN OUR PROGRAM. THEREFORE SINCE 1989, WE HAVE SERVED OVER 52,000 CHILDREN AND THEIR FAMILIES AND HAVE NEVER ONCE ASKED ANY CLIENTS TO PAY A FEE WHILE PARTICIPATING IN THE PROGRAM. THE WARM PLACE IS SUPPORTED SOLELY THROUGH PRIVATE DONATIONS AND GRANTS. WE DO NOT RECEIVE STATE OR FEDERAL FUNDING, AND WE ARE NOT AN AFFILIATED UNITED WAY PARTNER AGENCY. THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS, STAFF, AND COMMUNITY SUPPORTERS ARE DEDICATED TO PURSUING THE NECESSARY FUNDS TO SUSTAIN OUR PROGRAM AS IT FILLS A CRITICAL NEED IN THE COMMUNITY.IN 2025 WE SERVED 2,213 INDIVIDUALS.PROGRAM SERVICES OVERVIEW:THE CORE OF THE WARM PLACE PROGRAM IS OUR BI-WEEKLY PEER SUPPORT GROUPS FOR GRIEVING CHILDREN (K-12) AND THEIR FAMILIES. IN ADDITION TO OUR GROUPS, FAMILIES CAN ALSO PARTICIPATE IN OUR FAMILY NIGHTS, AS WELL AS OUR FALL FAMILY CAMP, CAMP REMEMBER ME. OUR STAFF ALSO OFFERS VALUABLE RESOURCES AND TRAININGS TO THE COMMUNITY THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. BELOW IS A LIST OF OUR ONGOING SERVICES: IN-PERSON EVENING SUPPORT GROUPS: EIGHT ONGOING GROUP NIGHTS FOR CHILDREN (K-12) AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS. THESE GROUPS MEET IN-PERSON EVERY OTHER WEEK, AND EACH WEEKNIGHT IS DESIGNATED FOR A DIFFERENT GROUP BASED UPON THE TYPE OF RELATIONSHIP LOSS: SIBLING, PARENT, OR GRANDPARENT/EXTENDED FAMILY/FRIEND.VIRTUAL EVENING SUPPORT GROUPS: ONLINE SUPPORT GROUPS OFFERED TO CHILDREN (K-12) AND THEIR PARENTS/GUARDIANS EVERY OTHER TUESDAY EVENING. EACH NIGHT HOSTS TWO ADULT GROUPS AND FOUR CHILDREN'S GROUPS, SEPARATED BY AGE. PRE-K GROUP: A SUPPORT GROUP FOR CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5 AND THEIR PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS, OFFERED FOR TEN WEEKS IN THE SPRING AND FALL.YOUNG ADULT GROUP: A SUPPORT GROUP FOR YOUNG ADULTS AGES 19 TO 25, OFFERED FOR EIGHT WEEKS IN THE SPRING, SUMMER, AND FALL.SPANISH-SPEAKING SUPPORT: THE WARM PLACE IS EQUIPPED WITH TWO BILINGUAL GROUP DIRECTORS WHO PROVIDE SUPPORT, COUNSEL, AND RESOURCES TO SPANISH SPEAKING FAMILIES. INTAKE APPOINTMENTS CAN BE CONDUCTED IN SPANISH AS NEEDED, AND WARM PLACE PAPERWORK, RESOURCES, AND THE WEBSITE ARE ALL AVAILABLE IN SPANISH. IN ADDITION, THE WARM PLACE OFFERS AN ADULT SUPPORT GROUP FOR CAREGIVERS WHO SPEAK SPANISH, COMPLETE WITH HANDOUTS AND RESOURCES ALL PROVIDED IN SPANISH.FAMILY NIGHTS: FAMILY FUN EVENTS FOR PAST, PRESENT, AND FUTURE WARM PLACE FAMILIES. THESE EVENTS ARE OFFERED SIX TIMES PER YEAR AND ARE DESIGNED TO FOCUS ON MAKING NEW MEMORIES AS A FAMILY AFTER A DEATH. EACH EVENT IS FREE TO ATTEND AND FEATURES A DIFFERENT THEME WITH VARIOUS ACTIVITIES.CAMP REMEMBER ME: AN ANNUAL FAMILY CAMP WEEKEND THAT IS OFFERED EACH FALL, AT NO COST, TO WARM PLACE FAMILIES. CAMP PROVIDES A UNIQUE OPPORTUNITY FOR FAMILIES TO GROW TOGETHER IN THEIR GRIEF JOURNEY AS THEY EXPERIENCE HEALING, HAVE FUN, ENJOY WARM PLACE COMMUNITY, AND CREATE NEW MEMORIES WHILE REMEMBERING THEIR LOVED ONES.ASSESSMENTS, REFERRALS, AND CRISIS COUNSELING: THE WARM PLACE HAS A CLINICAL TEAM CONSISTING OF FIVE MASTER'S LEVEL MENTAL HEALTH PROFESSIONALS. THIS TEAM SPENDS MUCH OF THEIR TIME DURING THE DAY PROVIDING ASSESSMENTS, REFERRALS TO OUTSIDE RESOURCES, AND CRISIS COUNSELING TO INDIVIDUALS.COMMUNITY OUTREACH: THE WARM PLACE PARTICIPATES IN COMMUNITY AWARENESS FAIRS AND PROVIDES SPEAKERS FOR SPECIAL EVENTS AND MEETINGS UPON REQUEST. IN ADDITION, OUR STAFF MEMBERS ALSO HOST TOURS AND QUESTION-AND-ANSWER SESSIONS WITH LOCAL SCHOOL PROFESSIONALS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR.BEREAVEMENT TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS: THE WARM PLACE PROVIDES TRAININGS AND WORKSHOPS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR TO EQUIP LOCAL SCHOOLS AND ORGANIZATIONS TO BETTER SUPPORT GRIEVING CHILDREN. OUR EXPERTISE IS RECOGNIZED NATIONALLY: IN 2025, BOARD MEMBER KIM BROWN AND EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR SHELLEY BETTIS COPRESENTED A SEMINAR TITLED "UNLOCKING THE STORYTELLER WITHIN: ANYONE CAN CAPTURE & PITCH A COMPELLING STORY" AT THE NATIONAL CONFERENCE. IN ADDITION TO THESE NATIONAL ENGAGEMENTS, THE WARM PLACE OFFERS FOUR "GRIEF TALK" TRAININGS EACH YEAR TWO-HOUR SESSIONS DESIGNED FOR COMMUNITY MEMBERS SEEKING TO LEARN HOW TO SUPPORT GRIEVING CHILDREN.