Framingham, Mass. – (January 26, 2021) – Jeff’s Place Children’s Bereavement Center, the Framingham-based not-for-profit that provides free grief support groups for families who have experienced a significant death loss, The Parmenter Foundation and Advocates today announced a new virtual grief support group for adults coping with loss in the face of the COVID-19 pandemic.
The program is underwritten by a $13,000 grant from Parmenter as part of its COVID-19 crisis response grant program, and will be administered by Advocates, a leading human services provider in Framingham for people who face developmental, mental health or other life challenges. The grief curriculum will be developed by bereavement experts from Jeff’s Place.
The closed, 12-week support group will be conducted via telehealth and will focus on different kinds of grief: loss due to death or life-limiting illness; loss of standard memorial rituals; and more. It will also address the many ways in which people grieve and offer coping strategies and mechanisms. Participants will learn to work through the grieving process with support from group facilitators and others facing similar challenges.
“The COVID pandemic and subsequent isolation has presented a unique set of issues for people who have experienced the loss of a loved one. It’s our hope that our virtual support group will help people who are grieving feel less alone in their grief journey,” said Jenny Kaplan, PhD, FT, Founder & CEO of Jeff’s Place.
Angela Crocker, Executive Director of Parmenter, added, “We are proud to fund these innovative and impactful MetroWest programs for those suffering from grief, loss and economic hardship due to the pandemic. Responding quickly to provide hope and build resiliency in our community is our highest priority.”
Diane Gould, President and CEO of Advocates, acknowledged that the pandemic has been difficult for everyone. “People are experiencing profound loss, stress and anxiety,” she said.
Groups will meet weekly for one hour. The start date will be determined pending enrollment. To make a referral or for more information, visit http://bit.ly/AdvCCBHC, call Karen Katz at 508-661-2038 or email [email protected].
Jeff’s Place is located at 281 Pleasant Street, Framingham, Mass., 01701. For additional information, visit www.jeffsplace.org or call 508-879-2800.
The Parmenter Foundation is located at 260 Boston Post Road, #5, Wayland, Mass., 01778. For additional information, visit www.parmenterfoundation.org or call (508) 358-3001.
Advocates is located at 1881 Worcester Road, Framingham, Mass., 01701. For additional information, visit www.advocates.org or call (508) 628-6300.
About Jeff’s Place MetroWest: Jeff’s Place provides free grief support groups for families who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling. It serves children ages three to 18, along with their caregivers, as well as young adults aged 18 to 25. Jeff’s Place offers hope and healing in a supportive community for grieving children, teens, families, and individuals. Our vision is that no one grieves alone. All groups are facilitated by both a clinician and a trained grief-informed volunteer. Jeff’s Place also provides individual and family counseling along with crisis intervention and professional educational trainings about childhood bereavement for local schools and organizations.
About Parmenter Foundation: The Parmenter Foundation provides hope and support for community members who are grieving or in need of compassionate end-of-life care. It provides funding for nonprofit organizations that deliver high quality, innovative palliative care and bereavement programs and offers educational and inspirational resources that help our
neighbors navigate through the challenging grief process. The Parmenter Foundation is committed to helping MetroWest families cope, heal and build resiliency.
About Advocates: Advocates provides a broad range of services for people facing life challenges such as addiction, aging, autism, brain injury, intellectual disabilities and serious mental health conditions. With Advocates’ help, thousands of individuals and families living in Massachusetts are finding the supports they need to lead healthy, productive and rewarding lives.
