Joel’s Place is a 501(c)(3) non-profit that offers support groups for children and their families who have experienced the death of someone special.
Within each individual is the natural capacity to heal oneself.
The duration and intensity of grief are unique for each individual.
Caring and acceptance assist in the healing process.
Find ways to incorporate memories of those that have died so that over time the loss is less painful.
The support group environment can be a source of empathy, understanding, and encouragement.
Joel’s Place for Children was conceived in 2003 by Kathy Stellato, R.N. and Mary Willhite, L.S.W. They decided to create a non-profit to meet the needs of children and their families who experienced the death of a loved one.
Joel Willhite is the namesake of Joel’s Place. He died at 51 years old, and his father died when Joel was 18. He would be honored that an organization that carries his name is providing comfort to children and their families.
Joel’s wife, Mary Willhite, was Joel’s Place Co-Founder and Board Member. She died in 2023 and we are grateful for her work establishing, maintaining and growing our organization.
We do not receive government funding. Your gift supports grieving children and their families.
We meet every other Tuesday at Bay Presbyterian Church from 6:00-7:30 PM.
Use your skills and life experiences to bring hope and help to others. We're always looking for help!
View our upcoming events such as our annual fundraiser or our annual butterfly release.
We provide free support groups for children who have experienced the death of someone special.
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We named Joel’s Place for Children in honor and memory of Joel Willhite, husband of our co-founder Mary Willhite. Joel died from colon cancer on May 24, 1998, at age 51. Losing his father at 18 deeply impacted Joel throughout his life. Mary believes Joel would feel proud to know his name represents an organization that offers comfort to children and families facing similar challenges.
We serve school-aged children, ages 5–18. We also offer a group for the caregivers of children attending Joel’s Place. We group children by age and developmental stage to encourage strong peer support.
Call us at 216-202-4243 or email info@joelsplaceforchildren.org to request intake paperwork and schedule a meeting and tour. All new families complete an intake interview to ensure our program is the right fit. A child’s legal guardian must sign the intake paperwork.
Joel’s Place for Children operates independently and has no religious affiliation. We welcome families of all faiths and do not promote any religious or spiritual beliefs in our groups. Bay Presbyterian Church generously provides our space, but we are not a church-based organization.
Groups typically meet every other Tuesday during the school year. We take breaks over the summer and during the winter holidays.
Every July, we host our annual Butterfly Release, bringing together current and past Joel’s Place families to release living butterflies and enjoy brunch at the rose garden in Cahoon Park, Bay Village. By popular request from our kids, we’ve recently added a fun kickball game to the event!
Our grief support groups are free of charge.
As a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, we rely on the generosity of donors and limited grant funding. We do not receive support from major corporate sponsors.
Facilitators arrive at 5:15 pm for a pre-meeting to review the evening’s plans. Families arrive between 6:00–6:30 pm, and we serve a pizza dinner. Peer-based grief support groups run from 6:30–7:30 pm, with separate groups for children, teens, and caregivers based on age and development. After groups, families head home while facilitators meet briefly to wrap up the evening.
Children participate in age-appropriate activities that help them express emotions in a safe, supportive environment with peers who have experienced the death of someone special. Trained facilitators guide children through activities and discussions. Parents and caregivers meet separately for support.
Families eat dinner together, then break into separate groups. Parents and caregivers do not join the child’s group, but we offer adult groups at the same time to support them.
Our programs run year-round with open enrollment, so families can join at any time and attend as often as they’d like.
We strive to create an inclusive environment and support children with a variety of needs. While we may not have specialized training for all disabilities, we encourage you to contact us to discuss your child’s unique needs. We’ll work together to create the best possible experience.
We do not offer individual counseling. Instead, we provide peer-based group support. Our activities are therapeutic but not therapy. If you need referrals for individual counseling for yourself or your child, we can provide recommended resources.
We currently enroll only adults connected to children in our programs. We hope to expand in the future to support more populations, including adults without children in the program. If you’d like to help us grow, please reach out.
We always welcome volunteers to support our programs. Fill out a volunteer application on our website. Volunteers help with group facilitation, administrative tasks, and fundraising events. We are also accepting applications for our Board of Directors.
Visit our website to donate online. We also accept in-kind donations and offer various giving options. Every contribution helps us support children and families in need.
New families are welcome to attend our grief support groups any time at Joel’s Place. Contact us, share your story, and join us.