Elijah's Place: Grief Support Services
Director: Randi Fertitta
2780 Eastex Freeway
Beaumont, TX 77703
(409) 924-4426
Click on this link to view the Elijah's Place program video:
Elijah's Place Video Clip
What is Elijah’s Place?
Elijah’s Place is a program to provide ongoing grief support services to children, ages 5 to 18, who have experienced the death of a parent or sibling.
The program also has a KIDS (Kids in Divorce Support) group currently focused on assisting children between ages 8 and 13, who have experienced the loss caused by separation and divorce.
Children grieve differently than adults. For that reason, it is important to allow them to communicate their feelings with other children who can understand.
Elijah’s Place grief support provides a setting for age specific group support sessions for the children (ages 5-6, 7-10, 11-13, and 14-18) and a support session for parents. Parents and children come to Elijah’s Place two evenings each month. Participation in the program can last 12 to 18 months, or until the family decides they no longer require the service.
KIDS group also follows a twice-a-month schedule with age specific peer sessions (8-10 and 11-13) and parental support sessions.
All support sessions are led by trained group facilitators who are supervised by a licensed professional. The evening for volunteers begins at 5:30 for a Pre-Meeting and ends after the Post-Meeting at 9:30. The evening for the families begins at 6:30 with a pot-luck Supper and ends at 8:30. The Lamar University Social Work Program supports the establishment of Elijah’s Place and has agreed to provide interested Social Work majors to be trained as volunteers, starting in their junior year through graduation.
Elijah's Place Grief Support Intake Forms
Families interested in participating in the Elijah's Place grief support program can review, print and complete the Intake Forms by selecting the “Intake Forms” button above.
Elijah's Place Kids in Divorce Support (KIDS) Group Intake Forms
Families interested in participating in the Elijah's Place KIDS group program can review, print and complete the Intake Forms by selecting the “Intake Forms” button above.
What’s in a name?
The name “Elijah’s Place” is taken from a portion of the biblical story about the prophet Elijah’s experience when he hid in a cave, finding himself alone and afraid. The word of the Lord came to him, not in the strong wind, the earthquake, or the fire; but rather in a “tiny whispering sound” and he was told to go back out and live. It is our desire that Elijah’s Place will assist grieving children and their families to understand and learn to live with their grief, to hear the “tiny whispering sound” and go out and live.
Kids in Divorce Support (KIDS) Group - The Newest Elijah's Place Initiative
As an outgrowth of the original grief support offered through Elijah's Place, KIDS group has sprung up to address the pain caused by separation and divorce. At present, KIDS can accept children ages 8 - 13 into group sessions, but the initiative plans to expand to accomodate children ages 5 - 18. Families of children who could benefit from the support provided by KIDS, who are between the ages of 5 - 7 and 14 - 18, should contact the Group Coordinator for Elijah's Place at (409) 924-4419 in order to be placed on a waiting list.
Click the following link to view, print, or email a copy of EP's Grief Support Program brochure for families: EP Grief Support Program Brochure for Families
Click the following link to view, print, or email a copy of EP's Kids in Divorce Support (KIDS) Program flyer for families: EP KIDS Group Flyer for Families
Click the following link to view, print, or email a copy of EP's Program brochure for volunteers: EP Program Brochure for Volunteers
