Children’s Bereavement Support Group Facilitators

One of the primary services provided by Ele’s Place is our peer support group program for children and their families who are grieving the death of a family member or close friend. The men and women who volunteer as facilitators with this program work in teams with one of the children’s bereavement support groups. These groups are organized according to the child’s school and/or developmental level, and serve children ages 3 - 18.

All Ele’s Place support group facilitators are required to complete our 18-hour training program, which provides a framework for grief and loss, reviews the developmental stages of children, stresses the importance of empathic listening, and provides instruction regarding how to be an effective facilitator. This training program is generally offered twice each year; more information about the next training program will be provided to candidates who submit a volunteer application and indicate that they are interested in becoming a facilitator with the bereavement support group program. Facilitators are also expected to attend additional in-services as presented.

Generally, volunteers who want to serve as in this capacity should be at least 18 years old, and should be able to make a commitment to volunteer one evening (4 hours) per week with their assigned groups for a minimum of one year.

Support Group Program Helpers

These volunteers assist Ele’s Place staff and the support group facilitators by greeting families as they arrive at Ele’s Place for their group sessions, assisting with monitoring the children’s Activity Rooms, helping in the Ele’s Place Library, and/or helping with various set-up and clean-up duties. Completion of a three-hour training program is required.

Adult volunteers are preferred for these positions, but individuals age 16 and older will be considered. Program helpers should be able to volunteer one evening (up to 2 hours) per week for a period of at least six months.

NOTE: Ele’s Place is now providing services through our Together Learning to Cope (TLC) program for children and families coping with the life-threatening illness of a family member. Currently, volunteers for the TLC program are recruited from experienced bereavement support group facilitators.

Other Opportunities to Volunteer with Ele’s Place:

Special Projects

Ele’s Place needs occasional help with various types of special projects. These projects include:

Serving as an Ele’s Place ambassador at community outreach events, volunteer recruitment fairs, or similar events. Ambassadors will have the opportunity to receive training to help them learn about Ele’s Place services so they can better provide basic information and answer questions.
Helping at Ele’s Place fund-raising events (one of our three annual fund-raising events or events sponsored by area groups to benefit Ele’s Place). Volunteers help with a variety of needs, depending on the event (examples include registration, taking admission tickets, set-up and clean-up duties, children’s games, ushering, serving refreshments).
Delivering Ele’s Place brochures or other materials to schools, funeral homes, doctors’ offices, hospices, etc. as assigned (generally not more than once or twice per year). Detailed instructions are provided for each assignment. Generally, these deliveries will need to be made during weekday office hours.

We prefer to have adult volunteers help with most of these assignments, but mature teens (16 and older) are welcome to help with some of the fund-raising events and brochure deliveries.

Office Work

Volunteers help in the office with a variety of tasks such as answering the telephone, filing, copying, data entry, and large mailings. Office volunteers typically work on a scheduled basis for a period of 2 - 4 hours per week (during regular office hours of Monday - Friday, 9 a.m. - 5 p.m.). Previous office and computer experience is very helpful, but is not required.

Generally, office volunteers should be at least 16 years old.

Building and Garden Care Volunteers

Ele’s Place needs volunteers who can help with either outside building needs such as gardening or inside building needs such as painting and minor repairs:

Garden Care Volunteers - People who have an interest or experience in gardening or horticulture are encouraged to consider this opportunity. These volunteers assist in the maintenance of the outside flowerbeds, planters, yard and general landscaping of Ele’s Place. They help on a seasonal basis, spring through fall, for planting, weeding, pruning, etc., as needed.

Building Care Volunteers – People who have experience with painting and/or minor building repairs, or who have basic electrical, plumbing or “handyman”-type of skills are encouraged to apply for this volunteer opportunity. These volunteers serve on an “on-call” basis and are contacted when needed to assist with various building care and maintenance needs.

Click here for the Ann Arbor Volunteer Opportunities

Click here for the Ann Arbor Volunteer Application

To receive a volunteer information packet click here, or call (517) 482-1315. To print a volunteer application, click here.

"Working with the children at Ele's Place is one of the most rewarding experiences I've had. It's an incredible feeling to know you have helped these kids have the opportunity to share their memories and feelings, and as a result, learn to live with their loss."

-- a volunteer support group facilitator

"Everyone at Ele's Place is so nice and caring. It's a pleasure to work with them on special projects or in the office. And I know what I do helps them in their work with grieving children and their families."

-- a long-time office and projects volunteer

Ele's Place
1145 W. Oakland
Lansing, MI 48915
517-482-1315
healing@elesplace.org