September 2026 News From Jeff’s Place

Welcoming Families Back to Jeff’s Place

On September 1, Jeff’s Place welcomed back families along with many new faces for the start of the 2026-2027 program year. September, and the start of the school year can be a time filled with many emotions. Big feelings do not mean that a child is moving backwards in their grief. Grief changes as children grow, and transitions can bring those feelings closer to the surface. At Jeff’s Place, we believe grieving children, teens, individuals, and families deserve a supportive community where their stories are welcomed, their person is remembered, and they know they are not alone.

We are currently running a total of five grief groups a month that meet on a bi-weekly basis serving children ranging in age from 3-17 and their families. In addition, we are running two virtual grief groups for young adults ranging in age from 18-25 and we have one virtual grandparent grief group.

To learn more about our free grief groups and our one-on-one grief counseling services, please visit our website.

Memory Walk and Registration is Open

On Sunday, October 25th we will be hosting our annual Memory Walk and Move. The walk will start at 10:00am, is 1.5 miles long, and starts and finishes right at Jeff’s Place in Framingham, MA. Whether you register as an individual, start your own team, or join a team, we appreciate your support! Our walk registration also offers a peer-to-peer fundraising option so you can share your goal with your friends and family. There will be light snacks, games, activities and fun for the whole family.

Our annual Memory Walk and Move is a time when the Jeff’s Place community comes together to honor and remember the important people in our lives who have died, spread awareness about childhood bereavement, and raise needed funds to keep our mission going. We currently provide services for over 70 families, consisting of over 175 individuals.

This work would not be possible without the generosity and philanthropic funds from donors, sponsors, and foundation grant opportunities. Your registration directly benefits the children and families we serve and allows us to continue to provide the needed grief services for our MetroWest community. One in 11 children will experience the death of a

 

Register as an individual, start a team, or join a team!

Field of Remberance

On September 17th, our Education Coordinator Michele Dillon and her husband Lee represented Jeff’s Place and helped place 648 pinwheels on the Framingham, MA common to remember those who have died by suicide. The most current statistic states that in 2024, 648 lives were lost to suicide in Massachusetts. The display was organized by the mental health and crisis support hotline Call2Talk alongside the MetroWest Regional Coalition for Suicide Prevention. Jeff’s Place wants to hold space for those that have a special person who has died by suicide. Showing up for our community in grief support.

Welcoming Our New Student Interns

Jeff’s Place wants to give a warm welcome to our two new Interns Meg Dunne and Adam Klem. They are both master’s level and will be working with us for the 2026-2027 school year and are very excited to be a part of the Jeff’s Place team!

Meg is a graduate student at Lesley University pursuing her MA in clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Art Therapy. She also holds a BFA in Art Therapy. Meg has held a variety of roles working with kids and families in palliative and home health care as well as working with individuals with various neurodiversities. She is passionate about utilizing a collaborative approach to healing through the creative arts.

Adam is a graduate student at William James College pursuing his MA in Clinical Mental Health Counseling with a specialization in Substance Use and Addiction. He holds a BS in Psychology. Prior to graduate work, he worked as a counselor for Liberation Programs, where he led IOP groups and counseled adults struggling with substance use. He believes in the power of community, music, and spirituality to help others find purpose and healing.

Grief Book Recommendation

For Children:
Two of our Jeff’s Place Clinicians Jenny and Fern highly recommend the following children’s book for young children ages 3-8. Listening to My Body by Gabi Garcia and Illustrated by Ying Hui Tan. This book is available in both English and Spanish.

Listening to My Body helps children develop an awareness of what their bodies are telling them. This book will help children understand the connection between sensations and feeling and teach them to practice identifying and naming what they are experiencing, so they can get better at figuring out what they need.

Listening to My Body is more than just a book. It is a lifelong gift.