Valerie's House Announces New Program Director

Danielle visone, Program Director,
Valerie's House

FORT MYERS, Fla. (June 1, 2016)  Valerie’s House, a nonprofit devoted to helping children and families work through the loss of a loved one together and go on to live fulfilling lives, has hired a Program Director. Danielle Visone began serving in the role as Program Director May 9 and holds a Master in Social Work (MSW) from Florida Gulf Coast University’s (FGCU) College of Health Professions and Social Work as well as a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology. Visone is also a child of loss, losing her father at the age of 10, and is able to connect with Valerie's House families on a personal level. She has many years experience mentoring grieving children.

As Program Director of Valerie’s House, Visone is planning grief activities for children and their parents, recruiting and training facilitators and volunteers, enrolling children, and ensuring support services are meeting the needs of grieving families. Visone is also giving presentations to schools and other organizations about grief while forming valuable partnerships in the community.

Valerie’s House was founded in 2015 by Angela Melvin, whose mother, Valerie Melvin, a 31-year old nurse and mother of two daughters, was killed in a car accident in Fort Myers in 1987. Valerie’s House is a safe, comfortable place for children and families to share grief and heal together following the death of a close family member. The organization is currently serving 62 children and their caregivers from Lee, Collier, Charlotte and Hendry counties and is located in a cozy house at 1618 Avalon Place in the historic Dean Park community of downtown Fort Myers. Future locations are opening in both Naples and Cape Coral in Fall 2016.  

If you are a family wanting to find out more, or know of someone grieving, please go to the Valerie’s House website and submit a contact form at www.valerieshouseswfl.org/contact-us/  

Those interested can also call 239-841-9186 or email danielle@valerieshouseswfl.org. 

Valerie’s House is fully supported through donations from the community that can be made online at www.valerieshouseswfl.org or by mail to Valerie’s House, Inc., PO Box 1955, Fort Myers, FL 33902.